And it was moving!
Simon heard a muffled sob beside him and gratefully tore his gaze from the awful scene in front of him.
There was another hero beside him
she was sprawled against the floor and looked like she couldnt move. There was some kind of dart stuck in shoulder and another in her stomach. Her costume colors were the inverse of the fallen heros. Like most heroines he had seen or heard of, she was obviously beautiful
or at least she would have been if she didnt have dirt and drool splattered across her face. Her eyes were filled with grief and fear, but also a desperate determination as well.
The two men at the table barked out harsh laughter that didnt seem human at all as they half-shoved, half-helped the moaning thing off the table.
Hero parts are the best, one of them cackled.
And just think, weve got another one to practice on!
What about the civilian?
Save him for last. I want to work on the other cape before someone comes along to rescue her. He wont go anywhere. Civilians never try to fight or run. The reaper turned to the shambling thing they had just created. Put her on the table.
The once-hero shuffled forward with two other creatures like itself. They roughly grabbed the heroine and threw her down onto the table.
Her eyes found Simons, held them, and then frantically glared at the fallen heros clothing.
The mad doctors laughed. Their gory blades seemed to shine in the flickering lights.
Simon stared at the tattered bits of clothing, desperately looking for what the heroine had been trying to tell him. For one heart-stopping moment, he saw nothing
and then he found it:
A medicine kit.
The heroine struggled as the doctors and zombies fought to bind her down. No one was paying attention to him at all.
He could run. No one could expect him to do anything now. He wasnt a fighter. He wasnt a hero.
Civilians never try to fight.
This time
this time it was going to be different.
With a growl, Simon dove into the fight.
My COX Fanfiction:
Blue's Assembled Story Links
The mindless things that had once been living men did not have the wit to anticipate his actions. The mad doctors had their hands full with the heroine and had been so self assured that Simon would do nothing to hinder them that he was halfway to his goal before they even realized what he was going to do.
Stop him! one of them shouted, reaching for his crossbow.
But it was too late.
Simon grabbed the medicine kit and ran towards the heroine, pressing the purple button so hard his finger ached.
The ray hit the heroine and she made a mindless cry of triumph as blue energy erupted from her hands, knocking the two mad doctors away from her.
Simon rushed over to her and helped her to her feet. We have to get out of here!
They killed Astrostar!
And theyll kill us!
The heroine fired another blast of energy at the blood covered butchers. Ill kill them!
No, Im afraid that I cant permit that.
The figure that walked out of the shadows was close to eight foot tall and not even the heavy leather bodysuit he wore could disguise that he was as heavily muscled as any hero. A sickly green glow highlighted his form. You poor little hero. Believe it or not, you would have been luckier to have fallen to the tender mercies of the Reapers.
Dont damage her, Eidolon. The reapers drew their crossbows. Her power must be added to the Vahzilok.
What about him? The Eidolon gestured with a glowing hand at Simon.
Leave him alone! The heroine cried, making an angry gesture with her hand that sent a wave of energy at the Reapers, knocking them off their feet. Run!
Get them! A Reaper barked at the shuffling dead men.
They moaned and took a step forward.
Astrostar! No! Dont make me do this! Dont make me fight you! The heroine sheathed her fists in pure energy. Please!
The dead thing that had been Astrostar advanced forward without hesitation.
Listen to her! Simon urged. They killed you! Made you a monster! Dont let them make you a killer!
The Astrostar Zombie paused.
Listen to us! Simon cried. Stop them! Stop them!
The thing that had been Astrostar moaned, slapped his fellow zombies aside, and then began a slow charge towards the Reapers.
And thats enough of that, I think. The Eidolon raised his hands over his head and formed a green sphere. Goodbye.
No! The heroine fired at the Eidolon.
The Astrostar-zombie lunged at the Reapers.
And for Simon McCoy, the world exploded into green light.
My COX Fanfiction:
Blue's Assembled Story Links
He couldnt have been unconscious long. His heart was pounding. His head ached. He felt like he was going to throw up everything inside him
up to and including internal organs.
Am I dying? Am I dead? Cant be dead. Wouldnt hurt so bad
Astrostar was dead
again. His still-twitching form was glowing with a sickly green light. The Reapers were bent over him, examining his corpse.
The other zombies swayed on their feet and moaned as though they almost knew what they were and remembered what they had been.
I dont understand, one of them said. How could he turn against us?
The Eidolon was leaning against a wall with one hand. She hurt me! he snarled, glaring at the heroine who had fallen before him. How dare she hurt me! Ill kill her for that!
That would be a waste of good material! an aghast Reaper cried.
Shut up! The Eidolon snarled. He bent and picked up one of the cleavers that a Reaper had dropped. He grabbed the heroine by her long golden hair and bared her throat to the bloody weapon in his hands. Now youll get whats coming to you --
Leave her alone! Simons eyes felt burning hot. He heard a popping sound that rather reminded him of a flashbulb from an old-fashioned camera going off.
The Eidolon roared out a mindless scream as a fierce white light seemed to surround his eyes. He dropped the heroine and cleaver and clutched his head with both hands.
He did it! Get him! The Reapers aimed their crossbows at Simon.
Stay away from me! Stay away! White hot rage, icy fear, a grim determination to live-- he felt them in the back of his mind. Without quite knowing how he did it, he shaped them, gave them form and purpose. And all in a split second, he unleashed them. Stop them!
Three translucent figures seemed to erupt out of his soul: a woman armed with a blazing sword of fire, a man equipped with a howling sword of ice, and a heavyset shape of pure muscle that tore a chunk of rock from the ground beneath it.
The reapers fired their darts into the unreal figures to no effect. They ordered their remaining zombies to attack with terror-laden shrieks, but the undead horrors fared no better than their inhumane human masters. The Phantoms ethereal might easily overcame them all.
No sooner had the last zombie fallen, however, than the spirits faded away as well.
The Eidolon barked out a laugh. Impressive. Very impressive, young hero.
Hero? Simon panted as he forced himself to his feet. He felt drained. His head ached as though it were going to burst. He had never felt so weak in his life.
You dont even know what you are, do you? The Eidolon taunted him. All that power-- all the potential you have-- and you dont know what you have accomplished or how you did it. Its a pity you have to die ignorant, but it cant be helped. Youve proven yourself far too dangerous to remain alive.
The heroine was still unconscious
or worse. Crumpled in a heap, she looked as dead as her partner. There was no help to be had from that quarter.
The Eidolon raised his hands again and began to generate another sickly green sphere.
If that hits me, Im dead, Simon thought. And I dont want to die. Not here. Not like this.
The Phantoms slept at the back of his mind. He knew it was too soon for him to call them again. But there was something else there-- something that was in its own way even more powerful than the spirits that had just rescued him.
Save me! Simon shouted. It was as much demand as plea. An articulated expression of his desire to go on living.
And something heard him.
No! The Eidolon roared. Its impossible! You cant be doing this! You cant!
But he was. Simon didnt know how he was doing it, but he knew that the strange and wondrous being before him had come to life because Simon had willed it.
It was like some modern day angel of light. Manlike in shape, it was almost totally transparent. A blue-white shimmering aura seemed to surround it. It was taller than any man that Simon had ever seen.
The Eidolon stared at the creature of light. Even through his mask, Simon could see the terror on his face. No! he howled.
The light-being made no reply
at least none that required words. It pointed its fists at the Eidolon-- and the darkness and sickly green light of the Eidolon was banished forever by a holocaust of blue light
My COX Fanfiction:
Blue's Assembled Story Links
How do you feel?
Tired. It took him several seconds to recognize his own voice. Several more to realize that he had his eyes closed. Where am I?
Rivera Hospital. Do you remember what happened?
The zombie men-- the Vahzilok? The girl-- the hero. Is she okay?
Shes fine. Shes already headed back out. She said to thank you.
I never even learned her name.
Starburstt. Astrostar was her fiancé, so I imagine that shes going to be spending a lot of time trying to figure out how the Vahz were able to shortcircuit their hero badges. This should never have happened.
Youre telling me. Simon opened his eyes and found himself staring at a polite looking young woman dressed in a conservative gray business suit. Attached to her lapel was a brightly colored name tag that said Freedom Corps Representative Young. He didnt know how to meet that professionally cool gaze, so he looked down at his hands. My hands. What happened to them? They look different
The gold skin? I think its very becoming. A distant smile. You seem to be a rather unusual case, Mr. McCoy. Medical tests indicate that youre a mutant-- a latent mutant. Your powers would probably never have manifested if you hadnt been placed in a life threatening situation.
Powers? He could feel them in the back of his mind-- the Phantoms, the spirit of light. But they were distant now
he couldnt reach them.
You appear to be what we in the business call a controller, Mr. McCoy. Initial diagnosis appears to be illusion/kinetics. She leaned forward and looked at him intently, but he couldnt see her eyes behind the opaque lenses she wore. You can do a lot of good with your abilities. Freedom Corps could use a man like you.
I dont feel like I did then. I feel
weaker.
You manifested powers you shouldnt possess yet, Mr. McCoy. It should take you weeks-- possibly months-- to do what you did to the Vahz. It was a one in a million thing. It could have been the stress. It could have even have been the Eidolons radiation. Well never know. Whatever the reason, you cant do what you did then-- yet. But if you dedicate yourself, youll be able to do it again.
I dont know. Im not a hero. I just want to get back to my normal life and forget all about this. He looked at his hands. As much as I can.
I have a feeling that will be easier said than done, Mr. McCoy. Ms. Young got to her feet. Ill leave my card with you if you should change your mind.
Thank you. Idly, Simon wondered if Ms. Young possessed any powers of her own. He didnt wonder long-- he was so tired that he fell asleep almost instantly.
A few hours later, a nurse woke him up and took his vital signs. She handed him some paperwork-- some pamphlets about living as a mutant, some billing information-- and brought him his clothing which had fortunately been given a thorough cleaning. He had a feeling that hed ditch it as soon as he got home, but at least it wouldnt get him thrown off the tram.
Simon dressed and walked out of the hospital-- and paused as he saw a number of policemen-- uniform and SWAT, it looked like-- run by. Much to his surprise, he even saw some of the Police Drones that guarded the trams float by. Whats happening? he asked the doctor standing outside the hospital, furiously scribbling notes on a clipboard.
Outbreak, the doctor replied tersely. Someone released some kind of toxin nearby. The police have shut down access into and out of the area and are working on containing it. Officer Parker down the street is working some new heroes to try to find out whats going on.
I see. Simon paused. He wasnt a hero, he told himself. It was none of his business-- but he wasnt getting home until this was over. It wouldnt hurt to lend a hand just this once. See you, doctor.
Simon turned his collar up against the wind, and ran down the street to Officer Parker.
One things for sure, he told himself, Youll never catch ME in spandex!
The Beginning.
My COX Fanfiction:
Blue's Assembled Story Links
I had already read the other works of yours linked in your signature, and enjoyed them, when I noticed this story linked in the body of one of your responses to another person's post saying that they had enjoyed your stories. I feel that this origin story is well-written enough to be included in your signature links and wondered why it was not already there. Keep up the great work. 
Chained Bulldog level 33 Stalker on Liberty
Cobalt Blue Knight level 32 Scrapper on Guardian
Drone Keeper level 32 MM on Champion
Glacier Force level 28 Tanker on Justice
and 7 nearly full servers of alts waiting their turns.
Thanks. I'm glad you liked it.
It wasn't in the signature because I have more stories than I have space.
My COX Fanfiction:
Blue's Assembled Story Links
Ah, yes. That, I can definitely relate to, heh. I ran out of room in my sig. Didn't even get my other two mains, but since they are low and progress rarely, I try not to let it bother me. 
Chained Bulldog level 33 Stalker on Liberty
Cobalt Blue Knight level 32 Scrapper on Guardian
Drone Keeper level 32 MM on Champion
Glacier Force level 28 Tanker on Justice
and 7 nearly full servers of alts waiting their turns.
Tinyurl, Blue. It'll help you fit more threads into your signature.
My Stories
Look at that. A full-grown woman pulling off pigtails. Her crazy is off the charts.
Why don't you have the Lord Recluse story in your sig?
SO MAD 
[ QUOTE ]
Tinyurl, Blue. It'll help you fit more threads into your signature.
[/ QUOTE ]
I did use tinyurl. That's how I was able to get three in. Can't seem to get a fourth. 
My COX Fanfiction:
Blue's Assembled Story Links
[ QUOTE ]
Why don't you have the Lord Recluse story in your sig?
SO MAD
[/ QUOTE ]
Because I need more room than I have.
My COX Fanfiction:
Blue's Assembled Story Links
I know. Just saying, it's a pretty badass story 
Chop! Chop! Thunk! Chop!
The sound wasnt pleasant. It thundered in his head, and his mouth tasted almost as vile as the stench that assailed his nostrils. He wanted nothing more than to just fade away into darkness once more, but the same voice that had waked him refused to allow him to sleep.
Dont. If you pass out were dead.
With a fierce effort, Simon McCoy forced his eyes open and shoved himself back into a sitting position. What he saw almost made him wish he hadnt.
He was in one of Paragon Citys infamous sewers. The huge churning machinery, the sickly-looking water, the scum-covered ladders and platforms were unmistakable. Given what he had heard about the place, it didnt reassure him to recognize his surroundings.
Can you hear me-- just nod your head! We dont want them to overhear us.
Simon nodded his head, hissing sharply as he did so.
Quiet! We dont want them noticing youre awake yet.
Chop! Chop! Thunk!
He could see them now. He bit his lip to keep from crying out. He bit it until he drew blood.
Two of them were men in form, if not outlook. They wore bloodstained leather aprons and wore human bones as some sort of macabre decoration. They had a worn out table they were hunched over, working with cleavers and bone saws on a shadowy something sprawled on the table.
Its not a man! Its a dog or something-- it cant be a man!
Simon tore his eyes from the grisly scene to the bits of torn and colorful clothing that the madmen had tossed aside as they worked on their victim.
A hero.
The thing on the table had been a hero.
My COX Fanfiction:
Blue's Assembled Story Links