Heart of Stone
The mutant phenomena is one that has intrigued scientists for decades. The explosion of mutant heroes and villains hitting Paragon City and the Rogue Isles has given us some very interesting case studies. My department aims to learn more about the mutant gene, and why and how it surfaces in our population. We know in most cases the mutant gene manifests in puberty. However, we are compiling increasingly compelling evidence that mutations can also occur in times of extreme stress.
Dr Samuel Jackson, Head of the Mutant Research and Awareness Commission, speaking at the opening of the recent Paragon City Science Symposium.
Chapter One
It had been a tactical decision to target the Hellions. The Clockwork were too focused on their own robotic objectives, and no-one knew if the rumours of a Clockwork King were really true. The Vahzilok were only concerned with harvesting more body parts, and with the amount of missing persons reports going up at the Kings Row Police station, it seemed like they were doing a fine job keeping the law busy. That left the Hellions, and in a rough area like the Gish, there were plenty of them. For LaToyaesha Jones, that just made it more of a challenge.
LaToyaesha ran a small crew in the Gish. Lots of impoverished minorities were represented, those who did not fit in to some of the other larger gangs like the Skulls. LaToyaesha led mainly through the force of her personality. She was quite short and stocky yet ferocious, with a tribal tattoo adorning the left side of her face. She told everyone that it was a mark of leadership, and the members of the crew knew that she meant business. The Balance of Power, as they were known, mainly stole small yet valuable items and passed them on to the more established and larger groups. LaToyaesha saw this as a means to an end to gain acceptance in the gang fraternities, whilst waiting for the right time to strike out and claim the Gish as her own.
That time had come. LaToyaesha had found out, from roughing up one of the weak, puppy-dog contacts that kept their ears to the ground for the heroes of Paragon, that the Hellions had stolen several magic artefacts that MAGI were particularly keen on getting back. She didnt believe any of that mystical mumbo-jumbo, hell, she couldnt believe that in this day and age, grown men would dress up in ridiculous robes like the Circle of Thorns, but that didnt matter. If she could force these artefacts from the clutches of the Hellions, then shed finally be the biggest player in the neighbourhood, and the Balance of Power would supplant the Hellions and run the Gish.
I dont like it its too big a risk. This is too high profile for us, Tisha. The heroes could be onto it too. We cant fight everyone! Delvin Thomas, a gigantic man-mountain and LaToyaeshas right hand, protested. He stood with his arms crossed, a frown creasing his scarred face. The Balance of Power were stationed in a warehouse adjoining the one holding the Hellions magical artefacts.
Its too late to get cold feet now, Del. Were committed. I want this! LaToyaesha responded fiercely. Dont show any fear to the others, they will follow me without question, but not if they see youre worried.
I know you want this, but dont get cocky. We done alright hitting smaller places, but theres pretty much every Hellion from here to High Park in that warehouse. They are expecting trouble.
And thats what theyll get! assured LaToyaesha, swinging a hammer firmly. She respected Delvins opinion, but was frustrated by his lack of vision. Its time. She turned and walked over to where her crew were waiting. They had tooled themselves up with knives, baseball bats and pistols.
We go to take out the Hellions, and be the number one gang. Are you with me? she roared, and her crew responded in the affirmative, with several loud shouts questioning the parentage of the Hellions.
The Balance of Power stormed into the Hellion warehouse, and from that moment on, everything changed for LaToyaesha Jones. Little did she realise it was to be the last job she would ever pull with her crew.
Chapter Two
The Hellions did not want to give up the artefacts. They made the Balance of Power pay for each step they took towards the valuable items. It was a messy, bloody orgy of violence, with no quarter asked nor given. The Hellions were led by a figure known as the Damned, who seemed to have an impossible control over fire. As the battle entered the Hellions saferoom, the Damned set ablaze LaToyaeshas crew as they entered. The screams of her burning gang-members assaulted her ears, and the stench of scorched flesh hung crudely in the air, but she knew she couldnt halt her offensive. Delvin was still at her side, the huge imposing figure struck fear into the remaining Hellions even as he burned in a wreath of fire. He smashed into the small cadre of Hellions surrounding the artefacts, which were collected in a small glass case, like youd see in a museum, and fought the Hellions as they encircled him.
This left LaToyaesha one-on-one with the Damned. He smiled, and a sick, twisted grin appeared on his face. You cant take these artefacts away from me
I wont permit it!
Get outta my face! screamed LaToyaesha, lofting the hammer above her head. She was struck by a burst of flame in response, the Damned holding his arms up high to deliver the fiery wave. She tumbled over a set of boxes and landed in a heap. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Delvin collapse atop a pile of Hellion bodies, bloodied and bruised. They had finally stopped him. Sounds of further fighting could still be heard in other parts of the warehouse.
The Damned loomed over her. Its over
Youve lost. Your whole gang is being wiped out. Listen to their screams
. And you will pay with your life for your insolence in thinking you could ever steal from the Hellions. The Damned stared a hole in her, fire in his eyes. Now beg. Beg me to spare your wretched life!
Fury gripped the fallen LaToyaesha, a pure, rushing torrent of rage that seemed to galvanise her, and suddenly she stood up, much to the amazement of the Damned. I will not beg. I will not bow. I will not break! From deep within her, an image of the Earths core stirred, and she felt at one with the world. It all went quiet, and she felt calmness again, a surety of thought replacing the titanic anger of a few seconds ago. She felt a jolt of
heaviness, and was amazed when she looked down at her body and saw that she had become encased in rock. She advanced on the Damned, and scowled. Now you will beg! A giant stone hammer appeared in her hands, she had somehow willed it there. She arced the hammer into a huge uppercut, striking the Damned full in the face. He was sent flying backwards, blood streaming from his wounds as he hit the warehouse floor hard. Now thats what Im talking about, its hammer time! she crowed, taking a few leisurely steps towards the prone body of the Damned, and measuring him up for the killing blow. Instead, she looked across at Delvin. Her rock armour broke up, and the giant hammer disappeared as she knelt next to his lifeless body. She cradled his head in her hands, closing his eyes for the last time, her body racked with sobs. Then she laid him gently on the floor, and walked towards the artefacts case. They were hers. Shed done it. It had cost her everything, but shed won.
Stop, Hellion!, a voice commanded, startling her out of her reverie. She turned, to see a purple-clad female hero standing in the saferoom. Who the hell are you? LaToyaesha spat.
I am Proximity, and I cannot allow you to keep those artefacts, spoke the hero, shifting her stance to be more imposing as her cape flapped around her.
Well, I aint no Hellion, fool! You can call me Floodgate, cos you cant break me! As LaToyaesha spoke her new name, her rock armour enveloped her and her hammer appeared. She would end this triumphant day by bagging herself a hero. She aimed a big swipe at the redhead hero, and connected. Proximity was knocked back across the room, and Floodgate laughed. Oh, its on! she shouted, and strode confidently towards her grounded prey, only to be met by an intense wave of blue-white energy which travelled along the ground and took Floodgate off her feet. Cursing, she flipped herself back up only to be met by another volley of energy. She crashed down to the floor again, her armour fading away. She couldnt move. The purple hero, eyes blazing strangely, stuck a transporter module on her scuffed blue motorcycle jacket. Lets see if you can be broken when youre in the Zig! Proximity said, and then in a flash, the warehouse was gone.
Floodgate blinked a few times, her eyes finally adjusting to her murky surroundings. The filthy walls seemed to close in on her. She knew where she was, although she had managed to avoid it before now. She was in the Ziggurat, the prison located in Brickstown.
This was a minor setback. She had come so close so close to victory this day. She had manifested an amazingly useful ability, a power over the very foundation of the Earth. She had a name. She was a villain now, not just a gang leader struggling to control turf in Kings Row. And one day, she would escape the Zig. One day, the hero known as Proximity would rue the day she had ever crossed the fearsome Floodgate.
Too much like a Tanker when I should be thinking/building like a Scrapper.
