Pious

Happy Birthday. Aries for the win!

The first arc is almost finished but I've got about a dozen planned so you're welcome to join anytime.

The next arc will be called Siege at Steel Canyon.

The wounded brute turned around quickly to see his friends retreating and he followed suit. His mission to distract was done. Fighting through the cold, he made his way to the main road outside the hotel.

Lieutenant Hicks failed to produce identification at the hotel exit and the two security guards were growing suspicious. "I must have lost my badge upstairs" he said. "Open the doors and let me out, its okay."

But the guards knew better. Suddenly, a black 1960's cadillac screeched to a halt on the sidewalk outside the hotel, a man in a black suit peered out from the windows. "Get your [censored] in Gold" he screamed. Lieutenant Hicks bolted from the security guards, through the glass doors and into the cadillac.

With a cloud of dirt and smoke, the cadillac hit the road, circled around the block and came back to pick up some of the remaining men in suits.

((Yeah that might work. The roleplay forums have been very quiet. People are probably testing MA))

A haze of light shimmered around the female officer as she tried to form a cage around the stampeding brute but he was too fast and agile, he dodged the cage and redirected at full speed towards the woman. "Police!" shouted the man next to her, "you are under arrest". The remaining words rang inside the brute's mind like a dozen church bells. It caused a sharp headache that only made him angrier. Suddenly, the ground beneath him froze up in a thin layer of ice which almost took him off balance. The immediate temperature dropped dramatically and cold raindrops drizzled onto his black suit.

"Hey watch it will ya?" screamed the brute. "This is f*cking Versace!" but he was quickly forced to his knees, clamping his head in pain. Someone was messing with his mind but this wasn't the first time. The brute's face contorted with pure rage, his eyes blood red as he fought off the psychic intrusion. It was the man in the uniform, but he was now distracted, checking to see what the rest of the gang was doing. This was his chance to pummel him. Enraged and berserk, he charged. Out of nowhere, something appeared in his path, a woman with a glowing gauntlet and an poised rifle. Instinctively, the angry brute threw an arm into her, with such ferocity, enough to shatter a wall. Without stopping to find out if he struck or missed, the hulk powered on into melee range and struck wildly at the female police officer, aiming a fatal blow to her chest.

Meanwhile, inside the hotel, a large dark skinned man was pacing up and down a hallway, naked, with nothing but a cellphone in hand. The phone rang and he slammed it to his ear. "Ah-I f-f-f*cked up man, p-police are eh-eh-everywhere" he stammered, struggling to keep his voice at a whisper. "Y-you m-mean, y-you c-came f-for m-me? Sh-[censored] man, th-thank you. W-where sh-should I g-go?" he asked. "Y-yeah I g-got the m-money. Ah-about twe-twenty m-million. E-e-its in a s-s-safe place" he reported, waiting for whoever was on the other end to reply. "Oh-okay, g-good idea."

Minutes later, Lieutenant Hicks stepped out of the elevators and onto the lobby. He hastily made his way across and towards the exit, starring the two security guards squarely in the eyes. "Excuse me, Lieutenant" said the guard, "I'll need to see some ID, your orders."

"Lieutenant Hicks, sir" came a voice on the radio. "We found a body in the basement, looks like Abigail Christenson. Her heart has been perforated and her hands bound with ropes. Agent Emily theorized that Abigail, looking for Maria this morning, might have interupted the killer from the hallway of Room 4 and was then attacked, bound and dragged into the basement, leaving the trail of blood she followed into here. Detective Frost and I are about to commense a clairsentient survey."

Officer Jackson rushed onto the first floor to meet Lieutenant Hicks, brandishing a new and updated case file which now included background information on the murder victim Maria Josephine Gardner. "Sir" the officer begun, "we got an arrest on Maria for prostitution when she began her illegal career early this year, but get this, she has been placed on the scene of four major bank robberies this last week alone. Which I don't understand, how does a pretty little lady go from a rookie ****** to a major bank robber with super strength in a matter of months? And according to forensics, Maria has been dead for almost a week, it doesn't make any sense."

Hicks kept on walking towards the nearest hotel exit, following Detective Gnash's orders. He was so preoccupied with tracking down the escaping suspect that he didn't really pay Jackson much attention. Besides, his team had already figured out half the mystery. "As far as we know Jackson" said the lieutenant, "the killer is a shapeshifter, and from what you have in this file, our killer is the bank robber, probably using Maria's body and identity as a cover." The lieutenant suddenly froze in his tracks. "Jesus Christ that's actually ingenious, catching this guy just became a matter of highest priority, go and find Reverend Hunter, tell him to meet me at the east alleyway. And I want forensics and those two psychic detectives down in that basement, I wanna know what the hell happened down there, like now! Go!"

I've been privileged to become a member of some of the main roleplaying groups in the Union Universe, this server. Here is a list of those I know, with brief descriptions of what I think the teams stand for and roughly what their numbers are. Hope this helps you in making your decision on which team to join.

Guardians of the Earth are a small team of brave and mighty sentinels, based in space orbit, guarding the planet from local and intergalactic threats. From a growing roster of 12 heroes, there are currently 4 core members.

The Militia is a team of citizens who volunteer to defend the city from crime, gangs, outlaws and terrorists threats. From a roster of 26 heroes, there are currently 18 core members. Mutant characters are popular.

New Heroes Union is a collection of heroes who strive to protect our dimension from domestic and alien threats. From a growing roster of 82 heroes, there are currently 28 core members. Magic characters are popular.

Art of War is a group of highly trained warriors from England who now use their skills for global operations. This group mainly plays out-of-character and only a few members are roleplayers. From a growing roster of 84 heroes, there are currently 18 core members. Science characters are popular.

Unity Vigil is an organization formed to help heroes and provide a networking group to liase with government and non-government organizations. I'm not a member of this team so I can only approximate a number of 12 core members, and hazard a guess at a roster of 48. I think Technology characters are most popular.

Shield Police is my own project supergroup with a growing roster of 12 heroes and 4 core members. We are designed to work with Paragon City's Police Deparment. Our mission is always making Paragon City safe for all the people we serve. We cut crime and the fear of crime while upholding the Law. Our vision is to make Paragon City the safest major city in the world. A lot of Natural characters but all have an interest to work with Police.

Yeah I would enjoy an official ball with host and service. Actually I always play with no names and no windows, save power and status tabs, sometimes I toggle the chat tab. Its the best way to play, maximum immersion.

As though in slow motion, the police officers proceeded down the stairs, weapons in hand, followed closely by psychic officers and forensics. Lieutenat Hicks followed the train from the rear and was the last to notice a strange lady in hotel staff uniform, sneaking out of the basement doors and gingerly making her way up the stairs in opposite direction to the police. She kept her head low, hiding her face. Her hair was wet and sticky, probably with blood but it wasn't noticable. What gave her away however, were her shoeless feet. "Hey, excuse me!" called the lieutenant, shouting after the maid. "Let me see some ID."

"ID?" said the woman, just as the train of officers disappeared into the basement. She raised her head and locked eyes with the lieutenant who suddenly froze with fear, a horrified look etched to his face as though he'd just seen a ghost. The woman before him was none other than Maria J. Gardner, the murder victim. Hicks didn't have much time to process the information as the young woman's pale fist came flying into view, followed by a sharp pain to the forehead and blackout. Hicks hit the floor like a sack of potatoes, momentarily unconscious, allowing Maria Gardner to escape into the first floor hallway and out through a nearby window.

It didn't take long for the lieutenant to recover. Before clambering to his feet, he reached for his radio and pressed it to his lips. "This is Lieutenant Hicks, suspect has been spotted on the first floor. I repeat, suspect is on the first floor. And er... well, it seems to have the appearance of Maria Gardner and dressed as a hotel maid. My best guess is... we're dealing with a shapeshifter! For God's sake people, approach with caution!"

One of the psychics mind reading the chambermaid approached the lieutenant. "We did all we could lieutenant, the lady has no useful knowlegde" he reported. "From what we gathered, she came to clean a nearby room this morning and noticed the blood in the hallway. She followed its trail inti this room and discovered the body as it is. She has no recollection of what might have happened in here. However, she did mention that this room was booked by a man in his thirties, caucasian with short brown hair and dark eyes. Apparently he's had the room for about a week, requested no interuption, no cleaning, no feeding. This could be our guy lieutenant."

"Good work detective" said Hicks. "Sula or Gnash over there has the hotel register, I want to know who this son of a bich really is. And remind me again why you can't do your Hudini clairsentient mojo on this crime scene? It would really help us figure out what went on here, you know?"

The psychic didn't look too impressed. "Victim has been dead for too long, Lieutenant Hicks" he replied. "There's not enough psychic resonance for us to sense anything let along perform a clairsentient survey, sir."

"Fine whatever, just make yourself useful and get this poor chambermaid out of here. Reverend!" he called out, noticing the priest. Just as he crossed the room to greet the man, his radio buzzed alive with an urgent broadcast from Agent Emily. "Lieutenant, I've got a situation in the hotel basement that needs to be dealt with immediately. The perpetrator is potentially present. Quickly now."

"Well don't just stand there!" screamed the lieutenant. "Sula, Gnash, Greene, Hunter, get down there. Go! Go!"

Pious followed Officer Sula up to the sixth floor. The scene was sickening, blood all over the walls of the corridors alone. They stopped by a man holding a notepad and Pious took the opportunity to inspect the room from outside. There was no doubt in his mind that this woman had been brutally torn apart, certainly by someone or something with inhuman strength. The young priest faced the man and offered a handshake. "Reverend Hunter, I'm here from the newly formed Shield Branch. Are you working on this case?"

Pious didn't feel too comfortable with where this situation was heading. He had full confidence that Jennifer would stay civil but this man had a very foul mouth that may one day get him arrested.

"I have a very foul mouth that may one day get me arrested" said the manager, looking a little perplex. "So I'll be a good little Christian now and respect your wishes. Here you go" he recited, handing the hotel register over to the officer, much to Pious's satisfaction.

"El-tee?" questioned the lieutenant. "I don't know what you mean there Gnash, but er, you'll get the records on Maria here soon enough. I've just put Jackson on it. As for this Abigail ******, heres all we got on her" said the lieutenant, thrusting the small folder into Gnash.

Downstairs at street level, passer-bys were gasping in awe and pointing upwards into the skies. There was a gentle gust of wind as a young man in a holy cassock descended onto the pavements. With a modest nod, he greeted his fellow Americans and stepped into the hotel lobby. "Jennifer!" he called, spotting the young officer from across the room. "Good to see you here, are you on the murder case too?"

"Sula" said the lieutenant, eyes locked on tot he female officer's chest area. "The hotel manager downstairs is being a pain. I need you to get his guest book for Detective Gnash here. You'll need to use your god given talents, and by the looks of you this morning, you'll do a fine good job of it. Go on, get to it."

Well done again Hornet. Good to finally know more about the Hailstorm character. More please!

O.o *blushes*

Thank you!

Lieutant Hicks was impressed with Gnash and he made it clear. "Good work Gnash" he said, turning to a nearby officer. "Jackson, find out what you can on a Maria Josephine Gardner, start with missing persons, I want her family, friends, anyone we can contact. And see if she's ever had anything to do with this Abigail Christenson, hookers killing hookers ain't nothing new. Hey Smithers get over here!" When Officer Smithers reached him, the lieutenant lowered his voice from a commanding tone right down to a whisper. "These wacko psychics done mind reading or what? Poor maid looks so damn horrified, before you know it she'll be on the floor twitching in vomit. Well don't just stand there looking at me. Make yourself useful, get in the hallway and relieve Sula. I need her in here, pronto." The policeman obeys without hesitation and leaves the room. "Detective Gnash" the lieutenant called, "I'm guessing you want something. Hotel guest book, right?"

Depends if anyone likes my proposal. I for one, offer to write the Doppelgänger Crisis if people sign up.

With issue 14 nearby, I want to do weekly plots and missions for us and coalitions. You interested in roleplay?

Lieutenant Hicks snatched the small folder off the forensics lady and had a quick look through. "Well according to these police files, Abigail Christenson was a part time ****** on fifth and third. She has a long list of charges ranging from prostitution to grand theft auto" read the lieutenant, talking to agent Emily and the two detectives. "Question is, what the hell was she doing in the hallway and where is she now?"

In celebration of this wonderous day, here's the news from your friendly neighbourhood moderators! (23102)

April's 'Featured Hero' is... Warscythe. Thank you and congratulations, Stryke! (214)

April's 'Featured Villain' is... Tomb. Thank you and congratulations, Cactus Brawler! (58)

April's 'Featured Team' is... The Corporation. Thank you and congratulations, Riled! (2866)

April's 'Featured Fiction' is Supremacy. Thank you and congratulations, Britanic! (1440)

Warning, the following text contains imagery of a disturbing nature.

As you look around the room, you see that there is no luggage, but noticed something that looked like a red leather handbag protuding from under the bed. Next to it was the telephone socket, the wiring still intact, but the telephone reciever was off it's hook. The room's door had a key hanging from the hole but the locks had been smashed open, splinters from the wooden frame laid scattered on the brown carpet. As well as the curtains, the window frames had bloody handprints around it's handles. The forensics team were cooperative, they told you the prints were human but no further information as of yet. As you inspected the body, you notice it was largely unclothed, except where the bedsheets wrapped around it. Forensics informed you of further findings; the missing limbs had been ripped off the body, the neck had been broken off into the hole in the matress, her right arm had been torn off, her toes and fingers snapped from their joints. All dismembered limbs were missing without trace. Deep set bruises around the torso showed signs of struggle and extreme injuries sustained in the pelvic area suggested the victim had been sexually abused, repeatedly. It was also confirmed that the victim had been dead for several days. No clothing has yet been found in the room.

Suddenly, a gigantic mechanical foot stepped over the moving truck, narrowly missing the vanguard of androids. "Alpha team this is Codename, do you copy?" came Altair's voice from the radio communications. "Alpha team? Leah?" she asked, just as the rest of the war vehicle came into view. "Where the hell are you guys? I'm lost in some kinda mutant rainforest. Back home, I'm a celebrity so lets blast some fools and get the hell outta here."

The hotel elevator settled at the sixth floor noislessly, the doors slid apart like red curtains on a stage, revealing what could have been a blood drenched set for an art house horror movie. The hallway was pitch black, no lights. You could just about make out the dark wooden walls behind the neon red stains of blood, trailing all the way to room number four. A bright yellow tape sealed off the path, a police line any sane person wouldn't cross. Two uniformed officers were guarding the door. "Flash your badge Emily" said the lieutenant, pulling out his own to lead by example. The guards stepped aside and ushered him in. Room 4. A crime scene like no other.

Once inside, you notice a few things. It was a simple room with a double bed, side table and a telephone. Like everything else, the sheets were soaked with blood, three of four legs had collapsed under the bed and a large hole gaped through the blood drenched matress. There was a small window with a view into an alley way, the cheap brown curtains were open and what looked like a bloody handprint sat around the top edges, six or seven feet up. Forensics wandered around the crime scene, tracing and photographing pieces of evidence. What was left of the victim's body laid headless in the middle of the bed, horribly mutilated and missing several limbs. From what could be seen, this was a young woman in her mid twenties. A chambermaid sat in a corner of the room talking to the police and a couple of psychic officers. Finding out what she knows might be a good start.