Awesome story so far, I think you did a good job getting the personalities of the characters too, at least, my toon's pretty close.
Is it a bad thing that I'm looking forward to the next chapter of this more than I am I4?
Edit: Make that I5, I4 is out. *spaz*
"If I didn't enjoy the ludicrous mayhem of an 8-person pick-up team and my eventual glorious triumph over seemingly impossible odds bereft of lucid and competant comrades, I would have left this game a long time ago. " - mean_liar
*drool*
more...
VII. Waking Up and The Ultimate Weapon
At first she heard the voice from a distance. Soft and quiet to the point that it was unintelligable. It slowly grew in clarity until it woke her up.
"Miss? Miss? Wake up. What is your name?"
Pandora opened her eyes just enough to let in a little light to see who it was.
Pandora Jenkins was around 35 maybe, 5'8 with dark blonde hair and dark blue eyes, which was surprising since she looked to be a mix of caucasian and asian decent. She wore a simple green t-shirt and old jeans. Acier made a note of the combat boots she wore, they looked military issue.
"Where am I?"
The light felt so bright she had to squint to look around. She was on an old, worn out couch. It looked like she was in a living room taken right out of 1975, with brown furniture, dark green carpet, and wooden walls. The only exception was the rather modern looking TV across the room.
"You are in one of many bases of the Circle, or Ring, of Resistance." The Core Being said.
"What is your name miss?" Acier kicked in.
"Staff Seargent Pandora Jenkins, USAF, 398-67...."
Old habits were kicking in that didnt really apply in this world.
"Pandora. Who are you? What am I doing here?"
"I am called The Core Being, and this is Acier."
"We were hoping you could tell us what you are doing here. Not many people live in Old Baltimore." Acier asked.
"I was just passing through, I dont live here. I saw this man in strange armor, he was attacking another woman when - Where is she?" Pandora asked, now concerned.
"She is in the other room, she will be fine. Techsupport and Hippie Mage are looking after her. What happened? Who attacked you?" Acier said.
"I dont know." Pandora said shaking her head, "All I remember is the noise, it was so loud... it was horrible."
She winced at the memory of the noise. It was so loud it was painful just to remember.
"He told us to warn them that he was coming. He said everything would be destroyed when he came."
"Warn who?" Acier asked.
A few seconds passed until she realized. "You. He told me to warn you."
----
Michael (2020 Vision), Sam (Xyfen), and BJ (Tabby Cat) found themselves at the foot of a green highway sign that read: Baltimore Next Exit
Michael gave a tired smile and BJ sighed.
"Thank god." she said.
It was only a few more miles to the city.
"Now for the hard part." Michael said.
"What now?" Xyfen asked.
"We still have to find the secret base, convince a group of people who have been fighting endlessly for years that we are goodguys, then convince them that we can contribute to the team."
"Well, we've come this far. Might as well keep going." Sam said.
"Nowhere else to go, nothing else to do." said BJ.
As they came over the hill that the exit led up they saw the city sprawling to the horizon. It was gray and silent. Broken buildings and twisted metal. Smoke rose from a few locations. On the horizon was the gleam of the New Council City. Its pristine architecture and clean, crisp, almost uniformed look was untouched by any heroes since it had risen. It seemed to loom over Old Baltimore, spelling doom for all those who opposed the Council. That sight alone had turned away many who were going to join the Circle.
They noticed a sign at the intersection made by someone a long time ago.
Here Lies Baltimore
To take this road is to enter the boneyard of dreams
Dark men and beasts will forever wander the streets
Feeding on the sinew and flesh of the hope inside your brain
Long before death comes extinguish whats left of the flame
Find another path than this one, pressing forward leads you to your doom
All others leading to lives better lived than under the shadow that looms
The monster in armour black as night, has forged a kingdom of death
It is the boneyard of dreams and no one will escape its infinite breadth
"No one said this was going to be easy." Michael said, and they pressed on.
----
Kegen had been conscious for a while now and was starting to get her bearings back. She looked around to see two men, and was lying on a bed in an empty room. She immediately backed up defensively.
"Its ok." Hippie Mage said, "Were not gonna hurt you."
His voice was immediately calming and he didnt look threatening.
Kegen Doyle was 23 years old, 5'9 with copper red hair. She was very slim and attractive, even if she was just wearing some raggedy old clothes, a pair of old, faded, and torn jeans with an old shirt and leather jacket that had seen better days. She had been surviving in Baltimore for years possibly. Right in the middle of the most dangerous warzone.
"What happened to you two?" Techsupport asked.
"two?" She said.
"Yes, there were two of you. The other one is in the other room. We found her carrying you unconscious and then she passed out as soon as we found you."
"What's your name?" Hippie Mage asked.
"Kegen Doyle. This man attacked me. He wore strange armor I have never seen before." She said.
She remembered the noise and winced in pain. Hippie Mage knew she was remembering so he looked in her mind to see what she saw. She felt his presence in her mind but didnt feel like he was intruding. She instantly knew he was doing it for good somehow, and very politely staying away from all other thoughts and memories.
"What did you see?" Techsupport asked.
"A demon who eats chaos." Hippie Mage replied.
----
Council Headquarters, New Council City
Black Sky was impatient for someone who lived so long as a vampire, she had a lust for blood that was not just limited to feeding.
"Why doesnt that idiot fight them now?" She said referring to Sonic Boom.
"Patience my dear, you will have your chance at them." The Captain said. She looked confused at this statement. "He has his purpose, just as you do. I chose him for a reason. I am going to personally watch the battle and when its over I am going to send Dr. Markov a message."
"What is it with you and that woman? What arent you telling me?" Black Sky said.
"I am not telling you what you dont need to know." He snapped.
He never broke his perfect posture as he did, but still looked menacing enough at her to cause her to jump back a little in surprise. She knew something was different about him. The Center wouldnt personally put him in charge of dispatching the remaining heroes if he wasnt powerful. She had no idea though just how powerful he was as she never saw him in battle. He was a masterful tactician and never needed to use his powers. For him to personally watch the battle that was coming was quite a surprise.
She was sure the heroes' fate were sealed when he said he would watch. She was found it unsettling that he said she had her purpose too. Would he use her to further his own goals? She couldnt be sure anymore.
----
The Council Master Base
Requiem was called for a rare meeting with The Center. He usually talked with him over a video com. As Requiem approached the grand chamber that The Center never left he observed the doors. They were giant black doors with golden trim like The Center's uniform. The detail taken into the door was amazing. Little black carvings to giant figures with small golden designs everywhere. It could easily pass for a church door from the 1400's if it werent so dark looking. The two 30 foot tall doors had one massive figure that split down the middle by the seam of the door. It was a young man that most presumed was a young version of The Center.
The figure was sitting in a throne with a star burst behind his head similiar to christian churches' depictions of Jesus. Below it were the surviving eight, cowering and with faces of intense fear and suffering. Most disturbing of all was the face on the young man. It had a look of pure evil. It wasnt that it was angry looking that made it evil, it was that it looked as though it didnt care. It sent chills down Requiem's spine. The Center thought he was a god.
As he approached the doors the swung open by an unseen force. Instantly Requiem could feel The Center crawling through his mind like a spider, getting all information and thoughts he could as fast as he could do it.
Requiem paused, then brought his fist to his shoulder to salute The Center, then brought it down, waiting for his orders.
From a dark corner, too dark to see, a voice came to Requiem. "I have set into motion, the beginings of a plan that will win the war against the heroes. I give you the ultimate weapon."
Requiem looked down in his hand. He was holding a disc now.
"The war is going to end in one swift motion of my hand. Not a shot will be fired, nor a bomb dropped. Welcome, Requiem to the beginning of a new world. I will accomplish what no empire ever could. I will conquer the world."
((This one was very short, but thats because you could almost count the next one as part 2 for this one. But it felt better to split it. Some heroes dont have their costumes yet, they will get them when all heroes are present in the story.))
Another excellent Chapter, keep em coming.
Also I would like it if everyone whose hero is in the story could send me a picture of said hero. I have a little poject I would like to undertake.
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Another excellent Chapter, keep em coming.
Also I would like it if everyone whose hero is in the story could send me a picture of said hero. I have a little poject I would like to undertake.
[/ QUOTE ]
As always I look forward to more.
I will try to get you some pics later tonite. It looks like I am unable to reach the Crey Industries Website for some pics now.
My avatar is Captain Neem's face though if that helps.
Great imagery in that one. Please keep them coming. I'm hooked.
[censored] I love this tale that you are weaving. This is my new daily read, right along with pvponline.com
Wonderful pacing, rich detail, and the reader gets a better feel for each heroes personality.
Willpower has more passive regen than Regen does. Who thought that was a good idea?
Can we get a fix for Energy Melee instead of more new sets?
Yeah!! I've been waiting for Kegen to come in(hehe). I can't wait to see what happens with the others and her. Wonderful stuff Wolffe! Keep it coming! Can't wait! (sitting on the edge of my seat)
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Another excellent Chapter, keep em coming.
Also I would like it if everyone whose hero is in the story could send me a picture of said hero. I have a little poject I would like to undertake.
[/ QUOTE ]
As always I look forward to more.
I will try to get you some pics later tonite. It looks like I am unable to reach the Crey Industries Website for some pics now.
My avatar is Captain Neem's face though if that helps.
[/ QUOTE ]
Actually if you all could send me pics too that would be nice. Have a credits thing at the end with pictures.
What did you guys think of that warning in front of Old Baltimore? When I posted it I was curious if anyone would like it.
The pace of the story is about to pick up dramatically. The next one will be a big one for sure.
Here is a few pics of Neem and Core.
Neem's old outfit
Neem's new outfit, much improved I think
The Core Being's favorite outfit
The Core Being will change noticably when body sliders go live. Neem will remain pretty much the same.
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Another excellent Chapter, keep em coming.
Also I would like it if everyone whose hero is in the story could send me a picture of said hero. I have a little poject I would like to undertake.
[/ QUOTE ]
As always I look forward to more.
I will try to get you some pics later tonite. It looks like I am unable to reach the Crey Industries Website for some pics now.
My avatar is Captain Neem's face though if that helps.
[/ QUOTE ]
Actually if you all could send me pics too that would be nice. Have a credits thing at the end with pictures.
What did you guys think of that warning in front of Old Baltimore? When I posted it I was curious if anyone would like it.
The pace of the story is about to pick up dramatically. The next one will be a big one for sure.
[/ QUOTE ]
The quote was absolutely brilliant. I liked it a lot.
By the way, I wouldn't mind having either Neem or The Core Being showing up on the test server for a group photo, or even alternating them, but having them together would require photoshop I'm afraid.
We just need the person, someone else, a friend maybe, could creata a character that looks just like another and just have a different name, names, don't show up in the screenshots anyways.
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We just need the person, someone else, a friend maybe, could creata a character that looks just like another and just have a different name, names, don't show up in the screenshots anyways.
[/ QUOTE ]
You sir are a genius 
whoa, whoa, whoa. Although a group photo would be really cool the planning and strategery that would have to go into it would be... well... alot of work. If you all give me (and Lord Raymond) photos I will gladly put them up at the end with a little epilogue after and edit it in my photoshop program to make it have a little more "flare". Some of the editing I can do can be seen in the crey report of Blood Wolffe. Each getting their own edit and epilogue would be very nice, right? I have to say the group photo, while very ambitious, would be nice and if we could all get on the test server at the same time I would definately be in.
Well, I'm available at any time unfortunately (just got laid off from a cush job because tax season is over) Just PM me all of your available times for next weekend and I can see about arranging it over the course of this week.
Need an email to send photos (screenshots). :-)
Together we entered a city of strangers, we made it a city of friends, and we leave it a City of Heroes. - Sweet_Sarah
BOYCOTT NCSoft (on Facebook)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/517513781597443/
Governments have fallen to the power of social media. Gaming companies can too.
Can't you send them in links via PM?
links via pm are easiest for me. Lots of posts, going to have to write next chapter today to break up these replies, you people are sneaky. Dont think I dont see what you were up to. 
Dang Busted. I actually do want the pictures though. But please do finish the next chapter, I am getting anxious.
VIII. The Calm Before the Storm
James Keenan arrived home after a long day of hauling garbage from the Capitol building. The job was hard and tiring. What was worse was the Council propaganda playing on the giant tv screens on the way home talking about how he was better off now that the council cared for him.
Touching his doorknob the lock snapped back but the door stuck in the frame.
"God damn door. OPEN!" he yelled taking his frustration out on the door.
Finally he rammed the door with his shoulder and it popped open. Suddenly heard a noise like a can getting kicked across the floor and he felt as though he wasnt alone. He looked down both ends of the hall, seeing no one. Just the gray, dingy hallway that was always dark and depressing. It was not the apartment he grew up in with his parents in steel canyon.
Satisfied that no one was there he went into his apartment and shut the door. He grabbed the mail from the floor and began to look through it. Council bank credit card offers, bills, propaganda, more propaganda, blank envelope?
He turned it over. Nothing.
He opened it and found a small note inside.
Do not act suspicious. They are watching.
There are people who feel the same as you James. People who are unhappy with the way things are and who are trying to change them. Do you want to be a garbage man until the day you die? Come tonight if you want a different life. Dont let anyone follow you. Peach tree.
On the back of the note was an address
2459 Lucas Road
Warehouse district
Act like this is junk mail and throw it away.
Peach tree? He thought. What the hell does that mean?
Fighting the urge to look around he threw it in the pile with the rest of the junk mail and did his best to act like nothing was out of the ordinary.
----
Council Labarotory
Requiem's pet project was ready to come out of his embryonic green tube.
Again, Requiem ordered everyone to leave. He had spent much time alone with the former Crey project. No one knew what he said to the man, they could only hear the muffled noise of speech through the metal door, and dared not risk being found out by The Center's most dangerous right hand man. They could only guess what twisted things Requiem was saying to the man, warping his psychology until he was a different person. The one Requiem wanted him to be.
Inside the tubing and wires popped off of and out of the man as the glass casing raised. The green cloudy liquid drained down the metal grating that was the floor around the tube. The man took off his breathing mask and sat on the floor, kneeling forward on his hands, looking down.
"Can you understand me?" Requiem asked.
"Yes." The man replied.
"Who are you loyal to?"
"The Council"
"Do you want revenge?"
"Yes." The man said through his teeth.
"You shall have it. But what must you do to get it?"
"Obey the Council."
"What is your name?" Requiem asked.
The man paused for a long moment.
"Metal Wolffe."
Requiem smiled.
----
Michael, Sam, and BJ had found an abandoned store to camp out in for the night. After a long day of searching for the base they found nothing.
Searching for the base seemed like a hopeless task now, they had been wandering the streets for a week looking for any sign of heroes or recent battles. They had asked some of the few people who lived in the city, who lived off of what they could scavenge. None of them knew of any heroes, but they had talked of people going out to scavenge and disappearing. They had no last known locations, only that the disappearances had started recently.
The abandoned store was a burnt up, broken down building. When BJ was looking for some kindling to start a fire she found a scrapbook full of clothing options. They were for heroes, ironically they chose an old Icon store that had just expanded to meet the needs of heroes in a new city when the Council had launched their attack.
After they started the fire up Michael was laying on his back looking up at the sky through the broken roof, BJ was staring off into space at the fire and Sam was looking at the both of them, wondering what was going on inside their heads. He waited until he couldnt stand it anymore, he had to know what they were thinking.
"So" Sam said, "I know you are going to join the resistance Michael, but why?"
Michael thought about the best answer for a moment. "I have a past with the Council. You know I was actually in training to be one of those monsters." He said looking ashamed, "When I was much younger. It has helped me fight them. I know their tactics, how they will respond to whatever action I take."
They could see from the look on his face he wanted to tell them something. But he was holding himself back.
"When the missiles came out of the sky.... I... I lost my mother. It wasnt fair. I just got her back from-" He stopped abruptly.
"From what?" BJ asked.
"Nothing." He said.
They could tell whatever he wasnt saying was still a sensitive subject, and pushing it would not be a good idea.
Xyfen spoke up, "What about you BJ? Are you going to join?"
"Oh me? I guess so, its a good cause. I can not stand people who use the power they have to do evil. I used to work for Crey, developing the Paragon Protectors until I found out what they were used for and how crooked Crey was. My husband and I were going to use the procedure to create them on ourselves so we could undo the wrongs we had done.... He died before he could get the procedure." Tears welled up in her eyes, "It doesnt look like I made a difference."
Sam and Michael looked at her, "No, thats not true." Michael said.
"Im sure you made a big difference, and now you will be able to help stop the Council. Save the world and all that jazz." Sam added with a smile on his face.
"What about you Sam? Will you join?" BJ asked, wiping the tears from her eyes.
"Yeah, I think I will. Nothing better to do you know." He said still smiling.
"How did you get to be a hero Sam?" Michael said.
"Oh I was born with my powers, and green skin. Yeah alot of people think I am a troll, which didnt always get the best reactions, but whenever I walked up to a hot dog stand the guy would always give it for free, then run away, so it has had its perks." Sam said jokingly.
There was a moment of silence that seemed very long to them all until Michael broke the silence.
"So here we are." Michael said, "Three heroes huddled in an abandoned store who cant find the only other heroes in the city. What chance does an evil empire stand against us?" he said with a chuckle.
----
Eternal Twilight knocked on Lord Raymond's door. From the other side he could hear two dogs run up to the door and wait. After a few seconds Lord Raymond answered the door, wearing his mask as always. The two giant Newfoundlands watched Eternal Twilight intently.
"Its alright lads he is a good man." Lord Raymond said.
The two dogs turned and went back to their business, which at the moment was sleeping at the foot of Lord Raymond's bed.
"Nice dogs you got there, what are their names?"
"Why thank you Eternal Twilight, you are kind to say so. That one is Tank, and that one is Bull. I assure you they are quite gentle. They have been with me for some time now."
"Lord Raymond, I have some questions about Captain Neem. After he said he would look into the attack to see who sent those super equinoxes I went to see what he had found out. He wasnt there, I dont think he even checked."
Lord Raymond gave a thoughtful pose for a moment. "I would have to venture then, that he already knew who it was. Believe me, if he has not told us who, there is a good reason for it. I am also sure that he will tell us when the time is right. As a soldier-"
"Marine." Eternal interrupted. If there was one thing marines hated it was being called a soldier, an attribute of their earned arrogance.
"Yes. A marine, my apologies. As a marine you must understand that when in command sometimes it is impossible to give all the facts all the time as it might lead to dissent in the ranks."
"Understood." Eternal Twilight said. "I also found an article about him fighting another hero from before the Council attack. Do you know who that was?"
Lord Raymond gave another thoughtful pose, and tried to figure out the best way to disarm the new hero's judgemental view of Captain Neem.
"I'm afraid not my boy. But I know he used to be quite a different man. Not the battle-hardened, fearless leader you see today. He used to have much stricter morals, he didnt kill any offender unless it was completely necessary.
He met another hero and they became friends, the other was not exactly the kind of hero Captain Neem was. Captain Neem felt betrayed when he found out the other was going to kill someone for revenge. When he got in the way of the other hero, Captain Neem was attacked... He used to be so much happier. Now he has alot on his shoulders. He has never told anyone who it was and no one has asked. Please, Eternal, respect his privacy. Everyone has their demons. Having them exposed is not always the best thing for them."
Eternal Twilight nodded his head, thinking of his own demons from his past.
Hurry son! They're after us!
The jungle was so hard to run through, the twisted roots of trees trying to snare your foot at every step.
Increase the power! I dont care if it is dangerous, he can take the pain! We WILL have our super soldier.
"Very well Lord Raymond, I will respect his privacy. Thank you for your help." Eternal Twilight said.
"It was my pleasure, sir." Lord Raymond said with a bow.
Eternal Twilight gave a slight bow back, unsure what to do, said good day and went to get breakfast, completely pacified by Lord Raymond.
----
Sonic Boom walked down the center of the street. Cranking up the heavy metal implants in his head he began destroying nearby buildings. It wouldnt be long now until someone noticed his presence.
"COME OUT HEROES! ITS TIME TO PLAY!" He screamed, banging his head, destroying another building with a blast of noise from his hands.
((Okay so no fight in this one. I felt it was more necessary to move some of the side stories along. Next one definately though.))
Sweet you got the dogs in there. They must be like 20 years old now,lol.
They're superdogs.
"If I didn't enjoy the ludicrous mayhem of an 8-person pick-up team and my eventual glorious triumph over seemingly impossible odds bereft of lucid and competant comrades, I would have left this game a long time ago. " - mean_liar
working in two dogs is nothing. I have a total of about 25 characters in this story total. It is proving to be no easy task. Thats ok, I am enjoying the challenge.
Blood, love the story, but your name is disorienting as hell.. every time I see it I think it says Blood Waffle, and I am left confused. 
"If I didn't enjoy the ludicrous mayhem of an 8-person pick-up team and my eventual glorious triumph over seemingly impossible odds bereft of lucid and competant comrades, I would have left this game a long time ago. " - mean_liar
very awesome. I personally think i was written very well, also it'sa really good story, even w/o me. awesome writing job!
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