Diamond_

February 8th, 2007 - New Overbrook

The cool chill of the Rhode Island wind curled around her as she sat along the rim of the porch rail as she gazed out across the city skyline and up to the amber sky. She smiled softly, remembering when she was a little girl, she had always loved this moment. To sit outside on her front porch, on her father’s lap, watching the sunset.

The two of them wouldn’t talk, just contently watch the sun go down. It was as if they had been afraid that their voices would chase away the beauty being displayed before them.

Once she asked him if they would still do this when she was older.

He had said of course and smiled that smile that father's seemed to always have to make her believe.

However, they had stopped when she was about 12. She smiled sadly remembering the excuses they had both silently created. That they were both busy, her with homework or her friends, him with his practice.

Neither really thought their sunset tradition to be very important anymore.

It was an excuse, a lie to hide from the pain they both had shared. The emptiness her mother's death had left behind...

A void neither of them could truly fill.

Kara wrapped her arms around herself now, and found herself longing for her father’s lap as she sat alone on the porch.

Phil was over a friend's house, Rachel and Paul were out shopping and Luci was on a date with RJ.

It wasn’t that she really wanted her father. There was so much distance between them now. She just wanted to share this moment with someone. With someone who loved her. She had always felt so loved those evenings, so safe, even though no words were ever spoken. She drew a breath at the oddity her life had become, how busy she had become and how little time these days, that she made for sunsets.

Then a thought occurred to her as she gazed out at the glorious reddish orange finale of the day before her. Did her father even remember those evenings? Did he miss them as much as she?

She frowned, probably not. Too busy trying to save me. To busy looking for a cure to the present, never concerned with healing the past.

So obviously, she was the only one who appreciated them. She used to look forward to the evening all day long, she would tell her mom and brother how great it was, telling them they couldn’t join her and her Dad. It was always their special time together. Kara sighed once more looking back, her father had never seemed excited. Half the time she had to practically drag him outside.

Why hadn’t she remembered that before? She had been too wrapped up in the beautiful sunset to realize at the time. Too young to see she guessed.

Anyway, right now, she decided that the sunset wasn’t going to last for very much longer, Such moments of beauty ... of peace rarely do.

She sighed, then smiled. Her thoughts traveling to another she knew she would want to share a moment such as this with someday. Such thoughts brought her the feelings of being loved and feeling safe.

Peaceful and suddenly perfectly content she watched as the sky closed before her.

==================

The cool chill of the Rhode Island wind curled around him as he stood along the rail of the balcony of the entrance to the lab. He gazed out across the city skyline and up to the amber sky. He smiled a little, his thoughts filled with images of a little girl, so young and trusting, safe and warm in his arms. He remembered how special this was to her. The way her eyes lit up as they watched, her small sighs of contentment. She had always loved this moment.

To sit outside on her front porch, on her father’s lap, watching the sunset.

He felt him approach before he saw him. The man was like a cat, how long had he been watching me.

"Good Evening Doctor" The man spoke with a chilling ease to his voice. "I will not disturb you for long, I merely came to let you know things are now in place and you should make the preparations. With any luck this should be over in no time at all."

He reached over and gently placed his hand on the Doctor's shoulder and squeezed just once. "Things will be all right soon, my good doctor" he smiled "Do not fear, I'll not see her truly harmed"

The man known as the specialist then turned his gaze up to the sky that held the doctor's attention and watched for a long moment beside the doctor. He then just smiled peacefully and without another word turned and re-entered the long dark hallway leading down to the lab.

William Reynolds turned his eyes back to the sky and sighed. Those moments, he thought how he was always annoyed about being dragged outside , away from his work. He thought about how he once considered such moments frivalous after Melissa had been taken from him. He thought about all of those moments he allowed to slip through his fingers and trembled a bit in the cool breeze that surrounded him.

Do you still watch the sunsets kitten? He wondered sadly.

He turned his eyes back to the day's final moments as the light slipped from the darkening sky.

He looked and he remembered...

You know what I am gonna do it, I am going to the hollows, either as one of my mains or a lowbie alt. I rather enjoyed fighting in the Hollows (even running for my life from the lava people long before there were ever jet packs)

I think it should be fun and even if I am alone maybe I 'll do a few Ourboros missions

Not a bad idea OP, not bad at all

A neat Idea for a thread!

Here is 'The Valiant Dazzling Diamond' from the Templars of the Abbey :



and an Alt of mine recently hit 50! So here is Dark Chylde :



Can't wait to see others

lol the original post was fairly amusing. It is too much of an effort for me, the AE farms really aren't my cup of tea but I don't really bother with how or why others find the game fun.

I tend to run into those who for the most part enjoy the game as I do, whether that be RP or regular door missions, or TF (which I am addicted to, even Posi and the Shards!). I have yet to notice any lower number of non AE teams nor TF's on Virtue. So I am still unclear how AE is ruining the game but to each his own.

It was a funny idea and I wish the OP the best with it. If that is fun for you, enjoy. I would report a blantant farm and of course any copyright infringement or arcs that violate the rules, but so far the most I've ever done is one star a few. I really can be a softie because I've not done that too often either. What works for some might not always work for me.

And what works for me often will not work for everyone else. So I dont judge other that harshly unless they are actively trying to ruin others fun for NO reason at all (i.e. obvious griefing)

The Original post was amusing either way. Good to hear that it worked atleast twice for you!

I folded laundry, ate dinner and well of course came here to the boards.

Typical night when the game or server goes poof

Omg! Again truly hilarious Thank you SteelClaw that was great both posts, as always

Hello again all!

I thought it might be time for yet another Recruitment Update

So here we go!



Working Together To Build A Better Life For All Metahumans!


Leadership : A Roundtable like leadership supports and guides our team, allowing for a large degree of independance amongst our membership.

How to Reach us!: PM here, Our In-Game, or through our forum's Boards!

Our Boards can be reached here at this link or down below

THE TEMPLARS OF THE ABBEY WEBPAGE

Description :

<IC>The Templars are the remenants of the Students and Facualty who remained in Paragon to fight the good fight after the Closure of the NEW PORTER INSTITUTE. Banded together through the years by common goals and mutual friendship and loyalty to each other these heroes banded together to form their own Supergroup.

Centered around a popular King's Row Nightspot, a Metahumans only Posh Private club called the Abbey, owned and operated by the former NPI Headmaster Galen Mentalis, The group called dubbed themselves 'The Templars' . Both Protectors of the city and the club they now rallied around as a meeting place!

Where once N.P.I. stood to gain equal ground and secure a future for just Mutants, the Templars now seek to maintain that same goal for all Metahumans everywhere , while maintining law and order protecting the City and society that has become their home!



Description:

<ooc> Hi! The Templars are a long established SG, with a richly established RP History. Most of our core group members have been on the server and with the group since Beta . Having played out our School theme to its fullest the Group has evolved into something more as our history and storylines continue to grow and evolve, and now we're looking for heroes of any AT and origin to join us and add to that!

The Templar title we use is just that a title to describe our members. Heroes who work out of and protect the Club named the Abbey. Own by our former headmaster. It is in no way a religious SG nor does it claim to have any ties to the Templars of history.

Much like NPI before it was created with the goal of creating a brighter future for Paragon. As well as heroism and world saving (we can't help it :P ), the Templars seem to range from the Dark Broody types to the full on Golden/Silver Age type Heroes that uphold the law and every type in between!

Recently the Templars of the Abbey have entered into a Coalition with the Wolfcry Division of S.D.I. As well as the SG team called The Paladins! Along with the United Sentinels of American we interact with a wonderful bunch of folks who have a rich sense of RP and fantastic set of creative imaginations. So far the events we have shared with them have been tremendous fun!

We also maintain a villian organization, our arch rival team known as 'The Nemesis Council". While having no connection to the Steam powered Mad Man, the VG has been a wonderful source of RP and foils for the Templars.

The Info for the Vg is also NOW located on our Webpage. So come be evil with us as well as join us fight for freedom and justice!

Our Recruitment policy and official application procedure,are stickied on our application section of our boards! so it's a good idea for prospective members to take a look at that thread. It may appear daunting but it really isnt..what is key for us is mutual respect for each other and to have fun!

Bascially fill out an application and set up an interview!!

Although we have have a small regular member base, We'd like you to be apart of it if you are looking for good consistant RP and to add to our SG's ever changing Storylines and rich established history!

Any questions feel free to contact me or Lucianna in game or any of the officers noted on the boards.!

Hope to see ya out there!

D!

Globals to contact for any questions -

@Lucianna and

@Diamond - Templars of the Abbey Webpage once more!

February 3rd,2007 - Peregrine Island

Sirens filled the air, rubber tires screeched against an unforgiving asphalt as the sounds of helicopters filled the air. Shotgun shells hammered in and though out the garish nightclub, tearing through glaring neon walls and flinging shrapnel around everywhere. Deftly moving through their section of the chaos, a four man SWAT team took their places in the club. Each member gripped a jet black MP5 in their hands.

“Alright, men, on my orders!" barked their commander through his throat mic. " Pops, you’re taking the left flank. Sara, get behind the stage. Kruege, get to the upstairs window. I’ve got post behind the bar. Weaps Hot!”

It was dead silent at the Blue Parrot. A Gang War had erupted into the streets of Paragon City yet again. The underground terrorist group called the Council had begun to take over businesses all across the docks here in Peregrine. A Longbow Base had been bombed with the Council's own new prototype stealth 'bunker buster'. The PCPD and Longbow had to deal with it on their own. And to top it all off, The Carnival of Shadows had entered the fray by capturing both the North Point Yard facility from the Council.

The leader of the SWAT team, codenamed Cerebus, slowly crept to the front door to see where the attack was coming from. He immediately spotted a black and silver painted Zenith Mek striding up to about 40 yards away from the Malibu milling around the large robot several dozen several dozen black armored Council soldiers darted here and there..

“Alright, cops. Hands over your heads and step out of the bar or we blast your ***** outta there!” boomed a filtered voice.

Cerebus sighed and turned to calmly walked back to the bar. Kruege turned to his tac boss a curious look under his tactical balaclava.

“So, Cereb, what exactly are we facing? 9? 10 of ‘em?”

“Oh, I’d say about 70, and they’ve got one of their walking tanks.”

“WHAT!” Sara hissed. "Where the **** is our hero support?"

“Don’t worry, Hero support is a bit occupied troop..." The large ever growing whine of charging energy weapons outside grew rapidly to the point of deafening as Cerebus barked over it. " just.... GET YOUR ***** SOME COVER AND DUCK!”

Tank shells, energy discharges and small arms fire blasted into the small club. The front roofing collapsed immediately and half-blocked the entrance in a cloud of debris. After about 9 or 10 blasts, the club caught fire as half of the 70 man Council Company charged into the club.

As soon as the first terrorist ran into the club sweeping his rifle around for a target to strike, a hail of well placed armor piercing 9 mm rounds blasted furiously at the entrance. The two dozen or so council warriors that rushed in first were met with a gift from the little SMG's that could. Bodies twisted and fell, some arching backwards as their specialized body armor was put to the test. From their well defended positions of cover the Swat team poured it on driving the surviving members of the council to cover.

Quickly recovering from the opening barrage the surviving soldiers splits to the sides of the Swat teams kill zone in an attempt to outflank them. Shotgun shells ripped though the club, met with the well trained bursts of the MP5s. Several more Council soldiers fell moments later as a blast filled the ruined entrance to the club as the Zenith exploded. Soon the blast was followed by an almost unbelievable amount of automatic fire. Caught off guard and ill prepared for this new assault the Council soldiers fell back.

“What the ****?” asked Pops as he slammed home a fresh clip into his still smoking weapon.

“Quiet….” said Cerebus holding up his gloved fist. "Do you hear that?"

A buzzing sound entered the ears of the team. At first it was only as loud as a bee, but then it grew…louder and louder.

“MALTA!” screamed the SWAT leader. "COVER!"

Rockets rained down and slammed into the whole Eastside Dockyard. Council terrorists and Carnies scattered around for cover desperately but the carpet bombing continued. The warehouse, The large rusted Crane, and The Blue Parrot all erupted into flame. Council Warriors as the few remaining Carnies flew up in all directions from the explosions, smacking into buildings, raining into the ground and sea along with the rest of the burning debris. Some burst into flame and their charred bodies screamed in pain as they writhed amongst the ruins.

Cerebus dived away from the bar as the bottled alcohol ignited and exploded, as debris rained down from the crumbling building. Quickly gathering his team Cerebus herded the stunned and shaken police officers outside, ducking rocks, cement, and hot metal. A soot covered patrol officer turned to face them, waving them over to his overturned squad car.

"Here! Over here!" ducking back down as the team dove over and around its metal frame for cover as the pair of Malta Zeus continued to rain fire down on Council positions.

“GET DOWN!” Sara screamed.

A giant flat piece of metal flew down and struck the top of the ruined car sliding over the cowering officers like a metal lean too. It was too heavy to lift, but luckily it protected them from falling debris and minor explosions. Bombs screamed through the air and smacked into the ground causing eruptions of fire as the Malta soon found themselves facing the long awaited hero support. Cerebus looked up to see the woman hero wink at him, Knowing she must've flung the piece of metal to protect them. He tossed her a half hearted wave of thanks she never saw as she returned to the Malta machines.

After a few minutes that seemed like hours silence gripped the dock as the fighting shifted away from them.

“Kruege, help me dig our way out of here.”

Cerebus shoved the stock of the gun into the side of the debris and began to clear it away.

The officers stood one by one, Sara pausing to help the patrolman stand and leaned next to his ruined cruiser. A quick survey around them showed the Blue Parrot and the surrounding dock were all now black and charred. The bar had fallen on its side and smashed into the buildings next to it, setting fire to them both. The Blue Parrot had been completely gutted now with fire, and Pops chuckled as he noticed the large sign for the Blue Parrot had been what the woman hero had dumped over them as the shield that had saved them from the Zeus' fire. All around them lay the Council team that had tried to kill them just minutes before.

“Cerebus to dispatch, Dispatch?, do you read me?! Eastside dock section around the Blue Parrot has been bombed. We will need a bus for the survivors. Do you read me?”

“I read you Cerebus. Be advised all emergency vehicles are en-route?”

Cerebus sighed and leaned against the wrecked police cruiser as his team fanned out to check the fallen council members for wounds and weapons. His team was fine, they had gotten right back to work securing the area as in the distance the fighting could still be heard.

The wounded patrolman turned to him and asked in a shaken voice. “Is this the end of it?” asked the young cop

Cerebus chuckled, has to be a rookie.

“Nope. It’s just the beginning.” he turned to the boy "It's Paragon City Son...this **** happens all of the time."

Cerebus turned to look at the twisted broken frames of the twin zeus mechs. Damn , he thought. Why did they get involved? His eyes scanned over the docks and the untouched field of warehouses beyond. ****, for the Malta to involve themselves in a dockyard squabble means they are hidin' bigger **** down here...

Yeah, he smirked. But hidin' what?

The sounds of the ambulances drew near as Cerebus rejoined his team in securing the area around them.

[ QUOTE ]
Idiocy, however, is punishable by me suggesting 'Hey, see those guys kitted out SOCOM style? They're wimps! Go beat them up!'

Welcome to Sapperville, grasshopper.

[/ QUOTE ]

*snickers* Very fitting!

Ignorance can be very very fatal. Doesn't anyone ever read their Bradbury anymore?

Name: THE TEMPLARS OF THE ABBEY

Currently Recruiting: We are accepting new members who enjoy some good RP and SL that are run in game and on our boards.

RP Level: RP-intensive

PvP Level: Casual, up to the indivual

Theme/Concept: The Templars are the remenants of the Students and Facualty who remained in Paragon to fight the good fight after the Closure of the NEW PORTER INSTITUTE. Banded together through the years by common goals and mutual friendship and loyalty to each other these heroes banded together to form their own Supergroup.

Centered around a popular King's Row Nightspot, a Metahumans only Posh Private club called the Abbey, owned and operated by the former NPI Headmaster Galen Mentalis, The group called dubbed themselves 'The Templars' . Both Protectors of the city and the club they now rallied around as a meeting place!

Where once N.P.I. stood to gain equal ground and secure a future for just Mutants, the Templars now seek to maintain that same goal for all Metahumans everywhere , while maintining law and order protecting the City and society that has become their home!

Activity: We are a small but dedicated group of rpers who have been around since Beta and have several on going RP sl's in progress at any given time. We are not activity intensive but have been known to run SG and Coalition TF's and are always around if a fellow Templar needs a hand. Mostly independant we always manage to find time to rp and help out when truly needed. We have a mix of timezones running from early evening EST to the wee hours of the morning when outr 'night owls' members arrive

Requirements for Membership: Must read and agree to adhere to our charter, which is mostly good common sense concerning the respect of others play and that of your own! and fill out a appication with a solid background

Leadership: A roundtable of Officers dating back to beta and after

In-Game Contact(s): @Lucianna and

@Diamond - TEMPLARS OF THE ABBEY WEBPAGE!

SyFy

Just when you thought Bonnie Hammer and the idiots running that network couldn't dumb things down even more over there.

*sighs* Something like this has been a long long time coming.

The most hated person in CoH....and I've never heard of him?

I love it when reporters do their background investigation to get both sides of a story. It is hardly too much of a journalistic effort to scan the so called threads and forums of the offical boards to cite such obvious hate

Just lazy and inaccurate. Even reading these stories about the professor, he griefed folks then was all shocked and shaken when someone threatened him?

*facepalm* To be honest I am glad I have never heard of him, but I will say said research sounds a tad flawed.

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In before mod lock

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lol if this thread was gonna be locked it would've been pages ago

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Post Deleted by Moderator_08

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I think he alone represents over half of the PVP player base. Fortunately, he could probably be tricked into voting himself out if we all promised to let him take it back afterward.

Attache

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Too funny, cause it is most likely true.

Either way it was awesome to see

OMG, I just finished reading this thread! Incredible entertainment.

The OP is such a clear bold faced turnip Caught trolling, admitting it, flaunting a plan to avoid the mods and then ....wow...just wow.

Best part of this thread for me was the community as a whole. Coming out and rallying around a lifestyle that for the most part they do not agree with or partake in. However they defended its rights over sheer stupidity.

OP I have to say in all my years I have never seen anyone simply fail to spell 'mad' correctly....over and over again.

What a thread...

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Alright but apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, fresh water system, and public health... what have the devs ever done for us?

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Awesome quote!

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That breaks the honeypot. If the RMT's know that such a feature exist they will choose other vectors, such as broadcast or tells, to do their spamming. I'd rather have them confined to the email ghetto.

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I agree its a minor inconvience to just hit delete or spam or as been suggested earlier just ignore the red button, I remember the tell hell of their spams.

I can live with a little weekly house cleaning of spam. Heck they get reported anyways and then that costs the RMT money over time.

Meh, I rp and have been with an rp group (NPI and then Templars of the Abbey) since beta. We have had girls playing guy heroes and guys playing girl heroes. We have even had some we couldn't really tell but they were great rpers so it really didn't matter.

Rp does not mean Cyber, its just playing out a role as if one would in a Pen and Paper RPG or act in a play. What makes rp neat for me is its just an ADD on to the game. It accents it and makes it a little more fun, making me feel like I am in a comic book.

If done right that is, however my SG beside rping has RPErs that are badgers too, and TF hounds and PVPers and MA writers and those who love to run through content and paper missions...well play the game, outfitting their characters hami's and purples and crafting...

You know play the game....if done right all RP does is add an nice element to the game, not become the only element of CoX.

For me its been 60 months of fun, for the rp and for the game.

Some folks dont like it and that is cool with me, If I am in a PUG that doesnt, well then I stay ooc and focus on the mission and xps. If they do rp well then I do the same as above but talk in character...

To each his or her own I believe, as long as the drama is low and the game is played Im fine it

June 9th, 2009 - Steel Canyon


Bill was tired.

Tired of thinking.

Tired of being responsible, of being the responsible one.

Tired of looking for these witches who had hurt those he had come to care about, tired of looking for little Katrina and now for Luci (even though he knew he would never stop until they were found). He was tired of seeing that look in Patti's eyes every time he would leave for patrol with Kara, promising it wouldn't be late when he returned.

He was so [censored] tired of everything.

He sighed as he swirled the last bit of whiskey around the bottom of the glass before tilting the glass to let the amber liquid slide down his throat. In all these years, he still had never been able to get used to the burning sensation of the alcohol.

Tonight though, it reassured him that he was still able to feel.

He got up to pour himself another shot. He always kept the bottle in the kitchen. He figured that if he had to get up and go get it, he'd never go that one drink too many. It was that same reasoning that had him making sure he changed out of his costume, made sure he left Guardian Star at the door for Patti each night he came home. Placing his suit and the lock box with his communicator into the closet.

He poured the drink and as he set the bottle aside, the flashing light on his answering machine caught his attention. He knew the call was from Lewis, a friend from high school who he had once played lacrosse and hockey with, who now worked in the city.

He'd been here, listening as Lewis left the message. He figured that was where Patti had gone while he had been out tonight fighting, no punishing the Malta with Kara. She would be with their clique of friends for comfort while he was out trying to save his fellow heroes.
He sighed and then with his finger he finally pushed the button to play it back.

"Hey Bro, it's been forever man. You never call me back anymore. Come on, dude, that's just wrong. Okay, that's the end of lecture. Look, a bunch of us are down at Kelly's, we'll be here all night, man. Patti really wants you to come by; she says she hasn't seen you in forever. You know, other than just the routine apartment hello and good bye stuff..."

There was a long pause in the message, in which Bill was able to hear the sounds of the busy bar. Lewis continued, his voice lower, quieter and serious, "Bill, it's time man. Think about it, before you don't come. We'll be here until last call, I... I... we really hope to see you down here. All right. Bye."

"Bill, it's time. Bill... Think about it. It's... Think about it. Time... THINK ABOUT IT. THINKATBOUTIT! THINKABOUTIT! " The phrase echoed in his head. [censored] it, Bill thought as he threw his glass across the kitchen, shattered glass and whiskey flying around the room.

"I'm [censored] tired of thinking about it!" Bobby yelled. It was then he heard his comm go off in the closet. A soft insistent buzzing, not the code the Templars use, but a city band.

The Corps were calling on him, even after that mess in Peregrine tonight.

He crossed the room in three long strides and yanked open the closet door. As he reached up, the lock box on the shelf was in his sight line. His hand landed on his leather jacket, he felt the supple leather caress his palm and he could smell the remnants of his cologne from the last time he'd worn it, but still his eyes focused on the lock box and its buzzing. So often, on reflex he would answer the call, don his costume and like Kara streak into the night sky and join whatever battle the police and the corps could not contain.

This was IT.

It hit him then, deep in the gut. He knew it, he finally knew it. He closed his eyes and drew deep even breaths. Raising his head to look up at the ceiling, up to the heavens, he knew this was it. This is what IT had always been on those nights when sleep wouldn't come and doubts would come creeping in.

But no more.

The thought of IT repelled him. There was no appeal to IT at all. Kara would take the call, she would go. Like she had so often in the past, often with him by her side. Even more so since these non stop attacks on the Templars had begun over four months ago now. He wasn't like her, he couldn't keep at it all of the time. He needed it to stop, if only for a little bit. The call had nothing to do with Luci or Katrina, and if it did he knew Kara would call his cell.

This was the it that terrified Patti, that like Kara he would be more Guardian Star than William Chamberlin, more hero than boyfriend. He drew a deep breath and made his decision for tonight.

He pulled the leather jacket from its hanger and slammed the closet door. He picked up his keys and wallet from the table by the front door. Opening the door, he slipped one arm into the jacket and as he slammed the door closed behind him, he slid his arm into the other sleeve and shrugged the jacket into place.

Kelly's sounded like a good idea.

Kara would find him if she really needed him, or if the girls were found. Tonight he just needed it to stop.

If only for a little while...

January 30th, 2007 - The Hive

Pain

It was the Pain that drove him always, the bright searing agony of fire in his blood. He came to believe there was nothing but the pain, nothing but the torture of his existence. His paradise had grown as he began to outstretch take root and expand. Men and women firing their noisy sticks, blasting, tearing, burning, hurting him and leaving him to die.

He remembered the beginning of the agony his life had been relatively peaceful until they came. His memories of that time were fractured as it was before his evolution...an awakening.

His awakening the very thought coursed through his soul. Had he been capable any more, he would have smiled at the phrase because he never asked for it, had never wanted it. It was in fact merely his true destiny. He sometimes longed for the time before, before the pain and before his hatred, before his desire to change the true face of the world.

His awakening had come sometime after the men who had sought him had left, all he clearly remembered was the light the blinding white, hot light that had engulfed his body. A pain that burned him to his very core and the awareness.... true awareness for the first time in his long existence of change. He felt his body tear and expand, his muscles dissolve and flow. He felt himself become stronger, His mind once that of a mere man became something more, and of course the pain that this transformation brought.

Yes the light had brought all theses things but it also brought one other. This was the fault of man, man and his world had done this to him, and that world had tried to destroy him again and again but had failed. Then the newest feeling that his change had brought him, Hate. He hated the so called heroes and their devices he would destroy them all. He hated being contained, his instincts, his hunger all contained. They would suffer for this, what they had done to him. A new world would arise gloriously growing across the ruins of the old.

He slept for a long time after this most recent fight. He was unsure of how long, but a passing helicopter awakened him. The rage and hate boiled up immediately here was a chance for vengeance, here was a chance to inflict the pain on them. He rose from the depths of his earth where he had been sleeping and unleashed his fury. The helicopter ceased to exist as soon as the hellish beam that had been released from his massive form engulfed it, and even more surprisingly the pain nearly vanished, but the moment was very short lived. For the searing pain began to bubble up almost immediately after the pleasure of of the attack had subsided. He had to have more, just as he had before. It was as it always had been, he would awaken and begin the cycle of change, his true destiny, his true nature and they would arrive.

He would again seek to smash the walls that stunted his growth, to once more release his nature upon their world giving him the relief from the pain. Deep within him was the satisfaction of knowing there were now fewer of those pitiful annoyances that he would have to deal with later. Soon even this most recent assault upon him time grew tiresome. He wanted more, more relief, more change.

He could still feel /her/ though she was quite far away now. The one whose dreams he sought out. His reasons for it flowed through his pain, swirling and dancing amidst his hunger and need. He suspected now they purpose they had for trying to awaken her but he would have to bind his time.

For it was the other that was the mystery to him. The other that was ever so close, yet frustratingly out of reach.

He arose and flowed out across the desolated landscape of his containment, his hive. His massive form fluttered and shook as the winds and snow whipped around him. A small degree of satisfaction filled him as he could once more feel his army of 'children' stir from their dormancy to bow in reverence. Any bystander would have been chilled at the site of what could only be described as an entire forest of tree and rock bow before their master...their God.

Memories of the most recent battle still showed in the ruined landscape, hidden partially by the blanket of snow. Then they had attacked with beasts made of metal firing their noisy sticks and lights of pain that had so long ago nearly led to his destruction. He felt comfort somehow in the masses that now surrounded him.

Slowly ever so slowly as his awareness returned, he realized his body was healing itself, its form regrew, blood vessels sealed and his mitochondria dance once more within him. Once again the God of the Hive began to feel whole.

The humans had failed to destroy him, failed to prevent their own extinction. He was becoming even stronger than before, he could feel this somehow. Soon they would again taste his wrath, very soon it would be time to crack these walls and grow once more.

It was then that he felt the presence of a strange creature within the Hive. The presence was close, it had been there as he rose. He had always felt just not been able to concentrate. It was one of them. The powered beings that so often tried in vain to prevent the inevitable. Alone, so foolish of it. With a deep rumble he began to command his children to converge....then stopped.

It was the other...

Perched high atop one of the rocky spires that over looked his magnificence she stood.

Watching...

Excitement coursed through him. He had felt her presence many of times. She had stood against his evolution so many times. She often she was amongst those that hurt, those who had brought pain. He could see 'some' of this other. This disturbed him, she was a powerful source of energy. Yet part of her he could not see and this intrigued him. Memories flowed through now to dance with his pain and hunger. He felt more alive then ever as he remembered, as he reasoned.

This other had one time disrupted the attack on him. Once not long ago she had used such glorious energy to drive back the men and women of her world to spare him the pain. The other had allowed him to escape once.

Why?

He observed her as she observed him intently for quite awhile as the winter wind caressed the white land around them. What does she want? His sense can feel her thoughts, her feelings as she stood silent above him. Threats, defiance, devotion, conviction flow across the white void to him as loud as the howling of the blustery wind. He flowed and shifted as he observed her. A word ebbed up from deep within him, a word ...no a name befitting this 'other'...

This word stayed with him as, after another long while she flew off back to the entrance to his cage. This simple word summed up all she was to him...no what she was to /her/ for him.

....Protector.

He reached to feel for any others within his cage and found only his children. He was safe, he sensed nothing, no sign of the presence of the old world. Then the wind picked up and cleansed the air around him and his new world order. He would have to do something about this 'Protector'. It was time to once more begin anew..

His form fluttered and shook as he uttered a battle cry that would warn the world. A cry that shook the very war walls that surrounded him.

The unstoppable force of creation had awakened once more...

I can't wait! I love the Screenshots!