Mr_Grey

Dang. Would've been cool, though, if he had won despite never being here...

Cobalt Black stood at the train station, listening to his communicator blare out the trouble still occuring at the location he just said was clear.

"Sonova..." he grumbled, "Someone made a liar outta me..."

"[censored] it" Kip's voice came clearly for a second, then was lost as he seemed to quiet down.

Cobalt was certain he heard a loud boom moments before that, then a horrendous explosion. Then static tore through the speaker and he winced.

"Ugh..." C.B. gazed longingly at the train and the promise of a warm welcome at his destination, then turned back and started heading for his compatriot.

"Coulda' been anything that caused that static... especially since I can hear stuff going on again... But if I don't at least make sure Kip's alright, Randy and Zeke both will take turns taking rounds outta me."

He kicked on his kinetic-pneumatic leap boosters and prepared for a hop into the wild blue yonder...

Lord Diov: 14
Khellendrosiic: 19
Hallucinogen: 17
Essex: 18
Prodiguy: 16
The Soviet: 18
Lazarus: 14
Devious Me: 18
Burning Brawler: 16
Arashi: 15
Halo Inc: 15
Billy Boy: 16
Leo Gunner: 13
Pheonyx: 14
Mithral Zeta: 16
Cowman: 13
Moiread Scott: 15
Seikon: 13
Coldfire Kaiser: 2
Army of Grey: 15
Ozell One: 18

Considered putting Kaiser out of his misery, thought better of it and decided there might be a chance for a comeback so I healed him instead.

Shot Pheonix... You know, to give him one to grow on.

Lord Diov: 15

Khellendrosiic: 17

Hallucinogen: 17

Essex: 17

Prodiguy: 16

The Soviet: 16

Lazarus: 15

Devious Me: 18

Burning Brawler: 16

Arashi: 15

Halo Inc: 14

Billy Boy: 16

Leo Gunner: 13

Pheonyx: 15

Mithral Zeta: 16

Cowman: 14

Moiread Scott: 15

Seikon: 13

Coldfire Kaiser: 7

Army of Grey: 15

Ozell One: 15

Healed Devious for... 1 point...

Sorry, Ozell. Closed my eyes, scrolled, and there you were... bang.

((Oh wow... I'm on this... I feel so welcome!))

Lord Diov: 15

Khellendrosiic: 17

Hallucinogen: 16

Essex: 16

Prodiguy: 16

The Soviet: 15

Lazarus: 15

Devious Me: 15

Burning Brawler: 15

Arashi: 15

Halo Inc: 15

Billy Boy: 16

Leo Gunner: 14

Pheonyx: 15

Mithral Zeta: 15

Cowman: 14

Moiread Scott: 15

Seikon: 15

Coldfire Kaiser: 11

Army of Grey: 14

Ozell One: 16

Fixed Soviet's name to reflect his current moniker...

Healed Essex because, really her friendliness got me inspired to join you guys...

Shot Soviet because... well... actually it was random. I closed my eyes and scrolled and that's what I beheld when I opened them.

Kip sighed in relief, "I don't even know, Gunslinger... But you've stopped shooting, and that's good enough for-"

He stopped in midsentence, gazing upward suddenly as he watched the werewolf assault the sniping position. He winced behind the mask on his face as the wolf seemed to get ripped in half, then saw what must have been the sniper, another Malta Agent, firing radically in his direction, bullets impacting all around and some even pelting him. They felt like paintballs fired from twenty feet.

"[censored] it..." he muttered as he reached behind his back and the armor spat a green cylinder from out of his utility belt into his hand, which he promptly slammed into his leg and said, "Sorry, man. Looks like the whole situation is way out of our hands, now."

And he attacked Curtis with a sidekick aimed at his upper chest.

((<Sees above post by October-Raven...> My eyes! I'm blind, I cannot see!))

LR: "Hmm... Blue Widow... I think we might have to-"

GW: "Who the Hell is Blue Widow!?"

LR: "... Blue Widow? Uh... Well... You see..."

Lord Recluse jumps out of the window instead of giving a complete answer.

CM: "How does a guy so ugly get so much play?"

Scirroco: (shakes head sadly)

My main villain's theme is "Fuel" by Metallica. Yeah, it's about race cars, but I feel it fits a technologically based Brute named Power Breaker.

((I just realized... it's still midday, or at most afternoon... Man, my characters are a group of rowdy drunks :P Also, Prodiguy, that is frickin hilarious.))

Power Breaker

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Raymond Harris is an unfortunate victim of our legal system. I say this because it's true... Though the resulting Power Breaker doesn't seem to hold it against the good people of Paragon.

As Raymond Harris, this individual was a petty thief, thug, small-time loan shark and, most importantly, a courier for the Family. As Power Breaker, he has become one of the class of rogues commonly known as Brutes, and has been quite violent on the Etoile Isles... oddly enough, against fellow villainous groups like the Circle of Thorns, or the Council.

Harris was convicted of murder after (he alleges) an Outcast murdered a Tsoo courier in an alley he happened to be walking through at the time. Whether this involved a package exchange or was simply a casual coincidence is not known. What is known, is that Raymond Harris was caught brandishing a weapon at the Outcast, and Randall Grey was unable to find a weapon on the gang member.

Sadly, Raymond's weapon matched the bullet that had killed the courier ballistically...

It was a landslide case. Citizens of Paragon were troubled and angry that a "normal" human being would dare to commit such an open atrocity. Perhaps the fact that Raymond was a normal person for once (despite his ties to the Family, he was far too small time to have received any dosage of Superadine) further bolstered the jury to "make an example" of him.

In prison, Raymond was a marked man. A Tsoo assassin was somehow able to craft up some crude claws from silverware, tape, and pieces of a lunch tray. When they were passing each other, one on the way to a cell and the other headed for lunch, the assassin tore at Raymond's eye and stabbed him in the gut before being brought down by the guards.

Raymond's liver had been punctured, and it seemed there was little hope for him. His life being spared by machinery, he jumped at the first chance he was given to survive, a radical medical treatment from the Crey Bionetics division. He had no idea what he was about to be put through, but they promised it would save his life.

He had no idea the serum would disfigure him so badly. His muscular development was pushed well beyond the limits of normal human capability and his body started radiating an energy field capable of deflecting almost anything thrown at it. Of course, while in prison, Harris's powers were nullified.

We have been able to determine, due to rare pieces of information leaked to us, that the serum may have been based off of Kheldian research. Nictus energy signatures have been detected within Power Breaker's protective energy field, though the effect seems to have been altered. Instead of producing Kheldian signature attack powers or shields, it seems the nictus crystals are simply utilized as a power source for the nanites that made up the main body of the serum. The nanites also provide Power Breaker with an instantaneous heads-up display and access to the Internet from whatever location he happens to be, though wireless signal strength seems to have something to do with it.

Power Breaker was broken out of prison by Arachnos, and he seems intent on not repaying the favor. However, he has engaged in severalacts against Paragon to keep up appearances. Damage has been, thus far, minimal and easily repaired.

One of the more dastardly acts this rogue has commited, however, was the assault on Serafina. However, he left a note fo apology in the genie's hair after the fight was done:

"I'm sorry, ma'am, for what I had to do. I've gotta make these Arachnos goons think I'm still in their pocket or they're gonna be a might mad at me. Maybe, someday, I'll be able to redeem myself, but for now, I'll have to hope this sad little note will suffice.

-Ray Harris"

Serafina doesn't seem to bear a grudge against the villain, and Power Breaker seems to have been rewarded with the powers of Arachnos's Mu soldiers. How this was capable when Power Breaker's abilities clearly lie within the technological, is still something of a mystery.

"Remember kids, always drink your milk and eat your vegetables. Then you can grow up to be big and strong like Statesman."

((There he is in my backgrounder... At the end, now.))

In a far corner of the club, relaxing in a booth chair, a massive spikey Brute named Power Breaker suddenly found himself chilling out with two Carnival Mistresses. Grinning, he breathed deeply, his nanite network alerting him that all he was seeing was a halllucinogenic dream.

"I don't care," he bellowed, "I like this... Just keep this from going all Vanilla Sky on me, and whoever's hitting us with this stuff, keep it coming. For once, I'm actually entertained by this place..."

He reached for where his beer should have been, but realized it was gone...

"Hm... a slight drawback..."

The upper right corner of Kipland Durj's lip twitched as the bullets slammed into the passive shield protecting him. As the rounds continued to find their mark on his torso, it started to seem there was some sort of bizare body armorhovering jsut inches above his skin.

"To Hell with it," he muttered before his eyes flashed.

The black purple smoke expanded out and wrapped around his body. It then coalesced and solidified into a bizare biorganic seeming body armor. There were no more explosions, but rounds bouncing to the ground.

"Will you stop doing that, [censored] hat?" he barked when the Gunslinger went to reload, "I've had enough of a day with you guys already! I've had it up to here with you guys," he chopped just under his own neck, "and I'm on my final straw... So... before this becomes a ridiculously unnecessary bloodbath, CALM the [censored] DOWN!"

((I'd figure Malta operatives would be bothered about what looks like another Malta Operative looking for them, but whatever. I kind of have to wait for Soviet Troll's characters to make their next move, mine have made theirs (C.B. leaving, Kip walking out into the middle of the street) until they're presented a new opportunity to act/react... Am I getting the etiquette for this RPing experience right? I never intended to become so heavily involved... I just wanted to be nice and hand off a pizza.))

((It doesn't bother Reikoff that it appears there's a Gunslinger stalking him?))

"So... There's nobody else up here, huh?" Cobalt Black hollered after his glance about the rooftop revealed nothing, "Nobody at all, huh!?"

He could almost swear he heard crickets answering him.

"[censored] probably figured I was on my way..." he grumbled as he holstered his pistols and pulled the communicator back up, "Kip?"

"You never turned it off," came the reply.

"Yeah... Looks like it's all clear up here. I'm gonna go roof hopping and try to snag a train back to my apartment. I've got company waiting for me."

"Mindy and Misty, huh?"

"Yeah... They're nice. See ya tomorrow."

The seeming gunslinger then turned and started strolling to the edge of the rooftop.
--------------------------------------------------------

Kip looked out the door and tried to get the attention of the werewolf or the dragon.

"Hey, hey guys, a friend of mine says that it might be clear out there..." he waited a few seconds for a reply, "Guys?"

He stepped outside cautiously, looking up to see if his friend might have been mistaken.

Suddenly, C.B. was hit with a horrible thought...

"Hm... Maybe this sin't the right rooftop..."

Holstering the pistol in his left hand, he called up Kipland Durj.

"Kip! KIP! Any clue yet on where the guy was shooting you from?"

"How the Hell should I know?" Kipland's voice, which sounded oddly similar to Cobalt Black's, replied loudly from the communicator, "I guess from where I am... The building I'm in. I think that's where the muzzle flash came from..."

"Hm... Well, nothing up here now... I'll do a cursory search and if I don't find anything, I'll let you know the coast is clear for now..."

Cobalt put the communicator back on his belt, drew his pistol again and started stalking across the rooftop.

Cobalt Black 3-8-9 landed on an empty rooftop.

"Don't bother hiding," he pulled his Beretta 9mms and started cycling his aim to anywhere nearby that would provide cover, "I'll find you eventually, and it won't be fun. I just wanna have a little talk, Boss..."

When the bullet hit, a puff of purple smoke erupted from Kipland's chest, nullifying the impact (sort of; he still felt it, but it was like getting hit by a baseball bat), and he stood up slowly. Gritting his teeth, he pulled out his communicator device and dialed in a number. He could feel rounds impacting around his body as he strolled leisurely (albeit staggeringly) to a nearby building.

"Hi, yeah, it's me. Uh... I'm kind of hung up right now... Well... I kind of need you to come by and pick me up... I'm not sure which rooftop he or she's on, I just know it's one of 'em. The same way I know when it's one of 'em when leaping through Bricks, P.I., or the Folly. Oh yeah, they caused me to spill the pizzas."
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((This next guy isn't new, you guys just don't know me very well and I don't want to feel like I'm springing anything on anybody, so please peruse the Kingdale Backgrounder for a currently incomplete list of the characters at my disposal. I wrote it like some Freedom Corps clerk had to write it all down!))

In the base of Grey's Army, Cobalt Black 3-8-9 clicked off his communicator and started muttering to himself angrily.

"To think... I was about to have me some fun with these two Carnie initiates tonight..." he turned to Kip's brother, and yelled to him," NESTER! I need you to hit me with some of that mind-clearing medical mumbo-jumbo crap!"

Nester pulled a blue glove with green glowing circuitry out of his sleeve and placed his palm on his friend's head.

"Cobalt... This will get rid of your drunk state, but you're still gonna have a Hell of a hangover..."

"I know," Cobalt Black grumbled, "I got me some greens... I should be fine. I'll take the toll outta whoever's wasting my time."

Grabbing his guns from a rack near the teleporters, he plugged in the coordinates for the location he got from his double's communicator. With a crisp salute to Nester, he disappeared in a flash of light.

Kip was dumbfounded when the werewolf shouted for them to get to cover, and promptly knocked over when he tried to push him to safety. Lying on his back, he stared blankly into the sky. Pizza boxes, semi-triangular slices of bread, spilled cheese, pepperoni, green and red sliced bell peppers, sausage bits and olive rings scattered past his left shoulder, not to mention the afore-mentioned Canadian Bacon. The entire left side of his face started to twitch involuntarily and dark purple smoke started emanating from his eyes.

"I have bad news..." he growled, "My good mood is gone."

"What [censored] is so self-righteous he forsakes Canadian Bacon pizza?" Kip muttered as he watched the smoke trail off into the distance.

Then, turning to the wolf and the dragon(?), he waved the box a little, "My treat... I think you'll find it has more use than a paper card."

"Nah, I'm on my way to a small party, and I kinda' overestimated how much we'd need..." Kipland replied with a grin, "I'm in an odd mood right now... For once, I'm feeling good, and it makes me feel kinda bummed to see anybody not playing nice, so... here..."

Balancing the other boxes against his shoulder, he held out the one he had grabbed from the top. The smell of Canadian Bacon emanated from within the box.

[ QUOTE ]
Also, a quick question to my fellow pistoleers:

How are you incorporating a snipe? <_< Pistols are, after all, close quarters only weapons...

[/ QUOTE ]

This isn't exactly true. A weapon's capability depnds largely on it's design and the ammunition it utilizes. There are pistols designed for big game hunting, and scopes and ammunition designed accordingly.

In fact, the Malta Gunslingers wield the types of pistols that could be incorporated into this idea. If you look closely after knocking them down for the count, their six-shooters have itty-bitty scopes on them.

Kipland balanced the five boxes on his left and and stared at the situation in front of him. A Wyvern agent of some sort was aiming an explosive-tipped Rambo arrow at what looked like a human-sized dragon. Behind him, a werewolf stood glowering. It appeared the mercenary hero was quite outnumbered.

"Hey," he called to them as he reached for the top box of pizza, "I think you guys all need to calm down... Here, have a pizza. I ordered on an empty stomach and I think it might be too much."

Kipland Durj arrived in his apartment and saw the answering machine displaying that there were many messages eating up its memory. He hit the play button and headed for the bathroom.

"Kip? KIHHHHHHHHHHP!" Cedric's voice bellowed from the tiny speakers, "Where the Hell are you, man!? We've got a roarin' party goin' on down here!"

"I just found myself on the wrong end of a Malta Herc' Titan," Kip answered as he popped a couple aspirin tablets, "A lot of the city's villains didn't quit just because it's Valentine's Day... Though, oddly, the Carnival isn't quite as active tonight..."

He could hear the drumming sound of a couple other parties going on on other floors. He could even hear some in other buildings. Next door, there was the deep bass of Larry Black rumbling.

"I never should have moved into Skyway," he turned on the hot water and prepared to wash his face, "People in King's Row knew how to keep quiet..."

"Hey, Kip!" Mattock's voice came on in the next message, "What're you doin' workin' today? Come on down to the base party, man... I assure you, man, Cedric's too drunk to mess with ya because you don't have a date!"

Kip missed most of the rest as he showered off the dirt, grime and pain he had accumulated through the day. His right shoulder spasmed harshly suddenly under the hot water, and he collapsed to the floor when his left leg gave out to a cramp. Lying there, feeling the hot water scald his skin, he struggled to get his left hand to the cold water valve.

"Cripes, if it isn't one thing, it's another," he spat as the water cooled down, "What did I do today to make this so harsh!?"

First, there was the Nemesis troops that ambushed him outside the Peregrine Island bar. Then, there was the Council troopers who shot him out of the sky of Brickstown. Oddly, a couple Freaks helped him off the ground after that, but then he got assaulted by Malta Group agents jsut outside his apartment!

"What did I do to tick them off lately?"

He finished his shower and took a look at his injuries. Little more than bruising was evident, and it was rapidly fading. He shook his head at the restorative capability of his powers, and turned to getting dressed.

"...so... I was thinking you could maybe grab a pizza or two..." Cedric's voice slurred over the phone, "Oh! And we're running low on beer! We need a couple cases of- HEY! There will be none of THAT on the conference table! Oh, okay, just a little more... See you soon, man!"

*BEEP*

"Hey, man," Nester's voice called out, "I know you're having a rough day, bro..."

"Uh-huh," Kip hit the fridge and popped open a can of soda, "Rougher than normal in fact."

"And I want you to know that I feel for ya, man. Valentine's Day was rough on me for years, and that was before I had a girlfriend to spend it with. But, brother, I'm single now, but I'm still hangin' out here with our friends. We miss you, man. You shouldn't be alone tonight... I... Wait... How much ti-"

*BEEP*

"Okay... I was out of time," Nester came back on, "Look bro, just come down and hang out for a while. And, if you can, could you snag a couple pizzas on the way? Pepperoni is fine... We're all a little hungry here is all..."

The machine beeped and buzzed after that and clicked off. Kip hit the delete button and grabbed his wallet.

"To Hell with feeling sorry for myself," he barked, "I'm done with burying myself in bad guys and all of this emotionless killing machine crap! I'm going to that party and I'm going to enjoy myself, dammit!"

His stomach growled.

"I know, I know! I'm getting pizza, okay!?"

And he bolted out the door.