((I cant believe I forgot Xyfen when they were listing off the teams, I feel like an idiot. Sorry Xyfen, I have to review my notes more carefully. Better news, this one has a little preview at the end of the next chapter. I am only doing that though because I am writing that chapter tomorrow. So you dont have to wait too long for it.))
XIII. The Journey ahead
Dawn had come. Captain Neem had given the team as much time as he could comfortably. It was time to move on, away from here. Probably never to come back. For one reason or another.
"Everybody get up. It's time to go." He said with a tired voice.
Everyone was already awake. They couldnt sleep after the Council had been so close to them, had been in where they sleep and nearly killed them all. Everyone just looked around, as if to say "What's the point? Why fight when we cannot win?"
Captain Neem tried to think of something to comfort them, to rally them. He had no energy for this right now.
He leaned over to Lord Raymond and whispered, "I need your help. I... I dont know what to say to them."
Lord Raymond stood up and gave Neem a pat on the back. Turning to the group, he looked them over, gave pause to think for a moment, and spoke.
"I know you are all very upset, over the loss of a friend. That you are scared of the Council with their deep cut to us."
He looked at the eyes of the heroes, he could see that they were tired of fighting a losing war. He thought for another long moment.
"A wiser person than me once said, 'A sacred burden is this life ye bear: Look on it, lift it, bear it solemnly, Stand up and walk beneath it steadfastly. Fail not for sorrow, falter not for sin, But onward, upward, till the goal ye win.'
This burden, a hero's life, we all bear. Grieve for poor Larry, he was a young man and his death was tragic. But do not let his death be in vein. We must all bear the burden, and because of that we can look to each other for strength and support, sharing it when it becomes too heavy. That is our strength. You are all my brothers and sisters as I am your brother. When one of us is cut we all bleed. That is something that can never be taken from us, and the evils of this world, whatever they may be, will never know. The greater the burden, the stronger we must be, for each other.
I do not know what lays ahead of us except that it will be a very hard road to travel. If you want to join Captain Neem, Steele Magnolia, and I for what will be the hardest thing you will ever do, then come forward. If not, we can not force someone to be a hero and you may go to live the rest of your life without grief or danger. But I ask you this; If the heroes of this world aren't strong, who will be?"
Steele Magnolia, Lord Raymond, and Captain Neem stood, waiting to see what they would do as the remains of their home still smoldered behind them.
Xyfen stood up. "Whatever happens, wherever you go, I will follow. Whether the sky rains fiery carnage, or you go through the gates of hell itself. I will follow." He said as he walked over to them.
Etherburn and Eternal Twilight were next.
"It would be an honor to walk this road with you." Eternal said, looking over them as he clapped his hand down onto Lord Raymond's shoulder.
"My parents were great heroes, now it is my turn." Etherburn said with a smile.
Quickly, everyone got up in threes and fours to join them on their journey until they all were together, ready to fight the world and the heavens.
The leaders of the group had to fight from showing their emotions. They all had shown such courage. None of them deserved what they were about to endure.
"Very well." Steele said, "Who can fly this thing?"
The War Bird looked sleek and fast for its size. It had a turbine at the end of each wing. Two more turbines adorned the tail with a jet engine beneath it. Written on its side was "Irene". Larry's name for his most beloved project.
"I can." Michael said, "I am a little rusty but I can get it off the ground."
"Good, you will be the pilot. Everyone else, we leave in five minutes."
Everyone gathered what few things they had saved from the fire or found after. Including Michael, who grabbed a bag containing his pistol.
Michael sat in the pilot's seat looking at all the switches. Helen crouched through the small cockpit door and into one of the two seats that were for a co-pilot and for someone to give orders from.
"Where did you learn how to fly?" She asked.
"You know where mom. It was part of the Council's Elite Officer training. They dont have to know." He said.
She sat back, thinking about what they would do if they found out Michael was in the Council.
"Right." She said. There was not much else she could think of to say but she had to say something. "I love you Michael."
"Love you too mom." He said flipping some switches
The turbines started winding up and the rear ramp lowered to let in its passengers. The interior looked like a troop carrier. Seats were lined up side by side against the wall with straps to keep them in place. Thankfully, Larry had placed some supplies on the floor between the seats. Quite a few actually, the boxes stacked up to the ceiling and were securely strapped down.
Everyone piled into Irene and strapped themselves in for this prototype flying contraption built by a former clockwork to take off on its maiden voyage with a pilot they had never seen fly before and by his own admittance was "a little rusty". There was more than one person sweating just a little.
With everyone in the ramp closed and the jet roared to life. The turbines spun faster as Irene rocked off of the ground for a few seconds before unceremoniously thumping back to the ground.
"Sorry!" Michael said, turning to the wide-eyed heroes gripping their seats.
With a little more rocking Irene found her wings and took to the sky slowly at first, then soared off like a streak of lightning as the thrusters showed their muscle.
Helen looked out the co-pilot's window and Captain Neem leaned back in the other chair in the cockpit.
Are you watching Larry? I think you are. Look what your baby can do. Be proud.
----
"Be careful" Helsinger said, "Do not damage him. He must be perfect."
The zenith bots pulled away the wreckage of the base, revealing Tick-Tok's body. Gingerly, they picked him up and brought him to a clear tube-like case with padding inside, metal bands and an electronic monitoring system attached to the side. It opened up length wise to receive him and shut promptly after he was in. Captain Helsinger checked the electronic monitors to make sure everything was in order.
Helsinger looked up at the trail of ice their War Bird had left at high altitude.
"This is only the tip of the iceberg Dr. Markov. I cant wait for you to see the rest of my masterpiece."
----
They had crossed the wilderness and most of the wasteland without incident. While the wilderness looked like a beautiful forest, if they were lower in altitude they would see trees rocking back in forth from the movement of the things that lurked in it. As they crossed the wasteland, if they were lower in altitude, they would see the dangerous unpredictable earth, changing shape constantly. Paths would crumble into deep black fissures as toxic gasses spewed up and new ones would be formed just as fast.
"There it is." Michael said pointing into the horizon, "The Gone City."
They looked on in silence as they neared the ghost from their pasts. There were several plumes of smoke rising into the sky.
Mister H looked over Captain Neem's shoulder, "They are called The Fingers of Death. Those fires are always burning, just as death is always touching that city."
A chill ran down their spines.
Michael looked at Mister H, "You know, you can be a real downer sometimes."
"Ha! Well thats because I-"
A large boom rocked the plane and alarms started going off.
"What happened!?" Captain Neem yelled.
"We have incoming!" Michael yelled as he yanked the control and pulled the throttle.
Everyone braced themselves as they dived towards the earth like a rock with several alarms going off at once.
Sky raiders, who had gone from being elite mercenaries to another gang fighting for survival were after them.
Two more super skiffs fired their missiles at Irene. Michael twisted and turned the plane as the red buzzer light lit up.
MISSILE LOCK!
He hit a switch labeled ECM that let loose a cloud of Electronic Counter Measures from the back of Irene. Distracted, the first missiles took the bait and exploded as they impacted the small drones. The explosion vibrated the plane with fiersome intensity, threatening to shake Irene apart right in mid-flight.
"I can lose them in the city." Michael yelled.
"Do it! Whatever it takes, do it!" Helen said, gritting her teeth and clenching her seat.
"I dont like this very much." Lord Raymond said. His stomach was anything but calm at the moment.
"Dont you puke on me." Eternal yelled back.
Michael made a sharp turn into the city. Buildings were zooming past them as Michael maneuvered with calm determination.
Another missile fired and locked onto Irene.
MISSILE LOCK!
The buzzer screamed again. Michael hit the ECM button but there was none left.
"If that missile hits us there is no going down! We'll be pink foamy mist!" Michael yelled as he swerved Irene left and right.
"Open the rear hatch." Helen said.
He looked at her confused.
"Trust me."
"Go." Michael said.
She stumbled to the rear as Michael twisted Irene every way he could to buy more time. As the door opened all she could hear was the roar of the engine and air. She put her arm through one of the straps holding the supplies down and clicked her rifle to 'fire', then to 'auto'.
The door was open all the way now and she could see the missile coming at them. She squeezed the trigger and watched as the rounds zipped around the missile as she tried to aim in on it. Others got the idea and those who could fire, fired from their seats at the missile. There wasnt much hope to hit it, but it was all they could do. The wind whipped around them as they fired.
"Michael, straighten out!" Helen yelled to him.
He looked back at her, the missile, and at the screaming alarms telling him to do anything but straighten out as that would let the missile catch up to them.
"I trust you mom." He whispered as he leveled out.
It came so fast it was like they were standing still. Helen aimed in and fired. The Jadenium bullets pierced through it into the computer causing the missile to detonate immediately. It was so close it knocked Helen back to the cockpit with its explosion. She then almost immediately slid towards the back as Irene, now crippled, nose dived towards the earth. Before she slid out the back into emptiness she felt someone grab her.
Michael struggled to start Irene again, praying she still had some life left in her. The only alarm now was the descent alarm that kept getting louder and louder.
"Start Damnit!" Michael yelled as he punched the control panel.
As if acting on his demand, Irene sputtered to life and Michael yanked on the controls to pull up. Irene crashed into an old building, and was now sliding and spinning through the twentieth floor of an office. As the plane caught some firm ground it began to spin and tumble through towards the other side. Helen looked up to see Rose Cross and Tigonus had grabbed her, keeping her from plummeting to her death. They looked back at the world violently spinning around them.
Irene came to settle on the edge of the floor for a moment before falling out of the window of the twentieth floor to the ground. The thrusters had enough left in them to slow the fall, but they still hit the ground with a bone rattling crash that went through the street and into the sewers below.
The sky raiders, thinking they had blown up in the impact with the building moved on. They had better things to do than make sure of their kill. The other gangs would do that for them.
After a few minutes they slowly woke up and came to their senses. They groaned awake, muttering various obscenities and praises to the lord. The sound of metal crashing and settling into its final resting position filled the air for a moment.
"Is everyone okay?" Michael said back. He woke up looking at the sky as Irene's nose was almost pointing straight up.
Everybody gave a grunt, word, or thumbs up to signify that they were okay.
"Any landing you can walk away from, right?" Michael said with a smile on his face.
After they all got out of their seats and were coherent again Captain Neem spoke.
"Looks like we will be walking from here on out. Luckily Tick-Tok also put in some concealing clothes with the supplies. We will have to disguise ourselves, if they find out we are heroes here... well, it will get alot harder, thats for sure."
They changed into the clothes, which where hooded, brown robes that looked rather raggedy and smelled a little moldy.
"We look like a bunch of druids." Hippie Mage said.
"We look like a bunch of idiots." Eternal Twilight said.
"Where are we going to?" Tabby Cat asked.
Captain Neem looked back at the heroes and said with a grave tone, "To the Battle Dome."
----
A dirty old man with few teeth known as Winston walked up to a cell. He was the one in charge of the Battle Dome, and had become quite rich with its Gladiator-like spectacles of death. In all his time he had never seen anyone live so long as one man in particular. He didnt like it. The mob demanded everyone's eventual death, even the favorites. This one refused to die though. Even with their "special treatments".
"Its almost time, Mad Dog. Do you hear them chanting your name? They want your blood. This new one is a crowd favorite." Winston said with his british accent that made him seam just a little more bastardly.
"So was the last one, and all the ones before that."
This man is different. Eight feet tall, strong as an ox. Arms like tree trunks to swing around a hammer as big as your chest. He's got some hate in him." The man laughed with a hiss.
The speakers anounced the next fight. "Ladies and gents. Listen up! Cause the next fight is the one you've been waitin for. We got the reigning champion, undefeated with... uh... alot of kills under his belt, Mad Dog Scar!"
Half the crowd cheered and half booed as the final bets for the winner were placed.
"But we also got the latest and greatest, undefeated and unforgiving, the merciless murderer, the challenger, Atheum!"
Again, half the crowd cheered and half booed. The fight would begin soon, with more on the line than the credits wagered.
((If you were wondering who said that quote about life and burdens, it was Frances Anne Kemble.))
Dude, nice!
[ QUOTE ]
I am writing that chapter tomorrow.
[/ QUOTE ]
I will be the first to point out I missed that deadline. Sorry. Another upcoming inspection at work means everybody freaking out and I have to do the little puppet dance. I hate that stuff. Let that be a lesson to writers young and old. Set a deadline, and you will miss it.
How do you do it?
Each chapter is more seamless, more smooth, and more drawing than the last. Your action sequences, particularly the aerial combat, make me green with envy.
With just a short exchange of sentences you give drama to my characters, and make me wish all the others mentioned here were writing in the Whitmoore.
Heck, I'm jealous, proud, and awestricken. And that's the flat truth.
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.
Needless to say, that was my favorite chapter so far.
Wow, those were some great compliments. Excuse me while I go deflate my head... You like that speech on a hero's burden Lord Raymond?
I most certainly did.
So did I. I'm going to have to research the original speaker/writer now.
I need some moving quotes for a funeral I'm writing for the Whitmoore. May I borrow that? (Heck, would Lord Raymond like a write in cameo for it?)
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.
I really need to keep up with the boards more. Great chapters.
Man you make Captain Neem sound like a Baddass. 
As always, I look forward to more. Thanks.
((I may be "power-playing" with Blood Wolffe at a few moments, (not sure but covering my bases here.) but I think I earned it. 13 chapters of writing other character's strifes and not mine, try to tell me I havent. First and last time I promise. Stepping down from the defensive soap box for a second: This is the chapter I have been waiting to write. And gave an honorable mention....Shadez!))
XIV. Battle Dome
The Center sat in silence in the dark, looking at his black armor with its ornate golden trim and golden wreath that perched on his black helmet.
This thought still lingers in the back of my mind. I have crossed worlds and time, gaining absolute power. I have defeated the most powerful champions this world and all others have birthed. Yet this thought still lingers. Fear of a future which is dark even to me. I have not felt this in a thousand years. While I will throw away these feelings I will not be so foolish as to ignore it. I will send them a monster the likes of which they have never seen. One to eat their will. One of their own.
----
"Stay close everyone." Steele said quietly as they walked through what used to be Seel Canyon. They could feel they were being watched from the shadows and sometimes hear or see people eyeing them suspicously. The sky was black from the forever burning fires, and the night added to it's raven cloak even more. The charred buildings brought back a flood of memories to them all as the wind whistled through the holes and broken glass. When the wind went a particular course it gave a moan that sounded eerily familiar to them yet the memory was just out of reach.
They had been walking for a while now. None of the gangs would question the Circle of thorns members walking towards the Battle Dome. While other gangs had weakened or dissappeared entirely they remained as strong as ever. Not to be trifled with.
They heard the noise of the crowd before they saw it. The chants and roars of the crowd demanding death for their entertainment, the chears when they got it, and the boos when they lost their credits.
Then they saw it. The arena had been changed to suit the villianous styles and the atmosphere of impending death. All the statues of champions were knocked down. Replaced with bonfires creating an orange glow against the black sky. Spikes went up the sides and the dome with a hole at the top so no one would climb for a free show. As they approached they heard the mob of people create deep booms with their feet rythmicly and cheer on occasion.
As they approached the doors a greasy, grimy man spoke from behind a caged booth.
"fifty credits ta enta. Bets taken inside. Hurry up, cause a big match is comin up soon. They say this'll be the one that kills Mad Dog Scar."
Michael pulled out some money and presented it to the man. He returned a confused look.
"What's this? We take credits here. Thats outsider money. Worthless here."
Michael dropped his arm in disguist. "Well *****." he said.
Do we have to fight for every inch in this f*cking mess?
Captain Neem reached into his pocket and pulled out some strange chits.
"A new recruit... here are the credits. Say, you look like you could make for a nice shell. What do you think?" Captain Neem said, cocking his head concealed by his hood.
"N- No thank you. Just go on in please." The man said wide eyed.
Captain Neem nodded as the tall iron bolted doors slowly swung open.
"Where did you get those credits?" Steele asked.
"From when I was here last."
Captain Neem surprised her every day. He was so mysterious.
Michael upper cut the air and slapped his bicep giving the "up yours" signal and flipping him off as he walked in just to mess with the man.
"That was wee-uhd." the man said to himself.
The cheers got instantly louder as they entered at the base of the stands. People were shaking the chain link cage that surrounded the dirt floor arena. They looked up to see thousands of people all cheering on as a battle took place in the pit below.
They walked up to the cage in time to see one man in full armor cut the head off another. Another red stain made on the dirt floor. The crowd cheered louder as the man held up the loser's head.
"Ladies and gents! We have a WINNER! Turn in all winning chits to the bets office before tomorrow. Next is the fight you've been waiting for. Atheum versus Mad Dog Scar! Last call for bets!"
"Is Blood Wolffe even alive anymore?" Xyfen said.
"I hope so." Captain Neem said as he picked up a crumpled pamphlet from the ground.
He looked over the names.
"Walking Weapon... Shadez... Atheum... Mad Dog Scar... I dont see him on here, but Mad Dog's bio here sounds like him."
"Look! The match is beginning." Etherburn said.
"Here he is. The unstoppable Mad Dog Scar!"
The crowd rose with cheers and boos.
Two huge metal plates raised up with the sound of clinking chains echoing and a raggedy man with strapless goggles stepped out. He was 6'3, maybe 190 lbs. He had short but messy hair and an old shave. He wore only some tattered pants and leather boots revealing scars all over his body from countless battles in the dome.
"Are you sure its Blood Wolffe?" Steele said.
As he walked out he let out a primal howl, very similiar to a wolf's.
"Yup." Captain Neem said matter-of-factly.
"And now, the challenger. A god of war, an untouchable killing machine, Atheum!"
Atheum stepped out. He must have been ten feet tall and five feet wide. The hammer he carried was all steel. Even the handle, it must have weighed a 150 pounds and he lifted it up with a single hand over his head, showing off a great bulge of muscle you couldnt shoot through. He wore black shoulder plates, leather pants, steel spiked boots and a black metal helmet. All the metal must have been an inch thick.
Again, more cheers and boos.
"Good Lord! That is a man!?" Michael said.
"No more talk, now the fight for the championship begins!"
A loud buzzer sounded and Atheum ran towards his opponent screaming while Blood Wolffe jumped up into some rafters above.
"Come down and die like a man you coward!" Atheum boomed.
"Stay down there and die like an idiot." Blood Wolffe yelled back.
Atheum dropped his hammer with a loud thud and squatted down punching into the ground. He ripped up a piece of rock just underneath the dirt and pushed up with enough force to send it flying at Blood Wolffe. He moved gracefully, like a gymnast on uneven bars, to another rafter as the boulder collided sending the rafter back down to the dome floor, crashing loudly and shaking the ground.
Blood Wolffe returned fire with a volley of blasts of blue energy that exploded on and around Atheum shrouding him in a cloud of dust and debris. Atheum ran to the rafter, a large grid iron, as Blood Wolffe fired. As Blood Wolffe fired the rafter blew into smaller pieces. When the dust cleared Atheum had some scrapes but nothing of signifigance. He laughed as he picked up the brick sized chunks of metal and threw them up at him to knock him down.
Guess you're not as dumb as I thought. Too bad.
He leapt to some other rafters as Atheum chucked large pieces of steel fifty feet into the air as Blood Wolffe dodged them. He timed a jump so Atheum threw it straight up only to come straight back down and land right on the big brute's head.
The crowd burst into laughter as Blood Wolffe just embaressed Atheum and sent him into a rage. He wiped the blood from his eyes and threw the piece as hard as he could. Coming straight for his chest, Blood Wolffe tried to catch it like a baseball. It whistled through the air at him.
Bad idea.
It was like catching a rocket and Blood Wolffe didnt even slow it down. It knocked the wind out of him and sent him into the cage creating a visible dent in it, bouncing off and falling very ungracefully towards the earth.
The crowd cringed as they saw the catch and went wild at the action. Now it was a ground fight.
Blood Wolffe slowly got up to see this beast of a man standing over him. He quickly gave a powerful burst of energy at point blank immediately replied back with a right hook, sending Blood Wolffe cart wheeling then sliding for a good distance, kicking up a cloud of dust. Atheum went back and picked up his hammer.
"He is gonna kill him! We have to do something!" Tabby Cat said.
"If we do something this crowd will kill us all." Neem said.
They watched as Atheum walked up to Blood Wolffe, lying on his back. Atheum raised the hammer over his head and swung down. Just before he claimed victory Blood Wolffe put his hands in front of him and sent an energy blast to the hammer. Not only did it stop it but it sent the hammer back to greet Atheum in the face, knocking him back, now with a bleeding nose. He shook his head and looked where his Blood Wolffe was only to find empty space.
"Behind you."
Atheum spun around to see a Blood Wolffe charging up a blast. The energy's hiss became higher pitched until he released it. Smashing into Atheum and sending him to the cage, and partly through it.
The crowd was going crazy, and might become dangerous soon. Some of the ring started to look around for quick exits.
Atheum got up clutching his ribs. He was furious now and charged with his hammer screaming. Blood Wolffe shot him with several blasts, but it didnt even slow him down. He swung at Blood Wolffe.
"Oh shi-" He said as the hammer smashed his chest sending him up into the air then back down to the earth for what seemed like an eternity.
Now he clutched his chest, back on the ground again.
Atheum walked up to him. The crowd was chanting "KILL HIM! KILL HIM! KILL HIM!"
Atheum held the hammer upside down, hovering it over Blood Wolffe.
"Your time is over Mad Dog Scar. Time for me to be the champion of the Battle Dome."
He began pushing down as Blood Wolffe pushed up with his hands against the large hammer head. Atheum was much stronger, but wouldnt kill him without putting some weight into it, so he leaned over the hammer.
Blood Wolffe felt the extra weight crushing down on him. Atheum looked down in confusion to see him smiling, baring those damned canine teeth of his.
He shot the hammer head with a powerful burst sending the shaft up like a bullet through Atheum's chest and out his shoulder.
The crowd gasped in surprise as Atheum stumbled back and the other man slowly got up.
Atheum looked down at his hammer and began to pull it back out.
"Oh no you dont." Blood Wolffe said.
He walked up to Atheum's side and placed a hand on either end of the hammer. Atheum looked at Blood Wolffe and screamed for a second as he pushed the hammer sending it skidding across the arena floor.
The crowd roared with their cheers as Blood Wolffe tiredly raised a fist in the air and looked down on his latest victim.
"Jesus. You are friends with this guy right Neem?" Xyfen said.
"Actually we hate each other." He said.
"Great."
Blood Wolffe sniffed the air as the announcer spoke of the exciting battle, where to cash in, and other events coming up.
He turned his head to Captain Neem, then turned back and walked back towards the door he came in through.
----
They walked down into the basement where the cells were, looking for Blood Wolffe. Hundreds of cells lined the hallway as they walked down. Some were just normal men, captured and being prepared to be slain for amusement, the more talented ones had strange devices in them that prevented them from using their powers to escape.
"I dont like this place." Steele Magnolia said.
"Me neither." Said Tabby Cat.
"It reaks of death." Tigonus said.
They had told Winston they wanted to buy one of his gladiator's.
"Would ya like ta rent one of our fine young men, just for a few moments ladies?" Winston asked the women smiling.
"Ugh!" Steele said.
"I wanna see Mad Dog Scar, how much?" Captain Neem said.
"Not Cheap. I got every man who bet money on Atheum out for his blood."
"Here. This is all the credits I got." Said Neem.
"More." Winston said greedily.
Michael grabbed the man by his shirt, "How about we dont use you in one of our many, painful rituals?"
"This will do." Winston said quickly, taking the credits.
He brought them to a cell at the end of the hallway and banged his cell bars with a metal cane he walked with.
"Visitors."
"I know."
"Leave." Captain Neem said to Winston menacingly.
"Alright, but if you do somethin ta him I'll have your head on a pike." Winston said. He wasnt kidding either when he left them some in private.
"Hello Blood Wolffe." Captain Neem said.
"Haven't heard that name in a while." Blood Wolffe said sitting down and facing away, "You are either here to kill me or... well I cant imagine why else you might be here."
Captain Neem sighed, "I need some information."
"I smell others. Women at that. Information comes with a price, and guessing by the size of your new crew it must be important."
The women of the group recoiled at the implications of his words.
"Quit f*cking around Blood, I need that information."
Blood Wolffe turned around with an angry look. Captain Neem looked at the scars on his face, the one on his temple from Requiem's bullet.
"You quit Neem! Just why would I give you anything after what you did to me? Did you tell them what you did? I bet you didnt. I know I deserve what I got but that doesnt change the fact that I hate you for what you did. You deserve to be in here with me... so about the cost of the info..." He said giving a sharp-toothed grin.
"Just give me the info Blood." Neem said frustrated.
"Just go to hell." Blood Wolffe said as he turned around and started to walk to the other side of his cell.
Captain Neem's face flinched with anger. "You can be part of a pack again."
Blood Wolffe stopped. "Last time you said that I ended up here."
"I need you Blood. I know you dont care but this is bigger than the both of us. Remember what you said about a wolf without a pack? Do you want to be a wolf again?"
Blood Wolffe was still facing away. "It's not like you can do any more damage. Death would be a relief now, is there chance of death?"
Captain Neem smiled "The better question is "Is there chance of survival?"
"I'm in."
Michael chimed in, "Give me the gaze of the wolf. I want the gaze Blood Wolffe."
"Ha! You want it kid? I dont think you do."
"Give me the gaze damnit! I came through hell to get it and I will."
Blood Wolffe spun around and ran up to the bars and pulled Michael's face real close to his.
"You haven't seen hell yet boy, but I can show you."
His large, sharp teeth showed a little as he spoke.
Steele Magnolia pulled out a pistol and pointed it at Blood Wolffe's head.
"Been there done that lady. Requiem put a bullet in my head. Guess it wasnt silver. Is yours?"
"Wanna find out?" Steele said pulling back the hammer.
"Relax. I am gonna give him what he wants." Blood Wolffe said as he turned back to Michael.
He removed his goggles to reveal to eyeless sockets. Michael recoiled in disguist. But got no gaze like he wanted.
"They ripped them out six years ago." He said letting go of Michael, "They took the wolf out of me." Blood Wolffe choked on the words as he sat down.
"Not completely, but they hurt him bad. I couldnt do anything to stop them from hurting my last friend... Have I paid enough now Captain?"
Captain Neem looked at him with pity for a moment, "Lets get him out of here.."
----
"Can you hear me?"
"Yes."
"What is your name?"
"I have none."
"Yes, you do. That isnt important right now though. The Center has high hopes for you, he is going to see you today and give you power like you have never seen before. Do you want that?"
"Yes."
"Who do you serve?"
"The Center, then The Council."
"Beautiful. Open your eyes Tick-Tok. You and I will be leaving soon to destroy the Ring of Resistance. Is that understood?"
"Yes Captain Helsinger."
----
No problems with you making Blood Wolffe strong, he'd have to be to have survived.
At any rate great chapter.
Dude, that was sweet! I wish all blasters were as tough as you 
Oh, thanks for the mention man, appreciate it.
Yes, Captain Neem is a badass. (And quite handsomely purple, I just love that red-spectacled, ebon curl bedecked, grinning countenance)
If anything, you didn't make Blood Wolffe bad enough! As said above, he'd have had to have been tough to survive.
Heh. Steele's bullets aren't silver.... 
Together we entered a city of strangers, we made it a city of friends, and we leave it a City of Heroes. - Sweet_Sarah
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Awesome...just awesome! Can't wait for more chapters!!
By the way...thanx for supporting my story Wolffe and Steele!
For the longest time I thought Steel Wolffe was Blood Wolffe turned evil, guess I was wrong. Glad he is on our side. I wonder if I won my match...
[ QUOTE ]
For the longest time I thought [Metal] Wolffe was Blood Wolffe turned evil, guess I was wrong. Glad he is on our side. I wonder if I won my match...
[/ QUOTE ]
Congratulations. You are the first one to have figured it out. Or at least to tell me. I was intentionally trying to mislead. Did I fool anyone else? Now the question is, who is Metal Wolffe?
That was more a list of the top Battle Dome champions than a schedule. So you won many.
Had me fooled
[ QUOTE ]
I was intentionally trying to mislead. Did I fool anyone else?
[/ QUOTE ]
Oh freaking yes, you did fool me, and I imagine I am not the only one. Well done. The mystery of who Metal Wolffe is will definitely have me pondering...
Well done!
"Shut up Mr. Burton, you are not brought upon this world to get it!" - Lo Pan
@MadGremlin
Sweeeeeeet. Dude you are such a good writer, the depth of the characters and conflict and twists in the plot, I Love it! I never thought Tick-Tok would be turned evil. I do have question though, those wierd things in the boxes with the tubes on their backs, where they like Vampyri but just suped up or were they Vahz?
Those were Vampyri suped up with Vhaz medical technology. More examples of cross villian group pollonization are coming with what wiped Team 27.
Cool. I would hope that the Doc would put up a bigger fight, I mean he is Docter Frankenstien but with a army of undead monsters. Eh, I guess I just give him too much credit b/c he is my favorite AV and won the award for it
[ QUOTE ]
Yes, Captain Neem is a badass. (And quite handsomely purple, I just love that red-spectacled, ebon curl bedecked, grinning countenance)
[/ QUOTE ]
Aww shucks
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
For the longest time I thought [Metal] Wolffe was Blood Wolffe turned evil, guess I was wrong. Glad he is on our side. I wonder if I won my match...
[/ QUOTE ]
Congratulations. You are the first one to have figured it out. Or at least to tell me. I was intentionally trying to mislead. Did I fool anyone else? Now the question is, who is Metal Wolffe?
That was more a list of the top Battle Dome champions than a schedule. So you won many.
[/ QUOTE ]
Yep, had me worried too. Good to see the Wolffe guy is still (relatively) sane.
Very interesting write...
So Metal Waffle isn't Blood Waffle, but I bet 'they' used bits of the original one in the copy...
Take one pair of eyes, add in Crey cloning technologies and see what you can get. (hehe.. 'see')
And at first I was thinking Hellsinger wanted Larry to figure out what made the ex-clockwork into a real person, for himself.
TechDefender Rad/Ele Defender
D'20 Gladiator DM/SR Scrapper
Cyclonite Cat Fire/Fire Blaster
[url="http://www.dutchfurs.com/~taross/w/screenshots/Ferretgal/Ferretgal.jpg"]Ferretgal Claw/Inv Scrapper[/url](Virtue)
@Cyclonite Cat
(Names changed at GM 'request')
Awesome chapter!