Prodiguy

A low humming made it obvious that Midas' comment had annoyed him. This guy really did like trying to piss him off, even if it was rather subtle.

However, he stayed quiet, smiling as Essex pulled the 'tablecloth' over her. He definately remembered THAT.

"You know, one of these days, somebody is going to think you're a ghost in that thing, Ess." he chuckled, keeping his focus on everyone but Midas.

Experiment grumbled, and turned away, but then decided to stay pretty quiet. Even if he didn't like this Midas guy... Hell, it was still Essex talking.

"Fine. But if he insults me again, and he happens to turn on us, I call first stabby." he muttered, almost smiling at the prospect...

Happy thoughts... Happy thoughts...

Okay, lets try non-violent happy thoughts...

"Hah is right." a hoarse voice came from... Well, guess whose direction. A slight cough, and Experiment stepped behind the others. "Well, who said THAT? That could have been rather insulting, super secretive person that I don't know! Watch your mouth next time!"

Experiment would have shouted in joy if he hadn't wanted to not seem crazy. Essex was returning to her old self... Not right away, obviously, but slowly... Surely... Soon enough, she would probably remember everything, maybe even start becoming robotic again! That would be awesome!

...But she had said she didn't want that to happen... She said she wanted to feel these emotions...

Well, it isn't like she will care as a robot!

...But that is probably the point... She probably WANTS to care...

"Ugh... Damn dilemmas..."

Come now, it is like he is dying or something!

...Or did I miss something? Did your smoke and radiation finally get to you? Huh? I TOLD you that stuff was bad for you! Green smoke is NEVER healthy!

[ QUOTE ]
[SNIP]--The forums will be here when you get back--[SNIP]

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah... I remember one time that I was gone for a while... Came back to find the forums majorly malfunctioning.

So, don't be surprised if the internet breaks in your absense.

Speaking of internet breakage...

Ever had this happen to you?

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Could you at least keep your stuff in one thread rather than cluttering up the forum?

[/ QUOTE ]

I think it's something that this person cannot comprehend.

[/ QUOTE ]

I wouldn't mind so much if the stories were longer, made more sense... Or were actually kinda cool.

Heh, I have been posting a lot less lately because, surprise surprise, my computer is off again! Woo! Laptoporama!

After his sister's explanation, John's face grew dark with worry. "I never DID like that guy... He always had something against Longbow. Always referring to us as 'candy canes' or 'hero bright-lites.'"

"Yeah, I always did say that was sort of a clue." Kevin muttered, shuffling a few papers and proceeding to walk from the desk as he went to proof-read the stories.

"Hmph... Great. Still, we have more problems. I doubt the whole city is going to vote against the protective power of Longbow..."

"Yeah, that's the problem John! The whole city doesn't HAVE to vote against them! Heck, if half the city doesn't vote--"

"...He won't..."

"He will. From his past attempts at passing stuff, he will probably fix it so that those unvotes will end up in his favour."

"Great... So, what do we do? We still have Gravitoritron to worry about, and now we have a corrupt politician trying to kick Longbow out of the city."

"And you."

"And m--... Duh. Jason HAS to have something to do with this. This guy is against Longbow, but according to you, he mentioned me specificially, right? I HAVE to know him..."

--------------------------------

"Damn, they're getting closer. Apparently, I need to give your brother a little more credit..." the voice said, the shadows still covering his face entirely on the screen. However, he could also be seen apparently working on something.

"Listen, I don't get why you hate my brother so much. I mean, I know he is a jerk and all, but you are doing everything in your power to piss him off, not just kill him. What is your motivation?" Jason called, investigating his new weapon.

"You want to know? Fine."

--------------------------------
--------------------------------

"Okay, I'll see you guys tomorrow," John called, stepping into the elevator. A few employees waved, a few others smiled, one or two did both. The elevator eventually hit the ground floor, and he walked past the secretary's desk. She smiled and stood , walking to the door. She opened it wide, and John bowed his head in thanks. However, a kick in the back from the same secretary surprised him. He fell forward, only to be grabbed by two Crey scientists.

He awoke, only to find himself trapped on an operation table, blinded by lights. He could hear muffled voices of scientists, and one deep, sinister voice. "You have it ready?"

"Yeah, I got it. Do you really think our first test should be on a living human though?" a scientist replied to the voice, only to have a dark chuckle follow.

"Are you stupid or something? If they are not alive, we will not get a true enough result. This is the only way to find out if this project will work."

"Sir, Countess Crey DID say to wait until she had her scientist perfect the correct way to administer this... I mean, if your calculations are wrong--"

"WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?!" The voice had turned from dark and sinister to frantic and insane, "Are you saying I am wrong?! Are you saying I could have made a mistake and SHE could possibly be smarter than ME?!"

"Of course not sir, it is just--"

*BANG*

The sound of a body hitting the floor resounded within John Ballard's ears. He winced, even if he couldn't see.

"Any other comments?"

The silences probably meant the shaking of heads.

"Good."

A sharp pain like a needle hit John's arm, and an odd heat followed. It spread through his like wildfire, warming his body entirely. It felt nice... Well, until the searing pain that he would come to know as his poison spread through his veins.

He tried to scream, he tried to thrash, but some sort of anestheasic had been put in him along with whatever had been put inside him just now. He could feel sharpness, a sharp pain in his arms, ripping apart the skin.

--------------------------------

Kreizer backed off. This was... unexpected. His calculations could NOT be off, so there must be nothing wrong... This was just an odd subject is all. After all, he had planned on the subject having spikes rip out of his arms, just... Not all over. And not acid poison-tipped enough to melt away the braces.

The most unexpected part was the part where cloud of darkness covered John, tentacles of darkness lashing out and smacking scientists across the room. Dr. Kriezer, however, got it worst. He was hit, sending him flying into a chemical vat. The walls exploded, sending a shimmering liquid over him. His skin changed, becoming mirror-like, reflective. However, as shiny as he was, it burned even worse. He couldn't see, the reflective surfaces of the lab and the lights blinding him entirely.

--------------------------------

John stood, his eyes glowing a deep red. His throat let out a growl, his head turning quicker than his body, his senses amazingly alert. He could swear that he felt... Almost animalistic...

*PEW*

A sharp pain, yet another needle, this time in the neck. He turned to see a man in black and white, aiming a tranquilizer gun. A spine was immediately shoved into his stomach.

John gasped, but his body didn't stop, rushing out of the door, smashing everyone in the way into the wall.

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"...Nice story... Didn't need all the details though... Burning skin... Ew." Jason muttered, completing a rubix cube he held.

"...I don't believe you... Whatever. Now, prepare the rifle. You are going hunting... You wanted to meet your sister, right?"

*CRASH*

Experiment slammed into a C.E.O.'s desk, the wood shattering and the paper and supplies inside it clattering and flapping to the ground. Gravitoritron landed hard, aiming his arms at Experiment. Waves of gravity flushed together, slamming into 2.0's chest and sending him careening out of the wall.

A blue blast of liquid energy smashed into Jason, sending HIM into the next hallway, the citizens and workers running for their lives. The villain grunted, pulling himself to his feet. He glared up at Liquid Burst, his helmet rolling behind a cabinet. He wiped his mouth of blood from the hard shot, chuckling.

"Well fired... But let's see your reaction time!"

Cabinets, whiteboards, doors, crates, people, all of those things went flying at Kevin, who fired quickly to blast all of those things away from him. A box finally got lucky, slamming into his helmet and causing a concussion as he fell to the ground, trying to stand and failing from the dizziness.

Jason looked up, only to see John flying directly at him, spines outstretched. The hero's jets were deactivated and he was flung back out of his already created wall. Gravi grunted, pulling his helmet onto his head with his forces of gravity and smashing himself out of the roof, pushing himself back to base.

--------------------------------

Liquid, his head pounding and his stomach churning, finally got to his knees, only seeing a slight crumble from the roof signifying the villain's escape. He moaned, slowly standing and walking to the hole in the wall. He looked over, Experiment hanging on the wall by a spine. Kevin pulled him up, sighing.

2.0 grunted as he fell into the office, and grunted again as he stood, his hair covered in grey dust and such. "Oww.... THAT was unexpected..."

"What, the part where he took you for a joyride, or the part where he flung office supplies and employees at me?"

"No, in between that. The part where he picked up that giant octopus and flung it at you... Hehe... That was kinda funny..."

--------------------------------

"Well done... You managed to weaken those two heroic fools..." a hoarse voice spoke from the shadowy screen as Jason's armour receeded into plain blue jeans, white t-shirt and black shoes, "Now, if we wear them down enough, I-- I mean, We-- shall be unstoppable!"

"Blah blah blah, look, when do I get an awesome gun like that one your 'bot had? It had all those functions, the grenades, the blaster, stuff like that..." Jason's eyes glazed over in wanton longing.

"You will get a K6-Transformer Decimator soon... Just be patient." the voice interrupted on the Ballard's reverie, and Jason frowned.

"What's with the voice? You eat something spicy?"

"...No. Being a public speaker is harder than you think, harder more to hide what I do in my spare time."

"You're a public speaker? Who are you?"

"...Hehehe..."

--------------------------------

"My friends, I believe the time has come to revoke our permission for Longbow to work within Paragon City's walls!" the Paragon City Representative spoke to the crowd outside of Paragon City Hall. Jenny Ballard was taking photos in John's absense, but was shocked into listening at this point.

"They have brought with them Arachnos troops. You see, with the rebuilding of Faultline, they have been allowed to give their helicopters access through the War Walls. Do you realize how easy it is for a large group like Arachnos to simply steal one of those things and put it in mass production?! They have brought these villains upon us all!"

A few cheers from the crowd caused Jen to cringe. Were this people actually AGREEING?!

"However, to do this, I will need time... Three days, to write up the ballot and the followed voting and polls. After this, and I am sure you will all make the right decision, these villain magnets will not be let back into Paragon!"

A flood of cheers practically deafened the hero's sister. How could these people possibly think this a good idea?

"It may also be of note that any heroes allied with Longbow will also be forced out of this city... For instance, the hero best known for the creation of that necromancer, Blind Messenger, and whose brother attacked this city days ago, Experiment 2.0. He is more of a villain even that Dr. Vahzilok is! We can not let this practice continue!"

...Oh, this was bad.

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"Heheh... You will find out when the polls are begun. Now, go prepare. You must keep 2.0 from learning my plan."

((Oh t3h n0e-- I mean, oh no! This secretive villain is also the city of Paragon's representative! He is performing a large plan, not only against Experiment 2.0, but against Longbow and it's affiliates itself! How can he be stopped?! Who will warn Expe--))

"John!" Jenny yelled, gasping for breath as she exited the elevator. John frowned at his sister before pulling her close as he spotted her worried look. Something had happened. After a bit of shaking, Jenny began explaining.

((Oh... Well, still, suspense is that stench I believe!))

"Heh, if you wanted a fair fight, you could have just said so... Although it may hurt chopping off my legs and arms, I do try to be fair..." Experiment snickered, shrugging off the insult with about as much ease as one of his spines cutting through a paper airplane. "Although, if it is a battle of the wits you desire, we may have to hold off for a while. The big switcheroo that happened still has a bit of ol Archie-John in me. In other words, emo and not as smart."

"Hey!"

"Plus, he is a bit more aggressive than me in most things. I am usually a lot less aggressive toward living beings... Clockwork, not so much, as Hal can probably attest to, but in your case... I think I would act pretty much the same way to an ignorant 'scientist' like yourself."

His sarcastic emphasis on scientist also reeked with jealousy. This guy at least seemed to have things that worked the way intended... Last time 2.0 tried to make a computer, it turned into a giant 50-foot robot intent on destroying the world.

It confused him to no end about HOW he managed to do that, what with the fact he bought all of the materials from a hardware store, but he decided to let that go.

Experiment growled once again.

"Alright, first of all, 'it' is female. Therefore, 'it' is she. Please stop talking about her as if she is an object. Second of all, by your reasoning, I am also a dangerous, erratic creature. I have my own form of 'growl' for people I don't know. Usually tipped with sarcasm. Lay off the cat, and quiet your damn voice down."

"Ugh... Sure thing, sir. Out."

Kevin deactivated the PPD radio, walking toward Experiment as he hit the switch on his watch activating his blue and green Liquid Burst armour. "Come on, John, we got another villain on a mission of mayhem."

"Ugh... Fine, I am coming." 2.0 replied, hitting the power button on the main computer and activating his own armour.

--------------------------------

The truck went sailing over a group of citizens, sending fiery pieces of debris everywhere as the ran, screaming. A stop sign then lifted into the air, twisting and turning into a sharp-edged... Thingy. It seemed to fling itself directly at an old man who was slowly trying to escape on his wheelchair. The bladed sign was stopped by a blast of energy.

The two heroes landed, Experiment sighing and Liquid muttering under his breath. "This is so annoying... You already beat him twice, and recently. Doesn't he know he can't fight back?"

"I really don't know anymore, Kev." Experiment replied, spines extracting from his arms. He aimed at Jason, now not even surprised at his brother commiting these crimes.

However, the next thing that happened WAS surprising.

He fired, aiming to have his spine spin around his brother's leg to bring him to the ground. However, the spine spun upward, the organic line attached to 2.0's arm going with it.

"...Eep."

And quickly followed by Experiment himself. He went flying into the air, and the spine then decided to fall again, John barely activating his jets to land softly.

He turned, now very pissed. "Alrighty, Gravitor, let's--"

"Actually, Gravitoritron now, John... Kinda had a problem with the whole 'naming' thing." Jason interrupted, chuckling behind his purple helmet.

"Bah." Experiment fired yet another spine, this one wrapping around Gravi's leg.

Of course, since he used gravity to stay up, he wasn't coming down very well.

"...Oh, I really should have seen this coming...."

Jason blasted into the air, pulling John along hard. He flew over billboards, 2.0 smashing into them. Over spotlights, hero into it. Over a helicopter's blades... John finally remembered that his jets broke Jason's control over his gravity.

He activated, bursting over the 'copter just in time.

"So cliche..." Kevin muttered from the street, giving the purse he had just saved to an old lady. "Now, to begin helping..."

Well, I RP all the time any time I am ingame with other people. Hell, I stop every crime I find as certain heroes because they are hella heroic, so I RP with myself...

...That sounds sick, mind you, but...

Experiment was about to answer Hal with a 'Of COURSE I am joking." remark... But when Tam mentioned that it sounded tempting, he paused, looked to the feral metahuman, and back to Hallucinogen, grinning.

"Well, it really depends, doesn't it? I mean, if she was looking forward to it, I couldn't just let her down, right?"

Experiment would have impaled Midas on the spot when he walked up to him had Essex not been there. Even if he had been quickly killed, it would have been worth it to see that stuck-up, over-protective, meta-humanist little...

...Happy thoughts.

Then, when Midas pulled Essex away from Tam, he rolled his eyes, but decided to stay quiet. Well, quiet enough for Midas not to hear anyway. He walked up to Tam, whispering. "Okay, if you grab him, I will tear off the legs. I wanna see him hop around on his torso."

It was obvious he was joking... Or, at least, his voice made it seem it was obvious. Of course, if anyone knew him, they would know he was rather unpredictable at times...

*BEEP*

"Grmhm... Run Kev... I's gonna blow...'

*BEEP*

"...Grrm... Don't touch the thing... It could pop like... Hm?" John sat up, looking around his room. The beeping continued, getting louder and louder with each passing second. "...Oh, that can't be good."

The frog jumped onto his bed, and turned to him, the eyes reading five... Four...

"OH [censored]!"

There was a large crater in the ground of the King's Row street that John's family lived on, suiting the rest of the holes from previous hero battles.

Experiment huffed, shaking his head in disappointment. "...THAT was annoying... But now that brings something to mind..."

--------------------------------

"He tried to kill you with that frog from your birthday? Told you it wasn't safe." Kevin muttered, rolling his eyes as Experiment held up a silencing hand in response.
"Shush. You are not helping." he replied quietly, tapping rapidly on the mainframe's keyboard. His sidekick waited about three more minutes before speaking up.
"Okay, what the hell are you doing?"
"Jason got into the city somehow... And his device got past my scanners. He isn't smart enough to create technology, or even pass his Algebra II class..."

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"...He is still caught up on that?!" Jason yelled, his fists hitting the chair he sat in as he watched the computer screen.
"Apparently." a dark voice replied from the other side of the room, covered by a two-way mirror.
"...Can you at least tell me your name? You may have busted me out, but hell, I still don't trust you, and you probably know that."
"You talk too much, Ballard. Just watch..."

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"...So how did he make it into the city and bypass my scans?" 2.0 finished, his head slowly moving up the screen's readings, shaking his head, and returning to typing.
"Maybe he got some outside help? Arachnos, maybe?" Kevin guessed, his mind still boggled at how many numbers there were on the screen.
"Maybe... That would explain how he got out of prison... But that frog was sent to me after he was imprisoned a second time... Arachnos isn't big on second chances, as you know."
"...Hm..."

--------------------------------

"I thought you said they knew you? Wouldn't they guess you?" Jason asked, watching the screen intently.
"No, I said they know OF me. I never give hints about my identity or tactics... Now hurry, your new suit is ready Gravitoritron."
"...I thought I was Gravitor?"
"Oh, you were, but I found yet another villain with that codename. I would rather your name be a little more unique. Now hurry up."

Ah, the days when we were able to post unregistered...

...Oh, what? No, I have nothing to add to the thread.

Experiment raised an eyebrow toward Tham as she turned away, frowning. "...Hm. That was odd..." He looked at his hands, the spine that had been pretty much ready to extend fully now firmly back in place, "...Interesting."

He shrugged, smiling as Midas called Essex over. "You know, her father is... Well, I suppose in a way, was... Unless he still is sort of the same... Well, in any case, he is pretty awesome. If you are going to talk about him, at least keep it mostly positive. No need to badmouth a doctor... Unless they are being completely ignorant and or stupid... Not that I am implying anything of course, my friend..."

Anger flashed within Experiment's eyes, and he aimed his arm at Midas. "Don't you DARE tell me what I can and can not do. And don't you DARE say that she didn't actually exist. Quite a few people would say otherwise. Even as a 'bot, she had emotions, feelings, or at least what seemed like them. In any case, she affected many people. So don't say that she didn't actually exist..."

A spine began protruding from his arm threateningly. "Or I may take that as a threat to hurt her. And trust me, you don't want to threaten her when either me or Hal is around. It will not end well for you."

Experiment frowned, standing up. "Hm... Damn. First time I see you people in... Woah, how long has it been? I can't even get a date right in my head right now... But it has been a long time... And now, the heal-bot isn't even a heal-bot!"

He grumbled slightly, blowing upward to get the hair out of his eyes.

"Well, this day has royally sucked so far..."

[ QUOTE ]
"Essex!" Hal exclaimed, completely forgetting everything else and running to her. He stopped abruptly in front of her.

". . . You okay?" he muttered tentatively, avoiding her gaze.

[/ QUOTE ]

Experiment, however, did not stop.

"Ess!" he shouted, his arms shooting out as he fell to his knees to hug the girl, "Haven't seen you in ages!"

However, his eyes flashed open as he leaned back from his hug. "...Your dad is a scientist with tons of awesome tech I geek out over any time I am there, right? You are a robot, right? You just LOOK human, right?"

Experiment grinned. He had wanted to say this for a LONG time, no matter how corny or cliche it was.

He peered out, closing his hands over his mouth to amplify his voice, and yelled the most moronic joke to the brothers.

"HAVE A NICE TRIP!"

With that, he returned to the main area of the ship, grinning widely. Apparently, he was proud of himself for shouting it before somebody else.

Experiment groaned in a way that made it seem he had seen six-armed mutants with plasma cannons many times. The blasts struck, sending him spiralling into the water.

Of course, a blast later, he was on the other side of the boat, heading straight toward the enemy. He looked like a spikey bullet, flying right at the thing. It turned, ducking as 2.0 flew over.

The hero sighed again. THIS was going to take a while...

Experiment growled. "Number one, that wasn't even mine. Number two... I think Dead Rising was in there... You know what? I change what I am thankful for. I am thankful that you villains always lose the fight in the end."