The impact knocked Mutai Kid backwards, crashing against some steps leading to the plaza across from Blyde Square. Stunned by the impact, MK couldn't move and lay prone as the Warhulk approached. The great pincer arm of the hulking menace grabbed MK and proceeded to toss him back across the square where his unconscious body lay against a signpost.
The Warhulk then spun sideways and proceeded to open fire on the Longbow. "Stop in the name of Justice!" shouted the Longbow leader. But the Warhulk proceeded to fire off a volley of noxious gas bombs at the troop of Longbow, causing some of the Longbow to drop to their knees in fits of coughing.
Fools should have come prepared with gas masks Lord Dire reflected to himself. Nemesis troops were fond of using ammunition loaded with a particularly noxious and toxic gas. Again he would be forced to intervene on behalf of the so called heroes.
A quick bit of elevation landed him on the warhulks "head" . Where he quickly raised both glowing fist clasping them together and then dropping them in a bonesmashing blow that shattered the plexi-steel canister holding the pilot like a glass bowl hit by a sledgehammer. reaching into the opening Lord Dire unleashed a massive blast of energy that caused the rest of the warhulk to explode.
Hovering amongst the smoking debris he landed next to the unconscious Mutai Kid. A quick scan of his bio readings indicated that the hero was merely unconscious with some minor contusions and a couple of broken ribs. nothingt hat could not be fixed. reaching into his belt Lord Dire removed a special device. based on a crey MK25 healing device he had made several improvements in the nanomed infusion process it used. Activating the device he bathed the unconscious hero in its healing green rays then studied the effects quickly. the broken ribs were healed and the contusions rapidly clearing up. the stimulant inhernat in the nanomeds would soon ahve him back on his feet. even now Mutai Kid began to come around.
"On your feet Hero. You are needed." Lord Dire stated imperiously. about to turn back to the battle a sudden explosion rocked him backwards and a second dropped him to one knee. Raising his arms to protect himself he was able to deflect the next bolt but the impact kept him down on one knee.
Not one but three Fake nemesis advanced upon him. IN unison the three stated in booming mechanical voices.
" So Lord Dire you seek to interfere. It well be the last time you do."
As one the three Automatons used there Nemesis Staffs to blast At lord Dire with Force bolts. Each bolt was deflected off his Armors Shielding but they were very powerful and the impact of each drove him back a step. He needed a seconds respite only a second. then he would show that doddering old Fool what true Power was.
So you mean you'll put down your rock, and I'll put down my sword; and we'll try and kill each other like civilized people?
Dubbed first knight of pep-istan by her majesty Queen Pepcat. first catmonaut to walk onna moon.
PENGUIN!!!...(^)>
...............C(...)D
.................m.m
Regaining consciousness, Mutai Kid shook his head to clear the cobwebs out of his mind. What happened? How'd I get over here? And who the heck is that?
Looking up in his dazed state, Mutai Kid spotted a crouching figure being pushed backward from repeated power blasts of three Fake Nemesis, at least he thought there were three, he wasn't sure if he could trust his eyesight just yet.
Regaining his feet, MK felt the nanomeds rejuvenating his body and though they fixed the physical condition, his conscious mind could still feel the pain of being hurled across the square. He noticed with satisfaction the Warkhulk which he had just been battling was lying in pieces nearby the crouching figure being assailed by the Fakes. Something seemed oddly familiar about the figure, as though MK aught to know who it was, but he shrugged off any doubt that they needed some assistance.
The three Fake nemesis were about 20 yards away, a quick jump would put him right behind the closest one. Willing his body to make the superhuman leap, Mutai Kid landed precisely to the back right of the Fake, and aiming a quick kick, he knocked the staff from the grip of the Nemesis.
The large automaton body turned quickly to determine what had caused it's staff to be knocked from it's grip. Seeing Mutai Kid standing there, it raised it's two mighty arms to bring down a smashing blow which it was sure would eliminate the threat. However, MK anticipated the reaction and stepped back just enough for the blow to miss him by inches. As the Fake was in the downward thrust, Mutai Kid sprung upward in an arc, aiming one knee to catch the chin of the automaton, snapping it's mechanical head backwards with such force that the whole body arched backward in the inevitable loss of balance. Without missing a beat, MK brought his left leg around with a smashing blow to the side of it's body, flinging the massive body off to the right.
The suprise rear assault on the Fake momentarily caught the attention of the the other two automatons, who had been continuing the assault on the crouching figure.
"This hero is nothing, continue the assault on Lord Dire!"
Lord Dire! I knew that he looked familiar! What the heck is HE doing here helping against the Nemesis? These thoughts flashed through the mind of Mutai Kid even as he continued his assault on the Fake nemesis sprawled on the ground in front of him.
The Fake began to rise on it's hands and knees, but MK caught the action and brought his knee up into it's midsection, causing the entire body to flip over on it's back. A swift and strong jab with his foot to the chin of the Fake severed the locating collar, causing the whole head assembly to begin to seperate from the body of the Fake. A second fast jab finished the process, sending the head assembly rolling off down the street like some grotesque science fiction movie ending.
Seeing the Fake was dispatched, Mutai Kid spun on his heels to see what assistance Lord Dire might need. Helping Lord Dire, that will be one for the memoirs! Thought Mutai Kid as he turned to survey the situation behind him.
"It is that balance, the ground between EB and AV, where the PvP struggle should exist. Where a 1v1 becomes a struggle of equals, and 1vMany gives the benefit to the 1."
Freedom: Fireocity, Electro Imp, Gotya
Infinity: Meteor Storm, Mutai Kid, General Bot, Da Smasher
As Hellcat restrained the damaged (though still deadly) Fake Nemesis, Positron quickly used his scientific genius to scan the robot and find the source of its power. It was a simple procedure for Positron to then locate the hidden base where the control transmissions were coming from.
Once Hellcat had the location he flew off, drawing speed from the Nemesis in his grasp. As he got closer to the base Hellcat quickly stripped the Nemesis of its uniform, the robotic body exposed. Hellcat landed in an alley three blocks away from the base and quickly finished off the robot, his fist glowing with radioactivity slamming repeatedly into its face.
Hellcat stepped behind a dumpster and let the alien energy transform him. His skin returned to its normal flesh tone. His hair lost its silvery luster and became basic brown. His eyes lost their radioactive glow. Finally, his alien costume transformed, becoming his street clothes.
Hellcat stuffed the robot into a dumpster and stripped off his own clothing. Putting on the soldier's uniform, he stepped out onto the street. He quickly adopted the proper military stance and mannerisms that had been ingrained in him during his time in the Navy.
As he slowly walked towards the warehouse he thought to himself, "Don't worry, it's just like the battle of KylarXII. All I have to do is sneak in, find the mayor, then sneak out to get backup. I've commanded platoons of alien beings who were tougher than these Nemesis. This should be a cake-walk."
Hellcat tried to keep the cap down over his face as he entered the building. The security panel was easy to bypass. All he had to do was transmute the energy to deactivate, then rapidly reactivate it. He walked in and was shocked to discover the massive Nemesis jaeger mechs standing ready for soldiers to pilot them into Steel Canyon.
Several Nemesis soldiers stood around, smoking cigarettes, drinking, and relaxing before they went out to do their part. These were reserves...Probably mercenaries, not regular army soldiers that Nemesis was prone to using. Still, they sitffened a bit when they saw Hellcat in the uniform...At least they didn't recognize him.
Hellcat was able to walk right past the front room without incident, making his way to a restroom in the back of the building. He had seen silouettes in the window of the manager's loft office upstairs. He figured that was where they were keeping the mayor. He also knew that if he did anything drastic, the mayor would be killed. He needed a plan...
Seeing the Fake was dispatched, Mutai Kid spun on his heels to see what assistance Lord Dire might need. Helping Lord Dire, that will be one for the memoirs! Thought Mutai Kid as he turned to survey the situation behind him.
"Yes!" Lord Dire roared. The Mutai Kid had revived and his sudden assault and well timed destruction of one of the Fake Nemesis robots had caused the other 2 to hesitate. If only for a second, and a second was all he needed.
Activating a series of inherant commands his armors power core built up and channeled a massive surge of energy into his armors field generators. Running swiftly up between the 2 automatons he activated his Armors combat computer. quickly accessing the manuevers, and tactics neccessary for the assault. Lord Dire positoned himself to best aim his attack.
The 2 Automatons turned and said in unison. "This hero is nothing, continue the assault on Lord Dire!"
"Flee Hero! Lord Dire Shouted as a massive glow surrounded him. not wating to see if the hero responded to his commands. Lord Dire unleashed a Small Supernova upon the automatons.
The super energized Plasma stream exploded in a wide area obliterating the 2 Fake Nemesis in a storm of excited particles, and cutting a wide swath through a large section of the nemesis soldiers and machines.
Droping to one knee he rested his Armors systems would require prescious seconds to reboot and recover. A quick scan revealed that the Mutai Kid had indeed Eluded the blast. an impressive feat considering its destructive potential. As his armors systems came back on line he stood his Regal grey cape flowing in the breeze.
"come we must take this fight directly to the source." he stated to the Mutai Kid. "I have triangulated the most likely location for a command bunker." again not wating to see if the superbly skilled Martial Artist followed. Lord Dire set off to kill the snake by cutting off its head.
So you mean you'll put down your rock, and I'll put down my sword; and we'll try and kill each other like civilized people?
Dubbed first knight of pep-istan by her majesty Queen Pepcat. first catmonaut to walk onna moon.
PENGUIN!!!...(^)>
...............C(...)D
.................m.m
As Mutai Kid turned away from the Fake he had just dispatched, he half expected to still see a crouching Lord Dire under assail by the two remaining Nemesis automatons. But that was not the case...
Lord Dire had jumped between the two Fakes and was shouting something about fleeing. Having teamed with more than a few high energy heroes, he sensed the signs of an impending explosion that could foreseeably take him out as well as the two Fakes. The mental acuity that allowed him to be a successful Muay Thai fighter in the past, now allowed him to control the much greater strength and agility he possessed with the nanites flowing through his body. Jumping clear of the area just as the blast from Lord Dire erupted, Mutai Kid skirted the flying remnants of the two Fakes and not a few soldiers who'd been unfortunate enough to be within the blast radius.
I'm glad he's not teamed up with Nemesis on this attack! No doubt he's got some kind of maniacal grudge against them, but I better be wary for once a villan, always a villan.
"Come we must take this fight directly to the source. I have triangulated the most likely location for a command bunker."
Hmmm.... It looks like Valkyrie is about recovered, and though I could stay here and help with the remaining Nemesis, she's got the support of the Longbow. Nemesis must be commanding this from somewhere nearby, and I'm sure he's got more of these troops ready somewhere. As much as I dislike trusting Lord Dire, he's sure to want veangance on Nemesis personally. Hehe.... who's to say we might just get lucky this day and make Brass Monday an event to really celebrate!
Lord Dire had already began moving away from the square, and Mutai Kid followed at a discreet distance just in case there was a chance this was some type of trick.
"It is that balance, the ground between EB and AV, where the PvP struggle should exist. Where a 1v1 becomes a struggle of equals, and 1vMany gives the benefit to the 1."
Freedom: Fireocity, Electro Imp, Gotya
Infinity: Meteor Storm, Mutai Kid, General Bot, Da Smasher
Hellcat decided that perhaps a distraction was in order. Slipping quitely from the back room, Hellcat crouched behind a set of ammunition crates. Picking quietly through one, he pulled several small explosives out of the box. Creeping through the shadows, Hellcat slipped behind one of the two gigantic jeager mechs. He slipped the explosives into the fuselage, lighting the fuses with a small burst of radiation. Getting away quickly, Hellcat waited for the explosion.
The jeager mech detonated with an impressive *CRACK!* as the mercenaries near it were knocked down by the shockwave and ensuing shrapnel cloud. The remaining mercs ran over to see what had happened. Hellcat waited until he saw the upper office door open before allowing the alien energy to transform him once more into the famous blue and white starmetal costume. His eyes blazed in the dark as Nemesis himself stepped out, glaring around at the carnage.
"Holy crap," thought Hellcat as he gazed past the villain, seeing the mayor tied up and gagged. "If I do this right," the Redoubtable Defender thought to himself, "We both might just make it out of here alive."
Hellcat crept back, reaching out and grapping one of the unconscious soldiers. He drew vitality from the unconscious man, giving himself superhuman speed. He left the man lying behind the crates and took off, streaking past Nemesis and grabbing the mayor. Snatching the helpless bureacrat out of the chair, Hellcat lit out, leaping past Nemesis once more. The old rogue saw no more than a blur, suddenly realizing he'd been duped, he turned towards the office.
"Stop the Hero!" screamed the Prussian Prince.
Hellcat crept back, reaching out and grapping one of the unconscious soldiers. He drew vitality from the unconscious man, giving himself superhuman speed. He left the man lying behind the crates and took off, streaking past Nemesis and grabbing the mayor. Snatching the helpless bureacrat out of the chair, Hellcat lit out, leaping past Nemesis once more. The old rogue saw no more than a blur, suddenly realizing he'd been duped, he turned towards the office.
"Stop the Hero!" screamed the Prussian Prince.
At those words the doors to the warehouse base exploded in a spectacular blast of energy. Flinging shrapnel and the 6 door guards backwards. Framed by the smoke In the Door way standing like some armored god of war was the imposing figure of Lord Dire himself his right hand crackling with reddish energy. His armors sensors registered the swift blur that was the hero Hellcat carrying the abducted form of Mayor. But Lord Dire didnt interfere his focus was on Nemesis and ending his rivals existence immediately
Behind him in leaped the wicked fast form of the Mutai Kid. the martial artist protected by the force field that lord dire had imparted to him nimbly dodged shot and shell and what he didnt dodge bounced off the protective field. the impacts lessened to a mild bruising. and began to attack with all the brusing skill at his command.
"Face me if you dare you doddering simpleton! Face Lord Dire! Face your own death!" his voice boomed over the clamor and battle going on around him.
Striding forward his armors energy auras combined with the destrium plating served to protect him from the withering barrage of return fire. his arms lashed out right and left blasts of energy slamming into man and machine alike with bone breaking force. Seeing his quarry ahead of him Lord Dire charged with a roar of fury. Using a bone smashing blow to remove a final Jaeger mech from his path.
Nemesis seeing his rival opposing him so boldy Roared his Defiance. His own armors steam vents seeming to match their wearers rage. with loud booming steps the 2 arch villians slammed into each other with the explosive smashing sound of a car wreck.
So you mean you'll put down your rock, and I'll put down my sword; and we'll try and kill each other like civilized people?
Dubbed first knight of pep-istan by her majesty Queen Pepcat. first catmonaut to walk onna moon.
PENGUIN!!!...(^)>
...............C(...)D
.................m.m
((A few moments earlier before the unlikely pair made their entrance to Nemesis' base))
Mutai Kid had followed Lord Dire across Steel Canyon towards the same building that Hellcat had discovered with the help of Positron. Seeing that Lord Dire hadn't made any overt moves which would indicate an alterior motive, Mutai Kid moved up even with the villian.
"We better have a plan if we find Nemesis." MK said looking over at Lord Dire as they both landed a few yards from the entrance to the base.
"I will CRUSH the pretender! Nemesis will grovel at my feet! As for the rest.... YOU can worry about the remaining pawns if you like!" As he said this, Lord Dire pushed a few buttons on his wrist pad and a force field energized around Mutai Kid.
As those words faded the doors to the warehouse base exploded inward in a spectacular blast of energy from Lord Dire. Flinging shrapnel and the 6 door guards backwards.
Mutai Kid caught the flashing form of Hellcat carrying someone away. Now where's HE going?
Darting into the base, Mutai Kid saw Lord Dire was focussing in on Nemesis who was standing at a door on a raised platform above. Elsewhere the base was chaotic, a giant mech burning on the floor with smaller mechs and soldiers laying motionless around it. Two remaining behemouths were still unmanned, but not for long, their pilots rushing towards the open cockpits.
No way I'm gonna fight one, let alone TWO of those damned mechs! I better find some way of keeping them outta this fight!
In a flash Mutai Kid jumped at the closest pilot, knocking the uniformed man from the ladder he was climbing to mount the giant Jaeger. Swiftly MK jumped towards the other pilot who had almost reached the safety of the cockpit. Grabbing the pilot by an arm, Mutai Kid threw him over his shoulder in a textbook arm take down, then smashed an elbow into the chest of the form before allowing the body to slide harmlessly off the mech and onto the floor several feet below.
Mutai Kid spied a brass metal submachine gun laying in the seat of the Jaeger. Taking the gun in hand he sprayed the controls before leaping clear from an ensuing electrical explosion which rendered the behemouth inoperable. Jumping back to the first Jaeger, Mutai Kid repeated the procedure before throwing the brass gun, now completely empty, towards some oncoming mercenaries.
With the force field provided by Lord Dire still intact, Mutai Kid proceded to hand the mercenaries their own lunch, landing kicks, jabs, knees, and elbows in wholesale fashion. The once rushing group of mercenaries were now a writhing mass of human agony on the floor.
But MK had to work quick if he was going to get out of the base alive, for Nemesis and Lord Dire were just beginning their struggle for supremacy on the catwalk above.
"It is that balance, the ground between EB and AV, where the PvP struggle should exist. Where a 1v1 becomes a struggle of equals, and 1vMany gives the benefit to the 1."
Freedom: Fireocity, Electro Imp, Gotya
Infinity: Meteor Storm, Mutai Kid, General Bot, Da Smasher
The Longbow fought viciously against the Nemesis Army troops, trading man for man as the battle raged on. Several wardens were practically carrying the whole fight by themselves, blasting and pummeling the villains into submission. Valkyrie was only too happy to have the help, but she couldnt help thinking she had forgotten something important.
A fake Nemesis blasted back one of the radiation wardens, sending him crashing into a thick glass window with a bolt of force that easily shattered it. Another of the high ranking members, seeing the plight of his ally, quickly grabbed the largest thing he could throw: the giant stone hand of the Blyde Square statue. The fake Nemesis was crushed with the sound of a car crash and the ensueing explosion sent rubble flying everywhere, including into the ranks of Nemesis and Longbow troops.
BOUT TIME! Billyboy yelled as he leapt from the crater the hand had made, his eyes glowing with white hot energy, his costume in tatters. Its my damn birthday and nobody has the courtesy to lift a 2-ton rock off me until Ive already been under it for a half hour!
Valkyrie blushed, now she remembered what she had forgotten. She looked at Billyboy and shrugged, which the young hero took as enough of an apology and leapt into the battle with wild abandon, smacking men and robots every which way with an awe-inspiring flurry. The fight was still in its climax, but Billyboy knew the only way to stop a Nemesis plot was to take the fight to the source, be it a laboratory, an abandoned warehouse, or to the big guy himself! With a fancy bow and a wink, the hero shot off into the air, following the fast diminishing energy signal of the hero who had assisted him before, the Redoubtable Defender.
Billyboy soon found the building where Lord Dire was now facing down what he seemed to think was Nemesis himself. The young hero remembered Lord Dire from a few Longbow bounty flyers, he was bad news, real bad news. Of course, Billyboy had dealt with super villains and the like before. He wasnt afraid to have to take both down, but he had a feeling it wouldnt come to that.
Especially because Lord Dire was most certainly not facing down the real Nemesis.
None of it added up, that much Billyboy realized. He may be the stereotype of an idiot teenage hero, but he had payed special attention to whatever his contacts had to say about the Prussian Prince of Automatons. Hed faced what was supposed to be the real Nemesis twice already, and both times the Prince had been back in action almost immediately, even using the faked death to his advantage. No, Nemesis would NEVER be stupid enough to stand idly by a hostage as valuable as the mayor, hed have to know that every hero in the biz would be looking for him. There was something else going on here, and Billyboy knew it couldnt be good. Not good at all.
The teen jumped into the fray below the enraged Lord Dire, helping clear up the rest of the mercenary soldiers. These men werent as well trained as normal Nemesis troops, once again proving Billyboys theory that this could not be the real Nemesis, he wouldnt rely on dogs of war for protection.
So, hero or villain? Billyboy smiled to Mutai Kid as he slammed his fist into a mercenarys face.
Hellcat sped towards Positron's previous position, the mayor slung over his shoulder like so many potatoes. He skidded to a stop inches away from Positron and set the shaking bureacrat on the ground. "Positron, look after him...I have to get back to the warehouse! The other heroes are in danger!"
Hellcat took off, flying over the raging battle in Blyde Square. As he did so, he quickly pulled momentum from one of the Nemesis troops, boosting his speed. He landed amidst the Longbow troops and shifted the fulcrum of the battle, tearing down the Nemesis troops while revitalizing Longbow. With a flash, Hellcat was off again, streaking towards the doomed warehouse.
"Bombbombbombbombbomb!" Hellcat yelled as he swiftly streaked past the flying form of Billyboy. He gave the tanker a burst of speed and they took off, twin beams of light streaking towards an explosive finish.
The Redoubtable Defender leapt through the warehouse door and up the stairs, quickly sidestepping the armored duo on the catwalk. He rushed forward, aiming him momentum at the office window, grasping the devious device as he did so. The bomb was atomic, a nuclear warhead. No way the real Nemesis would risk himself near a device of this magnitude. Glass shattered as the superfast hero crashed out into the sky. He shot up into the stratosphere, faster than the eye could follow. The timer ticked down...Two seconds...One second...
A flash lit up the sky over Steel Canyon. Longbow and Nemesis troops alike stopped fighting for a moment...A very brief moment before the shock wave rolled over them, knocking several off their feet.
Hellcat hung in the air, stunned. The radiation from the bomb had been absorbed safely, but the actual explosion had still been deadly. Hellcat still clung to the parts of the destroyed bomb, parts of the metal casing imbedded in his blue skin. Burn marks covered most of his body and his metallic costume was in tatters. His arms slowly fell to his sides and the loose remnants of the bomb fell to Earth.
The wind picked up, blowing his tattered cape off of his shoulders. The cape dissipated, the alien energy unable to hold itself together away from Hellcat's body. The broken hero dropped towards Earth, his hair streaming behind him.
With an impact that shook the ground for blocks, the hero slammed into the Earth, cratering, as bits and pieces of pavement flew into the air. The windows inside the warehouse darkened as the cloud of debris flew heavenward.
"Friend! I'm Mutai Kid.... I saw the explosions from over in Perez Park across the War Wall." shouted MK above the fray.
Moments before, he saw and then heard the Redoubtable Defender yelling about a bomb as the hero had flashed past Lord Dire and presumably Nemesis, enroute to retrieve and dispose of the said bomb.
As MK and Billyboy continued to mop up the remaining mercenaries, they both heard and then felt the shockwave of a gigantic explosion far above them. Looking at each other in momentary shock, they knew in their hearts what had just occurred, a hero had given his all to save them.
"That's not Nemesis!" Billyboy yelled and motioned toward the catwalk as he was dropping the last mercenary left from the fray only begun minutes before.
"That makes sense!" Mutai Kid responded, "I thought it strange these were mercenaries and not his loyal troops! It had to be a trap too considering that bomb that just exploded. That was the Redoubtable Defender I saw wasn't it?" Mutai Kid said these last words solemnly.
"Yeah..... it was...." Billyboy responded slowly in similar tone.
Recovering quickly Billyboy asked, "What's the deal with Lord Dire up there?"
"He traced the source of Nemesis command frequencies back to this base, and I followed him over in case there would be a way to cut short that attack on Blyde Square. I think he's madder at Nemesis than we are, I bet this attack messed up some big plans he must have had."
"Hey, from your outfit's condition, I'd say you've seen some action in Blyde Square too, is Valkyrie back in the fight?"
As the two heroes were thus engaged in their conversation, above them Lord Dire began to realize he didn't have the real Nemesis in front of him.
"It is that balance, the ground between EB and AV, where the PvP struggle should exist. Where a 1v1 becomes a struggle of equals, and 1vMany gives the benefit to the 1."
Freedom: Fireocity, Electro Imp, Gotya
Infinity: Meteor Storm, Mutai Kid, General Bot, Da Smasher
*The shockwave from the explosion rattled the warehouse knocking the combatants off there feet and in Lord Dires case down to one knee. His armors sensors confirmed what he had come to suspect. this was not the True Nemesis.
Nemesis had a habit of faking his death only to pop up again later with a new scheme. The Fake Nemesis automatons were usually powered by a standard Steam Force generator that powered most of his weaponry. But every Now and then The Prussian Prince would augment one with a Powerful Fusion variant of the Steam Force generator. This would enhance the allready formidible Automatons power a hundred fold. then he would monitor the robots progress personally. speaking through its mouth, seeing through its eyes, and listening through its ears. all safely tucked miles away from any real danger.
his sensors had registered the unique vibrations of the Fusion Power source. they had not registered the powerful nuclear device that Nemesis had secreted in a shielded container. Yet another affront that The Prussian would pay for. but first things first.
"Cowering in your hole as usual old man." he snarled. as he pounced using the Fallen Automatons momentary weakness as an opportunity. The bio feed back from this would be a painful but neccesary price to pay. the results would be more then sufficient especially since Nemesis himself would almost certainly feel the robots destruction as well.
Drawing back both hands the armored gauntlets crackled with an energy that was almost blinding to look at. Drawing power from his armors fusion source he transfered it to hsi gauntlets and then drove them down with a roar of pain and fury that shattered what windows were left untouched by the blast.
The double fisted blow drove through the automatons chest plate and nearly into the floor. grasping the Fakes fusion power source he reversed the flow and drained the generators core of all energy increasing his own might temporarily.
He stood and surveyed the battle scene. Both Billyboy, and Mutai Kid had recovered from swiftly from being knocked off there feet by the explosion. Mutai kipping up and unleashing a wicked fast dragons tail manuever that swept the legs out from under a half dozen nemesis foot troops. then proceeding to clean the remaining troops from the crumbling warehouse. Billyboy exerscising his impressive energy generating powers to clean the clock of a Lance Comet sniper that thought he had the drop on him.
For a brief instance the Mutai Kid had his back turned to Lord Dire. his armor automatically engaged a target lock. with his augmeted power he could have easilly blasted the scrapper into oblivion. his hand raised crackling with energy. then Kid turned and saw him his eyes widened at the sight of Armored figures raised hand knowing he couldnt possibly dodge the blast in time. only to be further amazed when the blast passed several feet above his head vaporizing a warhulk that had lumbered in behind him and aimed its storm cannon at the martial artist.
"Quickly! we must exit. the warehouse is losing all structual integrity. Its collapse is imminent!" he shouted down to the Kid. then he turned and obliterated the control modules that were broadcasting the signals to the automaton armies currently razing Steel Canyon. without that the automatons would be directionless and have to rely on more baseline programming making them easier targets for the incoming reinforcements. activating his flight systems Lord Dire exited the Warehouse just as the structures broken support beams groaned in defeat and snapped causing the whole strcture to collapse in on itself.
"Delphi intialize and prepare Dire extraction protocol omega epsilon 3. our business here is almost concluded." he stated into his armors comm system. " Confirmed Lord Dire, emergency teleportaion sequence initalized and awaiting your command. " came the Female voice of Delphi his automated and nigh fully realized artificall intelligence. Soon this would be over then he could depart and return to more trully worthy pursuits.
So you mean you'll put down your rock, and I'll put down my sword; and we'll try and kill each other like civilized people?
Dubbed first knight of pep-istan by her majesty Queen Pepcat. first catmonaut to walk onna moon.
PENGUIN!!!...(^)>
...............C(...)D
.................m.m
High above Steel Canyon, hidden amongst the stars sat the lumbering form of the Triani warship Tej'mar . The behemoth's cloaking device and fusion dampeners had the ship well hidden from any sensors well past human (or even superhuman) understanding. The Triani were almost as old as the universe itself. They sent ships to every habitable planet, searching for not only intelligent life, but champions; beings of singular character, selflessness, and dependability.
It was the Triani who had initially given Hellcat his powers, the Triani who had saved his life over the ocean almost 60 years ago when he had risked his own life to save a wingman. The Triani who had repaired his broken body, infusing him with the star radiation that prolonged his life and allowed him to become the Redoubtable Defender.
A beam of energy, invisible to the naked eye, shot down from the heavens and struck the dead hero, catching hold. Slowly, the body of HellcatF6F rose from the ground, turning slowly in the air. His arms and legs hung limp, his head hanging down, as the beam drew him slowly upwards.
The heroes and villains running out of the warehouse stood, stunned, as the body lifted up and disappeared into the clouds. MK and Billyboy, inspecting the area, couldn't find the crater where Hellcat had impacted. All they found instead was a small plaque, made of a glasslike substance that shimmered and changed colors as the light caught it. Visibly set in the center were the words: "This world has need yet of heroes. Our work is far from over."
These words were centered in the middle of a platinum star with several smaller stars encircling it. The eternal symbol of the Triani shone brightly in the sun, sending millions of points of light sparkling along the walls of the buildings surrounding it.
Billyboy and Mutai Kid were stunned to see the body of the Redoubtable Defender in mid-air, being lifted by some unseen force towards the heavens. And yet in their solemn hearts was hope, for they saw and held the mysterious glass plaque which lit up the area. What did those words mean? Who had taken the body of the hero and left this piece of hope?
"We better head back to the square Billyboy, we won't find any more answers here." Mutai Kid saw the emotions running across Billyboy's face, and knew that they must move on, for Nemesis would not take this setback lying down.
"I'm sure our assistance is still needed by Valkyrie." At the sound of Valkyrie's name, Billyboy regained his composure and gave a nod in agreement.
Mutai Kid took a quick glance around them..... Lord Dire was no where to be seen, and MK had an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach, having seen the power the villian had unleashed which could have well been meant for him at a different time and place.
With a final few glances backward over his shoulder at the remnants of the base complex, Mutai Kid leapt into the air, followed closely by Billyboy who was holding the small glass plaque in one of his hands. The two heroes headed back to Blyde Square knowing their day was not yet over.
"It is that balance, the ground between EB and AV, where the PvP struggle should exist. Where a 1v1 becomes a struggle of equals, and 1vMany gives the benefit to the 1."
Freedom: Fireocity, Electro Imp, Gotya
Infinity: Meteor Storm, Mutai Kid, General Bot, Da Smasher
Billyboy was unusually quiet as zoomed through the air and back the Blyde Square, simply rereading the plaque over and over again and going over what had happened in his mind. He hadn't known the Redoubtable Defender long, but he was sure he had been a good man, his actions had proved that. Not only had he saved Billyboy and Mutai Kid, he had also saved Lord Dire and the other villains. He wasn't a man who picked and choosed.
Billyboy sincerely wished he wasn't... gone.
This world has need yet of heroes. Our work is far from over. Billyboy pondered in his mind. My work is far from over too.
As they neared Blyde Square, Billyboy spotted Positron in the distance. "Yo, Possy!" he yelled. "Catch!" He chucked the plaque at the Phalanxer, who caught it and looked at it for a moment in stunned admiration. "We'll make a monument for it later, time to take out the trash!" Billyboy shouted with a grin.
Billyboy landed in the center of Blyde Square and slammed his fist into the pavement, sending a wave of energy shooting out to all sides. The Nemesis soldiers hit by the wave stumbled backwards, disoriented at the sudden and unexpected amount of unfriendly energy being put into them. Billyboy took the opportunity to send one to the ground with a haymaker while kicking another in the face. Mutai Kid followed him quickly, landing with a dropkick to a soldier's head and quickly sweeping his leg out in a wide arc, sending several soldiers flailing to the ground due to the sudden lose of balance.
Billyboy reached up to remove his sunglasses, suddenly remembered they'd been crushed along with a good portion of his costume, and grinned. His eyes began glowing even brighter and he glanced over to a closing jaeger. A burst of energy shot from his eyes, slamming into the robot and causing it to explode. No, Billyboy's laser eyes didn't cut, but most things went down to them nonetheless!
Mutai Kid put his back against Billyboy's and they began slowly spinning, each taking out the minions around them with great effincientcy if they came in range. Billyboy's laser eyes did the trick, sending men and robots hurtling every which way as the sudden burst of energy slammed into them, while Mutai Kid's long legs went to work, cracking ribs and metal casings alike.
"So," Billyboy said cheerily, "Nice weather we're having, eh?"
"Ah just wonderful weather.... it's raining Jaegers and Curiassers!" Mutai Kid said as he finished off a pair of Nemesis soldiers who got within striking distance of a couple of Cobra kicks.
The stalwart pair of heroes continued their assault on the troops of Nemesis still pouring in from the outlying areas of Steel Canyon. With the power blasts from Billyboy and the accurate strikes from Mutai Kid it seemed as though the tide was turning in the heroes favor for once.
Even Positron seemed more optimistic, though when the pair of heroes had a chance to fill him in on the base raid, he seemed disturbed by something. At least one positive side effect of the raid was the apparent reduction in strategic field control of the automatons. Without direct guidence from Nemesis there were no combined assaults on any one tactical location, but merely skirmishes with pockets of Nemesis.
This allowed the heroes opportunities to rejuvenate their strength and amp up their endurance to take the fight to the Nemesis. No one was taking bets yet on when the struggle would end, they'd all been in far too many battles to let down their guard just because of lulls in the fighting.
"It is that balance, the ground between EB and AV, where the PvP struggle should exist. Where a 1v1 becomes a struggle of equals, and 1vMany gives the benefit to the 1."
Freedom: Fireocity, Electro Imp, Gotya
Infinity: Meteor Storm, Mutai Kid, General Bot, Da Smasher
[ QUOTE ]
"Ah just wonderful weather.... it's raining Jaegers and Curiassers!" Mutai Kid said as he finished off a pair of Nemesis soldiers who got within striking distance of a couple of Cobra kicks.
The stalwart pair of heroes continued their assault on the troops of Nemesis still pouring in from the outlying areas of Steel Canyon. With the power blasts from Billyboy and the accurate strikes from Mutai Kid it seemed as though the tide was turning in the heroes favor for once.
Even Positron seemed more optimistic, though when the pair of heroes had a chance to fill him in on the base raid, he seemed disturbed by something. At least one positive side effect of the raid was the apparent reduction in strategic field control of the automatons. Without direct guidence from Nemesis there were no combined assaults on any one tactical location, but merely skirmishes with pockets of Nemesis.
This allowed the heroes opportunities to rejuvenate their strength and amp up their endurance to take the fight to the Nemesis. No one was taking bets yet on when the struggle would end, they'd all been in far too many battles to let down their guard just because of lulls in the fighting.
[/ QUOTE ] *somewhere north west of Paragon City* "My liege." a young man in armor bowed in front of a large satin swivel chair, "what do you wish of me?" he asked. "Commence... Phase 1." The large chair came around revealing a tall man with a patch over one eye. His hands were seemingly robotic. His attire was dark crimson suit with a silver emblem in the corner that greatly resembled a fist.
"Phase 1?" The bowing man gasped. "But we are not ready! There is still much to be done! We-" "Do I need to repeat myself Private?" The large man grabbed the now stuttering one. " Phase one Private." With a twist of his wrist he set his hand on the scared man's skull. He squeezed. The man let out a cry of pain. "Y-yes s-sir! Of-of course sir! Right away sir! I'll just let myself out then?" "Go",the large man groweled, "off with you. I need time to think." The stumbling and frightened man tripped as he scrambled out of the dungeon like office. "Idiot." the man mumbled to himself.
So, my old friend. You hope to invade the city before I and still suceed? Your attempt has already failed. I will destroy youu if it is the last thing I do. He glanced at a screen on his desk that is replaying all the events in the city. You will fail. he thought gazing at the screen filled with heroes that were battling large groups of Nemesis. You and Arachnos. The only one to survive will be The Iron Fist! He laughed a terrible and creepy laugh, filling every solidier in the base with dread.
*above the chaos broiling below Lord Dire stood watching but hidden, having activated his armors cloaking device.*
He had indeed escaped the warehouse mere moments before its inevitable collapse. cloaking himself and then flying to a nearby roof top to further observe events.
Billyboy and Mutai Kid his erstwhile ally were making a formidible team. the 2 heros had all but single handidly cleared blyde square of most of the Nemesis troops and warmachines. buying some much needed respite for the Valkyrie, Positron, and Longbow. Elsehwere Hellcats bravery had saved the city from atomic devestation. Lord Dire was not overly sentimental about the Loss of a hero yet the redoubtable defenders sacrifice must be honored. he would raise a glass of wine to the fallen hero later that evening.
For now Lord Dire busied himself with putting his formidible intellect to the task of making some profitiable gain from this endeavor in a way that would further his own ambitions.
So you mean you'll put down your rock, and I'll put down my sword; and we'll try and kill each other like civilized people?
Dubbed first knight of pep-istan by her majesty Queen Pepcat. first catmonaut to walk onna moon.
PENGUIN!!!...(^)>
...............C(...)D
.................m.m
Valiant was flying south, heading to Blyde square.
He had heard the signal while in Boomtown, he only hoped he could make it to steel before the party started to die down.
He made his decent to Blyde, enhanced senses picking up on the battle below.
A chuckle fell through the air behind him. Nemesis had all those toys and two kids were just busting them up.
A quick glance upward and he saw something wrong.
Barely there but growing, a crack in Blyde's neck? Heat, Smoke, Brass.
Jaegers were hanging like a shawl around Blydes neck, sharp slender legs digging and tapping till the stone surrendered. Blyde giving a most unpleasant nod to the young Heroes accomplishments.
He sped down to the statue, though he was marveled at his technology, Valiant still had little respect for Nemesis, and nothing is more fun then aggravating a bad guy.
A smile spread across his face like a kid with Christmas gift. This would be a fun day indeed.
He buzzed past a Warhulk on his way down, tapping sharply on its glass.
"Anyone every mention to your boss how much you guys look like those old seltzer bottles? Did Nemmy have failed dreams of Clown-hood or something?"
The Warhulk turned, the insult was ignored, but Valiant just likes to talk. He grabbed the arms as they rose and braced his feet against the smooth green window.
"Lend me a hand with that statue, will ya?
He kicked and pulled in a smooth motion, ripping the arms off the confused Warhulk at the joint.
"Thanks Gimpy! Now, let me just tie this up..." he remarked as his Autonomic Assailant tumbled backwards. Valiant took a length of black wire from his belt. Tying it to the base of the pincer clad arm.
He held the limb at his shoulder and took off running. Halfway to Billy and Mutai he launched it like a deranged Javelin, watching as it soared to Blydes face. Sinking into it with a satisfied 'cthunk' sound.
"Well... quite a nice shot... if I do say so myself..." Valiant remarked as he lifted off the ground, still heading towards the beaten effigies base.
"Good job you two, I love the outfits!" Valiant said, turning in a sharp arc upwards, up above the statues head. The black cord still connecting the clawed hand to his waist.
"Now, just wait for the little idiots to finish drilling, and I get to go bowling!"
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Mutai Kid and Billyboy were still engaged with some Nemesis soldiers when they caught sight of Valiant throwing what appeared to be a rather large grapling hook upwards towards the top of the statue. Following the arc of the projectile it was then that the pair noticed the mechanical necklace of Jaegers around the neck of the great statue.
"Ummmm..... Mutai we better move!" Billyboy shouted. Having just recently been on the receiving end of one hand of the statue, Billyboy had no desire to feel the impact of the much larger and heavier object.
Mutai Kid knew that even with his speed and agility, trying to avoid something that massive would be nigh impossible. "I think you're right Billyboy! Let's move!"
"Hey Posi, Valyk! Don't look now but Nemesis has a present getting ready to fall from above!" Mutai Kid's pointing arm was followed by the two pairs of seasoned eyes. Now aware of what was happening above, they descreetly moved their fights off a distance out of the potential impact zone.
Valiant turned in a sharp arc upwards, up above the statues head, the black cord still connecting the clawed hand to his waist. "Now, just wait for the little idiots to finish drilling, and I get to go bowling!" Valiant shouted to the heroes below.
"The lane's all yours Valiant!' Mutai Kid shouted to the hero attached to the opposite end of the grappling arm.
"It is that balance, the ground between EB and AV, where the PvP struggle should exist. Where a 1v1 becomes a struggle of equals, and 1vMany gives the benefit to the 1."
Freedom: Fireocity, Electro Imp, Gotya
Infinity: Meteor Storm, Mutai Kid, General Bot, Da Smasher
Valiant waved thanks. Hearing the final crack as the stone cracked trough, he flew back quickly. Waiting till momentum built, he yanked up as hard as he could, the makeshift wrecking ball jumping into a lazy arc over him. Some quick turns later and he had built up a howling circle.
"Ok... Getting kinda dizzy..." he said, hazily floating to the earth as his 4 ton gift went hurtling north, plowing through ranks of Nemesis as it went.
"Well, that went... well?" A quick glance around him caused question, as a Nemesis Robot and multiple Warhulks encircled him. A fiendish smile lit up his face.
Dropping into a low stance, his voice full of excitment.
"Let's do this!"
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"Well hello Lord Dire..." The one known as 'Fist' to his enemies and 'My Liege' to his servants was still observing the battle. "It has been a long time hasn't it? Even you will not stop me." Infared lenses were amazing. "They never had that sort of thing in my day." "Well I think it is time to make myself known..." Fist stood up and left his office to initiate Phase 1.
Somewhere hovering above the Earth, the undetectable warship Tej'mar was a buzz of activity. Alien lights flashed, energy building, as several elien beings in golden togas and coral masks carried a broken hero towards the medical bay.
"The energy is still within him," stated the Triani leader, Tal'mah'rious. It had been Tal who had originally discovered Charles Edwards, World War II fighter pilot, and imbued him with starmetal, turning him into the intergalactic champion HellcatF6F. "We can, perhaps, save him. But the process may cause some...side effects. We must hurry, for the other heroes in Blyde Square are about to be outnumbered!"
Unbeknownst to the heroes below, Nemesis wasn't nearly done with his plans for Steel Canyon yet. The Triani had sensors all over the city, their energy orbs masked behind cloaking fields and energy dampeners, making them invisible to the naked eye. These sensors had already detected an immense surge of Nemesis' trademark steam energy building up beneath the city.
The beings carried Hellcat to the medical bay and Tal held out his dual-thumbed hand. The small cube lit up, a swarm of brightly lit insects descending on the hero. The blue and white uniform, tattered and broken, was stripped from him, destroying itself as it left contact with his skin. Slowly, the insects removed the fargments of shrapnel from his body, disintegrating them as they did so.
When all this was done, the alien doctors took Hellcat's body and laid it in one of the glassy chambers that lined the room. The green metallic circles around the container began to pulse outward with energy. The doctors shut the chamber and it slowly filled with a rainbow colored liquid. The hero's body rose with the liquid, floating amidst it.
[ QUOTE ]
Somewhere hovering above the Earth, the undetectable warship Tej'mar was a buzz of activity. Alien lights flashed, energy building, as several elien beings in golden togas and coral masks carried a broken hero towards the medical bay.
"The energy is still within him," stated the Triani leader, Tal'mah'rious. It had been Tal who had originally discovered Charles Edwards, World War II fighter pilot, and imbued him with starmetal, turning him into the intergalactic champion HellcatF6F. "We can, perhaps, save him. But the process may cause some...side effects. We must hurry, for the other heroes in Blyde Square are about to be outnumbered!"
Unbeknownst to the heroes below, Nemesis wasn't nearly done with his plans for Steel Canyon yet. The Triani had sensors all over the city, their energy orbs masked behind cloaking fields and energy dampeners, making them invisible to the naked eye. These sensors had already detected an immense surge of Nemesis' trademark steam energy building up beneath the city.
The beings carried Hellcat to the medical bay and Tal held out his dual-thumbed hand. The small cube lit up, a swarm of brightly lit insects descending on the hero. The blue and white uniform, tattered and broken, was stripped from him, destroying itself as it left contact with his skin. Slowly, the insects removed the fargments of shrapnel from his body, disintegrating them as they did so.
When all this was done, the alien doctors took Hellcat's body and laid it in one of the glassy chambers that lined the room. The green metallic circles around the container began to pulse outward with energy. The doctors shut the chamber and it slowly filled with a rainbow colored liquid. The hero's body rose with the liquid, floating amidst it.
[/ QUOTE ] "My reign has come!" Fist stood in front of a enormous army of armored soldiers giving a pep talk. The less experienced ones thought that Fist was their friend and was trying to help them. The more experienced ones knew better. "Our time in now! We will sweep through the city, taking on Nemesis, Arachnos, and Hero alike! Those that do not join me will die. Those that disobey me will die. But if you come with me, your lifes dreams will all come true!" He lifted his arms in the air and the crowd cheered. All but one that is. This one slipped quietly out the back and produced a walkie talkie. "Nemesis? This is Alpha Unit 175. We have a situation here. Iron Fist is going to-" " Destroy you." A sinister figure came behind the Nemesis soldier. "Oh no..." Fist kept the talk button down to let Nemesis hear his agent's dying scream.
Out of the corner of his eye Mutai Kid caught sight of Hellcat regaining his footing and taking a soldier for a ride off to one of the rooftops.
Hmm, looks like Nemesis has been busy with a suprise attack. Positron's not here, so something big had to draw him off.
As he was considering his next course of action, and wondering if it had been such a good idea to jump right in the middle of the fray, a series of grenades exploded behind him, sending him flying over the top of the giant concrete hand, landing on his back.
"Another hero to pound into the ground for the glory of Nemesis!" This was shouted out by a pair of Grenediers who had launched the grenades from the other side of the giant statue. Regaining his footing, Mutai Kid noted with some irony that he'd landed in the midst of 6 soldiers pointing their bayonets right at him. Though his reflexes were quick, allowing him to avoid most of the thrusts, two of the bayonets grazed off his right thigh and upper torso, ripping jagged slits through his suit.
Spotting an opening in their next series of thrusts, Mutai Kid slammed his leg into the chest of one soldier and using the momentum landed his opposite leg to the head of another. The two soldiers flew in opposite directions, writhing in pain. The remaining four soldiers began another forward thrust on Mutai Kid, but he jumped above the fray and watched in humor as the soldiers collapsed to the ground like a set of Keystone cops. Landing on top of the pile, he slammed his knees into the backs of two and managed to use a legswipe to layout the remaining soldiers.
Just as he was recovering from the brawl, MK spotted a Warhulk fast approaching from behind the statue. It took aim with a side canon and fired!
The impact knocked Mutai Kid backwards, crashing against some steps leading to the plaza across from Blyde Square. Stunned by the impact, MK couldn't move and lay prone as the Warhulk approached. The great pincer arm of the hulking menace grabbed MK and proceeded to toss him back across the square where his unconscious body lay against a signpost.
The Warhulk then spun sideways and proceeded to open fire on the Longbow. "Stop in the name of Justice!" shouted the Longbow leader. But the Warhulk proceeded to fire off a volley of noxious gas bombs at the troop of Longbow, causing some of the Longbow to drop to their knees in fits of coughing.
"It is that balance, the ground between EB and AV, where the PvP struggle should exist. Where a 1v1 becomes a struggle of equals, and 1vMany gives the benefit to the 1."
Freedom: Fireocity, Electro Imp, Gotya
Infinity: Meteor Storm, Mutai Kid, General Bot, Da Smasher