"'Kay babe, gimme the purse." a Hellion ordered of a young woman, who didn't seem to care much about being mugged. The Hellion wasn't even grabbing her, and she hadn't run.
"Again? You already tried to take my last five, and each time a hero stopped you within three seconds of getting your grubby little hands on it, Pete. Do we really want to go through this again?"
"Look, it hurts enough that you know my name by now, as well as the heroes that keep pummeling me. Just help my ego and give me the purse, okay?"
"*Sigh*... Fine, I pity you." The woman gave the thug her purse, and he began running. Not three seconds later, a glove-covered fist collided with his face, sending him sprawling to the ground.
"Pete? Didn't I arrest you just a few minutes ago?" Prodiguy asked the thug, who was now standing with a sad sigh.
"Yes, yes you did. Look, just cuff me, okay? I don't feel like getting beaten up. Besides, my mom's birthday is in an hour, and I gotta give her her gift."
"Laying on the Evidence table, second room to the right of your designated cell?"
"Yeppers."
"Okay, I will get it and tell the guys to let you off easy. Twelve seconds should do. Let's get moving."
"Thanks, Prodi."
---------------------------
"I told you, dear." Emma muttered as she put a bandage on Jason's hand. He had clenched it so hard, his nails cut into his palm.
"Mother, I am okay. Just let me get-- Oww!!" He had pushed himself up with his hand, causing a surge of pain to shoot up his arm. He fell back, whimpering. "My boo-boo hurt!"
"Now now, let mummy kiss it better..."
---------------------------
"Hey, thanks for this, Guy." Pete said to the hero who brought a gift-wrapped and bowed package from a gift store. "I couldn't afford anything to wrap it in."
"Not a problem. So, how old is your mother?"
"Fourty. The big Four-Oh."
"Ah... When my dad hit that, I think he overreacted..."
---------------------------
"I CAN'T LIVE ON! I AM TOO OLD!"
"Dad, don't do it. You did this last year, and the year before." a younger John said to his father, who stood on the edge of the roof of their home.
"Nope, son, you can't talk me down."
"...Fine, jump."
"I will!"
With that, Anthony Ballard jumped from the building.
And broke his hip on the soft grass. "Aah! Hey, John! Be a good son and call your mother, would you?"
Their home WAS, after all, a single story building.
---------------------------
"Yeah, mom still acts like a kid. She tried to get me to join the Outcasts because 'they have cooler names.'"
"Ah, mothers these days... Well, happy trails!"
---------------------------
Jason was now halfway toward City Hall when a Hellion with a box began running up.
"He is probably holding a bomb! If I stop him, I just KNOW the Hero Registrar will let me be a hero!"
However, before he could do anything, the Hellion bumped into him, sending him headfirst into a wall.
"Oh man! Sorry! You okay?"
"...Yeah... Slight headache..."
"Look, sorry I can't hang around, but I gotta get to my mom's... Prodiguy is just down the street, ask him for some help! He is awesome!"
With that, the Hellion ran to a nearby apartment building, opening the door and entering, the china plate set inside the box perfectly intact and ready for his mother's birthday. She would be SO happy..!
Jason was fed up. Not only was his brother a Protector of Paragon now, according to his new, shiny badge, he also was loved by citizens AND villains! How was that even POSSIBLE?!
"Well, just be nice when you arrest them, and not only are they off the streets, they are pretty nice. Plus, get 'em a nice cell, they will simmer down from rioting. In fact, I gave Frostfire, a leader of the Outcasts, a cell with one of those new PS2's? He gave an old lady a kitten yesterday. Granted, he was overthrown pretty quick, but still..."
"Shut up, John!" the hero's brother yelled, his arms going up in exclamation, "How can you joke about this?! I have no powers, no nothing, and you joke about it AND gloat! Some brother you are!"
"Hey, I took care of you when mum and dad died!"
"They are in the next room, watching Home Improvement!"
"...Oh yeah, huh... Well, I did get you that puppy."
"No, John, you got me a stuffed frog and told me it was a puppy. Next time I saw a frog, I hugged it calling him 'puppy' and he exploded."
"Yeah, you WERE a pretty gullible kid..."
---------------------------
"Hey John, what's a 'swirly?'"
"...Why do you want to know?" a seven year old John Ballard asked his six year old brother.
"Some guys at school said I would have fun, but they wouldn't do it unless I knew what it was."
"...Oh... Then, it is a free ride on a carousel."
"Really?"
"Really really."
"Thanks John! You're the best!"
---------------------------
"It took THREE WEEKS to clean the smell out, jerk!" Jason yelled as he stood, going for the door. There was a full backpack sitting by it. John suddenly became serious.
"Stop right there, Jason. I am not letting you walk out that door."
"Right, what're you gonna do? Tell me how much I suck?"
"No." He began walking toward the door quickly. Jason worried, opening his hand to grab his bag while he turned. After looking back, bag in hand, John was face down, a chair connected to his foot. Apparently, he had tripped. That did not, however, explain why half of the stuff on the kitchen table had spread over to the same side.
Jason didn't have time to think about it. He dashed out, leaving the door wide open as he ran. John looked up, ready to begin running after him, but couldn't see him. He didn't know which way he had turned.
Jason's absence was only missed by his parents. John always had to say "He is going to come back. He is too much of a whiner to stay out in the world alone." His father agreed.
His mother, however, was worried. "Listen, I am going to use my powers. If you need me, use 'the word.'"
"I still don't get why the 'word' is a sentance. Least of all why it is 'You got some 'splainin' to do.'" John muttered as his mother ascended the stairs. Anthony simply chuckled.
"Well, while she was developing her powers, your mother was watching a certain show. See, in the show, this guy--."
A crash from upstairs signalled the two men to dash upstairs, John arriving first to Emma holding her head in pain, a vision seeming to flash in front of her eyes. "No... Jason... Put your brother down... Put your brother down... Don't... Put that boulder down, Jason..."
John's first thought was 'Thanks a lot, mother,' but he thought better of saying it. Calling him a boulder may insult him, but still.
However, he remembered something. Tripping over the chair. He could have SWORN that chair had moved, and he also could have sworn he felt the air shift in the direction it fell. He had assumed it had been some kind of Brick or super strength hero pulled a boulder from the ground and it smashing the floor causing an earthquake, but that didn't explain why everything went one way.
However, now was not the time. The son picked up his mother, rushing her down stairs. His father had gone back and filled a glass of water.
---------------------------
"[censored]." Jason muttered, rubbing his head slightly. He had felt a sort of twinge in his mind, and assumed it was another psychic hero trying out their new powers. However, he had trained himself to keep those damn mind-readers out. His mother had taught him all about the ways normal people can avoid being controlled or having their minds read.
He had followed her teachings, and had no idea it had been her he had hurt.
He walked into a bar, pulling up a stool. The 'tender looked at him. "Can I see some I.D.?"
"I am not drinking."
"Well, then I am gonna have to ask you to leave. We are cleaning out the kitchen today and we can't have loiterers."
"Oh my-... Can't you just leave me alone? Seriously, why does everyone HATE ME?!"
At the last words, he threw his hands up in distress. The stools to the left and right of him smashed to the roof. The patrons and the bartender looked up. It seemed like the stools weren't even floating, just... Stuck, almost as if they were standing on their seats.
Even though they were on the roof.
Jason lowered his hands slowly, and the stools lowered from the roof. When he stopped moving, the stools did too, but they floated slightly as they went back to the roof. They bounced off, clanking into each other. He dropped his hands, and the stools fell heavily to the ground as usual. His smile couldn't have been wider without ripping his face in two.
"I have powers! I have telekenesis!"
"No, you control gravity." a hero said sitting at the bar.
"Same difference." Jas muttered, rolling his eyes. To show his point, he flung his hand toward the hero, sending him hurtling backward. However, he flipped, landing on his feet.
"Great idea, buddy. Attack a super hero right after learning you have powers."
"I- I'm sorry! I didn't mean to push that hard! I just meant to give a nudge!"
"Well, you failed." the hero scowled as he dashed forward, throwing a punch at the kid. Jason put his hand up in defense, the fist stopping in mid-air. The hero tried to punch with his other hand, but could not move.
Jason grinned. He imagined a force pushing the hero back, and it did so, sending him through a bar window.
"...Hehe... Wow.... I am cool..."
*Ker-chik*
The bartender aimed a double-barrel shotgun at Jason timidly. "Get outta my bar, villain!"
Jason took a leap back, putting his hand out in an apologizing gesture. The barman took that as a risk and hit the trigger.
However, nothing happened. Everything inside the shotgun had stay the same. Jason quirked an eyebrow as he raised his hand. It took a second, but two shotgun shells ripped from the top of the gun, unfired. The bartender took one look and ran.
Now Jason could prove John he had better powers... Mind over matter? Try mind over everything in the street...
---------------------------
"Fine, I'll find him! Jeeze, what is with you today? PMSing?" John muttered as his mother continued yelling at him to find his little brother.
He walked down the same old street he usually did, only to find a stop sign rolling off to the si--
"Wait, what? A stop sign is a hexagon... How the hell is it rolling?"
But, not matter what laws it defied, the stop sign clanked on each side... Up... hill?
"...Okay, something is terribly wrong here."
"I agree, John." a voice came, following the stop sign as Jason stepped around the corner, grinning.
"Ah, there you are. Listen, could you come back? I don't get any dinner before I bring you home." John muttered, waving for his brother to follow as he turned. However, the second he was all the way around, a strong pull seemed to turn his world upside down.
Battle Music
He was pulled to a wall on his right, and it seemed gravity had changed entirely. He could not move, and his arm had snapped. It felt like falling from his bike. He turned his head toward Jason, whose hand was outstretched.
"Ah, you got powers, huh? That's nice. Lemme go now."
"No... I don't think I will."
John then felt the gravity reverse, falling from that wall right into the bar, now deserted. He flipped over the bar itself and into a bunch of bottles, thanking his lucky stars none of them cut him. Now, however, he was pissed. He dropped from the wall to behind the bar, standing as he pulled his jacket off. He ripped away his shirt and changed quickly, wearing a home-made hero suit.
He leaped over the bar and ran outside, only to feel normal gravity intensify. He fell facefirst to the ground.
"Clumsy clumsy oaf." Jason chuckled, raising his hand. Prodiguy floated into the air, helpless. "If only you had not mocked me... This would not have happened... Now look at you, helpless as a child, John! Now, apologize."
"Uh... No, I do not think I will. You are being a jerk." John muttered, chuckling. He knew how to get at his brother. Unfortunately, that was not the best thing. Jason's eyes narrowed dangerously. ((You will know when it gets to this part in the song.))
"Shut up!" he shouted, smashing John into the same wall from before, breaking it. "Shut up!" He flung him to the roof, crashing through that. "Shut up!" To the floor. "Shut UP when I'm talking to you!"
Prodi floated down slightly, blood pouring from his nose. "Pfft... Dork... That all you--"
Into the bar. "SHUT UP!" Into the roof and the sky. "SHUT UP!" Into the floor again. "SHUT UP!" Now, using both hands, Jason brought his brother into the air, and slammed him down with each word to punctuate it. "Shut. UP!!!"
A shadow covered fist slammed into Jas' gut, sending him flying to the ground. He coughed, sitting up as Prodiguy stood. "Right. No more jokes. You're goin' down, bro."
He charged, a now shadow-covered foot colliding with his brother's face, sending him smashing into a movie theater, causing people to scatter. Two chairs ripped themselves from the ground and flung at Prodi. He flipped through the gap they left and threw a punch into Jason's side.
Jason recovered to send a blast of force into John. It sent him into the screen, where currently, Statesman and a shadowy, spider-like figure were doing battle. The movie was called 'The Web of Arachnos." Neither brother had really followed it.
Once John got back in melee range, Jason was done for. And he knew that. He sent the camera from behind the glass spiralling toward his brother as he jumped the rows and began running. The camera collided, taking the air out of John as he smashed into the screen again.
---------------------------
Jason was outside in seconds, glancing around. There was nowhere nearby to escape to... Except the sky. He grinned. If he could control gravity, he could make himself weightless, right?
He tried. He began floating slightly, and he began laughing. This happiness, however, was ended as a hand grabbed his foot and slammed him into the floor. Hard.
He lost his concentration, normal gravity applying once again as cuffs smacked onto his hands and a foot collided with his face. When he awoke, he was in a lovely little dingy cell with a Hellion. He looked oddly familiar.
"*Sigh*... Finally, you're awake... My mom died yesterday..." He began crying, holding out his arms. "Can I get a hug?"
~~Twenty years later...~~
"So, how old is your brother now?"
"Forty. The big Four-Oh."
"Ah. When my father turned forty, I think he overreacted..." a hero muttered, staring off into space as he remembered a family incident. Jenny rolled her eyes as she smiled.
"Right. Seeya, Kev. I'll see you on saturday, alright? Make sure you bring roses, or your car won't move for a week."
"I swear you over use that Tar Patch thing, Jen." Kevin muttered as he shook his head, walking back into the Paragon City Times building. Jenny walked down the street, gift-wrapped box in hand.
---------------------------
"Oh goody!" John yelled as Jenny walked in with a gift, "Presents! Oh, no, wait, everybody else forgot my birthday, that's right. Oh well. PRESENT!" He leapt on top of his sister, stealing the package away and dashing madly to his couch. Jenny simply chuckled.
"You are so childish, J."
"Bah, you just don't know how to live, Jen. Now sit down here and help me open this. You shut it with dark magic. Tricky devil you."
"How else was I supposed to make sure you didn't open it early?"
The two opened the present, John picking up the hand-knitted hat and placing it on his head, right over his eyes. On the hat was a cherry with panels in it, almost exactly like his armour.
"I like it. I shall call him 'Fred' and he shall be my favourite of all beanie-things!" John yelled, finger in the air in a champion-like pose. Jenny simply continued giggling at her brother's antics. It was hard to imagine he was fourty, what with the amount of life he seemed to have. No grey hairs, no wrinkles, he was acrobatic... Hell, he could pass as a twenty year old if he tried hard enough!
John looked in Jenny's general area, seeing as how the hat was over his eyes and all, and smiled mischeviously. "Wanna go to the Zig and throw sticks at the prisoners?"
"Oh don't be a jerk, John." scolded the eighteen year old.
"Aw, but it is so fun! They yell at you, then when they see you wearing a cape and stuff, they just go into muttering off."
"No." Jenny finalized, crossing her arms.
"You're worse than mother."
---------------------------
"Have you been eating your vegetables?" said mother spoke into the intercom to the seemingly empty cell.
"Yes, mother. At least, I THINK they're vegetables. Can never tell with Zig-food." a raspy voice came from the dark depths within.
"Well, how is your roommate, Pete? I heard his mother died."
"Twenty years ago, mother. You're slow on the uptake."
"Ah. Well, your brother is fourty today! Do you have anything to tell him that I can pass on?"
The cell was silent for a moment before a murmur was heard. "I doubt I could say anything I want to say to him in your presence, mother."
"Oh come now, I am sure you can't say anything TOO bad to your own brother on his birthday! Let's hear it."
"...Okay then..."
---------------------------
John's phone rang as he stretched to the red circle on his Twister board. "Get it, Jenny!" he said, just about touching it.
"I can't, my hands are both on blues."
"Well, I can't! My left is on yellow and my right just got red!"
"Well, we will have to just pause."
"No way, I am not letting you off that easy! You are about ready to fall!"
"...Fine, we will let go at the same time so nobody loses."
"Alright."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
"Okay, on three. One... Two... Three!"
Both siblings did not move.
"You were supposed to drop, liar!" John yelled.
"You didn't either!" Jenny replied, sighing.
---------------------------
The nurse put down the phone. The son wasn't answering. She returned to Emma's bedside, who was muttering quietly. "...So many obscenities... Didn't know someone could say so many... Never from my son's mouth... How was it physically possible?"
The nurse shook her head, sighing in exasperation. The woman had been traumatized.
---------------------------
Jenny and John were shaking as the brother finally reached the green circle with his right foot. They were spun together so intricately, they kept doubting they could free themselves from one another.
Finally, Jenny spoke. "This is a very uncomfortable position."
"You're telling me. You have been standing on my right hand for two minutes."
"It was the closest yellow circle! It isn't my fault you got that colour and didn't lose it since the beginning of the game!"
"It is when I can't feel the hand anymore, and it has gone... What colour is it now?"
"Royal blue. Looks kinda cool." Jenny replied, glancing over.
"Great." John sighed, sliding his hand slightly to move it. Jenny shook more.
"DON'T YOU DARE! If you move that hand, I will kick you in the face so hard..."
"Whoops! Slip!" John chuckled as he slid his hand out from under her foot, one finger touching the circle still. Jenny wobbled slightly before all her limbs slid, causing her to fall into splits. John laughed in triumph. "I WIN! MUAHAHAHA!"
"Yeah yeah... Ow... Help me up, jerk."
---------------------------
Jason simply grinned sadistically inside his cell, chuckling. He had mentioned everything he thought about John, and his mother had fallen, almost having a heart attack in shock.
The patrol guard knocked on his cell. "You are an evil sonuvabitch, you know that?" he called in as he passed. Jason was up at the door in a second.
"She asked me what I thought of my brother, and I told her. Can't blame me for that."
"Oh, didja hear about Experiment's latest promotion? He is a member of Longbow Tac. Ops."
"Experiment? He calls himself The Experiment now?"
"Nah, Experiment 2.0."
"Heh... Such a dorky name. Doesn't suit him at all."
"Actually, it does. See, he has these powers where-"
"Bill, get back up here. You're late." a voice said over the officer's radio, and he descended the stairs.
"You know, I have been thinking," Jenny spoke after a while of watching random movies. Now, they were on Spider-Man 2. "Maybe the reason you don't have any presents or anyone here is because you are anti-social."
"I am not!" John defended, tearing his attention away from Spiderman using himself and his webs to slow the out of control train for the eighteenth time on this T.V., "I know tons of people!"
"How many?"
"Well... Uh... Quite a few!"
"Right. So, let's say you know ten people other than family. How many of those ten hate your guts?"
"...Maybe around seven?"
"Exactly. You are just generally not very nice to people you are not related to."
"Hey, I am REALLY not nice to Jason! Hell, I pretend he doesn't exist!"
"So I noticed. I haven't even seen his face, John. We should go to the Zig some time and check up on him."
---------------------------
The spotlights in the Ziggursky Prison compound went out in a flash. Alarms began blaring seconds before a huge explosion rocked the walls of the Zig. Jason awoke with an almighty start, dashing to his cell door which clattered to the ground easily. The dampeners he wore glowed for another second and died as their transmitters were interrupted. He smiled evilly.
He saw the guard from last night, pulling him back. The guard turned in mid-air, frightened for his life. Jason muttered his question. "Where is Experiment 2.0?"
---------------------------
A beep began pulsing from John's watch. He sighed in exasperation. So far, he had been called four times for hero duty, the PPD apparently forgetting he had a vacation today. However, when he answered, he was surprised to hear Ms. Liberty herself.
"Tac. Ops. Experiment, we need you at the Zig. Now. Arachnos has began a breakout operation to free a select few villains. We have blasts and weaponry going everywhere, it is carnage!"
"I am sorry ma'am, but I am off duty today, it's--"
"All types of energy, and it feels like even Earth's gravity is messed up here! We need help, 2.0!"
"I said I am sorry, but-... Did you say 'gravity?'"
"...Yes... Why?"
The birthday... Middle-aged man cut off the transmission, hitting a switch on his watch. It transformed into PDA and covered him in paneled red armour. Jenny rolled her eyes. "Zig?"
"Yeah. I think, however, that they freed Jason."
"Ooh! Can I come! I wanna see my eeeevil brother!"
"...No, you don't." was all Experiment replied as he dashed to his window. He threw it open and jumped, jets activating as he flew. Jenny growled as she pulled on her Shadow-Bird costume.
"We'll see about that..."
---------------------------
Experiment landed, two Longbow Wardens running to his sides. A huge group of thugs began running toward them. Experiment grinned. "Okay, you take those Skulls and Hellions with your wind powers, keep them back. They are nuisances we don't need. You, use fire to keep those other thugs in a perimeter. Split them up if possible and take them down. I will take down those 'Chosen Ones.'"
"Yessir!" the Wardens replied, dashing off to their different duties. A classified Brute began running up to the armoured hero. Spines erupted from Experiment's body as he spun forward, slashing wildly at the electric-covered Brute, while watching for incoming projectile attacks. A hidden melee attacker struck, sending Experiment to the ground.
A flip and whirlwind attack later, both Chosen One's were down.
Battle Music
Experiment was sent colliding into a sparking, useless fence by a strong force of gravity. He flipped to a land, spinning in place.
"You are not the one I am looking for," Jason sighed, throwing another blast of solidified energy at Experiment, "But you will sate my need to kill."
2.0 rolled to the right, growling. "Jason, get back to your cell. You will never escape this place."
The man a year younger than John was confused for a moment at Experiment's voice because of its similarity to his brother's, before he realized why. He grinned. "Oh this is classic... My brother became a dignified hero... Powers and all, I see! Well done, bro! Hehehe..."
"Shut up. I am not going to kid around with you, villain. Get back in your cell."
"John!" Shadow-Bird yelled as she landed behind her brother, looking at the man with tattered clothing facing him. Jason's hair, different from John's, had grey. He seemed wrinkled also, if only slightly. He didn't age as well as 2.0 had.
"...John... Is this Jason?" Jenny asked, hugging 2.0's arm tightly in defense. It seemed she was scared of this man.
"Yes, Jen... This is your 'brother.'"
"Oh come on, John! Don't talk about me as if we are not related."
"...We aren't. You are no brother of mine." Experiment muttered, firing a spine at Jason. It stopped in mid-air, crushing to dust due to gravity from all directions forcing on it. Jason smiled as he unclenched his fist.
"I learned a few new tricks while I was here 'Experiment...' want me to show you?"
---------------------------
John fell from the tower he had been thrown at, landing on his feet again. However, he suddenly clutched his right side in pain. "Aagh!... Not now..."
"JOHN!" Jenny screamed, only to be silenced by her lungs being squeazed by a painful sense of gravity.
"Quiet, you. Your brothers and resolving their differences." Jason chuckled, sending John flying sideways into one of his dead, yet floating, Wardens. It seemed like a gravitational field was surrounding Jason, causing everything to be weightless. Experiment was then sent into the ground, bleeding and broken. He was thrown into a wall, and the top of a tower ripped itself from the base.
Jason stood over his brother, smirking.
"Too bad, E..." Jason chuckled toward John, who lay on the ground, bleeding and broken as he had at the beginning of the story, "You almost had it in you to beat me."
He brought down his hand, the tower following... But Experiment swept out his feet and rolled, sending Jason back and the tower smashing into the side of the Armoury building, causing an echo throught the courtyard.
A spine swiped, barely missing Jason as he stood and pushed 2.0 back with forceful gravity, sending him crashing into the ground, unable to stand. Jas jumped onto the Arachnos flyer that he brought lower, and the pilot sighed as he flew away AGAIN, this time with an extra passenger.
The gravity-distorting field left, dropping everything back to Earth's gravity. Jenny instantly stood and dashed toward Experiment, shaking him. "John! John! Wake up, J! Come on, it's your birthday!"
"H... Happy birthday to me, eh?" John chuckled, blood coughing up from his throat. Jenny smiled nervously as she clung to him tightly, waiting for medical assistance to arrive in the form of Longbow.
---------------------------
2.0 paced around his secret lab worriedly, thinking of many different theories of breaking the rules of gravity and such. Kevin walked in, rubbing his eyes. "What's up, E?" he muttered, seeming to have just woken up.
John looked at him for a second before raising two fingers. "Two things. Number one, do you sleep here, and number two, I am trying to figure out how to defy gravity."
Kevin rolled his (sleepy) eyes, raising two fingers also. "Number one, yes, number two, why? You already have jets, just use them."
"Ugh, I would but..." Experiment froze, smacking his head in annoyance. "Why DON'T I use them? The jets will allow me to control my speed and movement against gravity... Ugh, unless he uses stronger pull or push than my boots can handle..."
Kevin blinked a few times before shaking his head. "Look, just quiet down, will you? Or at least don't pace by the video-game room too loudly."
With that, Kevin was off again, leaving Experiment to pace around randomly.
Experiment smiled as a pulse of electricity flowed through the generators and capacitors in the room, the whole building pulsing physically.
And since the secret base was under the PCT, that was a pretty big deal.
The hero dashed across the room to the Output Hopper, picking up the PDA. It now had a new function. Experiment smiled again as he snapped it on, just as a PPD call in from the Police Scanner inside it.
"We got an MM here! We need a hero out in Steel as fast as possible! The PCT and surrounding area is under attack!"
"Experiment 2.0 here, I am already at the scene so I will take this guy down. Get a van to the Paragon City Times, I will bring him there."
"You got it, hero." *Click* "Jewel of Hara, could we get a n00b saving that now ple--"
Experiment jumped from the roof, jets activating readily as he began flying downward at an amazing pace. He pulled up just into time to skim the ground, promising himself not to close his eyes at high speeds again.
However, he was broken from his thoughts by the PPD van he asked for... Flying toward him?
Battle Music ((Other than the chorus, the deep version of singing at the beginning would be Jason's part. You will know when it comes to John's.))
John flung himself over the truck, coming to a halt on the ground. A man in red and purple tights stood there, grinning. "So, you survived, huh bro? Too bad, even more damage, I guess."
He flung his hand out toward Experiment, only to have the hero slam himself forward, slashing madly at the tight-covered gravity-controller. Jason fell to the ground, groaning. He could feel the warmth of poison spreading through his veins. A neurotoxin.
Gravitor, Jason's new name, flung a huge group of random street signs at John, only for a large building piece to rip loose also. Jason looked up just in time to see it coming down, throwing back hands up. It seemed he didn't have enough strength to stop it entirely. "...John... Help me..."
Experiment glared at his brother.
"I put my trust in you... Just as far as I can go. For all this? There is only one thing for you to know..."
Experiment turned, shaking his head in disappointment.
"I tried so hard, and got so far. But in the end? It doesn't even matter. I had to fall, and almost lost it all, Jason. In the end..." He turned back, the huge piece of building lowering even more. "It doesn't even matter."
He turned away entirely, walking slowly. A resounding crunch signified the building had fallen.
What do you think?
Experiment glanced up, seeing the sky cloud over, droplets of rain coming down. He continued walking away before freezing.
"...It doesn't rain in Paragon City. The War Walls affect the weather..."
*SHHUUU...*
Experiment turned slightly, only for the giant piece of building to smash directly into him, sending him flying back and into the PCT building's wall. He groaned as he slid to the ground.
"Hehehe... You really thought you could take me down that easily John? Right. Let's see how weak you really are now without your protection."
John was confused for a moment before a device flew in front of his face.
His PDA.
It was smashed by a brick, and Experiment was thrown through the nearest PCT window. He collided with a few desks, and then was smashed out of the building through a wall again. A resounding smash signified his landing in the road. He began trying to stand, only for gravity to push down hard and keep him still.
He looked up, Jason smirked evily, levitating above the ground, smiling. However, a memory crossed 2.0's mind.
Experiment was lifted into the air, spinning around uselessly due to the gravity. "You know, I will never trust another thing you say. You knew your lies would divide us, but you lied anyway... Now your lies have you floating above us all..."
Experiment was flung into the air, and Jason leaned in. "But what goes up must fall."
"Same to you!"
Experiment initiated his jets, breaking the gravity control over him, slashed madly at his brother once again, infecting him with neurotoxin. Gravitor froze in mid-air, a bright flash teleporting him away. Apparently, Arachnos had saved him. This time.
*CLICK*
The door on the roof of the PCT swung open, John Ballard stepping out onto it, the moonlight illuminating the area. He walked forward, climbing onto a risen part of the roof, right over the bustling city. He walked to the edge, his armour nowhere near him.
He looked down, seeing the cars and people move like ants across the cityscape.
Music
John looked up at the sky, sighing in distress. He rose his arms, his form in a cross. He took one more step, the air meeting him as he fell from the one-hundred-story building. The air rushed by him, his hair flying in the air.
Jason smirked, pushing him harder with gravity as he appeared once again, causing him to rush faster to the ground.
Experiment closed his eyes as the ground came up faster... And his boots activated, pulling him up. He stopped seconds before hitting the ground. His suit's stealth deactivated and he spoke into his comm. unit. "Now, Kevin!"
Liquid Burst blasted Jason from the roof, sending him downward spiraling. He couldn't stop energy.
He fell, smashing into the side of the building continuously. He reached to the air one last time... And his hand was gripped by a red armoured one. His body was tugged into the air, and he was slammed into the roof as a large Tele-Patch was placed on his chest.
"'Gratz, bro. You pissed me off enough to get the Super-Villain porter. Seeya!"
*PSSH!*
He was gone. Experiment smiled, Kevin walked from the doorway he had hidden in to strike at Jason.
"Your plan worked, John. Nice job."
"...Yeah... I just wish he had been slightly more obediant, and this had been a little less anti-climactic."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, we fought like, what, four times? He severely beat me each time, and now I outsmart him and beat him in ten seconds? It just feels so... Cheap."
"I have something to make you feel better."
2.0 turned, his eyebrow raised. Kevin held out a gift package, and John stole it instantly, leaping from the roof and jetting back in the direction of home. Kevin sighed and followed Experiment quickly.
--------------------------
"I DON'T BELIEVE THIS!" Jason screamed, smashing his fists into the walls in amazing anger, kicking his table over and flipping his chairs, "HOW THE HELL DID THAT [censored] BEAT ME?!?!"
"Calm down, Ballard. You don't want us to get the shocky-stick." the guard muttered, reading his paper. The headline read "Experiment 2.0- Suicidal?"
--------------------------
All the Ballards and Kevin sat at a table, opening gifts. Apparently, John had NOT been forgotten. He opened an Xbox 360, and promised himself to play that later, a bag full of Clockwork junk from Kevin, saying it was the only thing he could get on such short notice, a box full of candy from his father, a bag full of vegetables from his mother...
...And a red and purple box from an anonymous sender.
Experiment eyed the box wearily. It was probably a bomb, or some sort of deadly device.
"Oh open it, boy!" his mother scolded, "He is your brother, and you will respect his gift."
"No." was John's only reply, picking up the box and taking it outside. He jetted into the air, attaching an anti-grav pad to it. He blasted away, and fired a spine into the bow to open it.
The present ripped apart, leaving...
--------------------------
Experiment smiled as he stepped back into the room, his hands behind his back. "No matter how much I hate him, my brother is cool."
"Why is that?" Kevin asked, destroying countless trains and cars in King's Row ((Saint's Row, Paragon City style!). However, a hero dropped down in the game and blasted him with fire, turning his guy into a pile of ash. 'You're Arrested!' flashed across the screen.
Experiment brought his hands out in front of him... And a toy frog lay in his hands with a yellow post it note on it reading 'puppy.'
((Fin. Yes, it was meant to be anti-climactic. Notice how there are a ton of jokes in it? Fear. You can all say how it sucks now while I get back to my original story... At some point...))
Experiment walks into the blank area, glancing around the random area. A disheveled young man walked in also, raising an eyebrow up at the hero.
"...Experiment, the story is over. You can go home now."
"Correction, young author!" Experiment said, smiling. "That frog? He wasn't just being cute."
"...What are you talking about? I write the story. I say what everything is. The frog was a cute attempt at sarcasm. Get over it. You know, I wonder sometimes if you re--"
The author was suddenly pulled into the air, and slammed to the ground hard by forces of gravity, Experiment jumped from the scene toward his brother.
"...*Gurgle...*"
((...Ow... Okay, nevermind... I guess the story ISN'T over...))
((Didn't expect that, did you?))
*BEEP*
"Grmhm... Run Kev... I's gonna blow...'
*BEEP*
"...Grrm... Don't touch the thing... It could pop like... Hm?" John sat up, looking around his room. The beeping continued, getting louder and louder with each passing second. "...Oh, that can't be good."
The frog jumped onto his bed, and turned to him, the eyes reading five... Four...
"OH [censored]!"
There was a large crater in the ground of the King's Row street that John's family lived on, suiting the rest of the holes from previous hero battles.
Experiment huffed, shaking his head in disappointment. "...THAT was annoying... But now that brings something to mind..."
--------------------------------
"He tried to kill you with that frog from your birthday? Told you it wasn't safe." Kevin muttered, rolling his eyes as Experiment held up a silencing hand in response.
"Shush. You are not helping." he replied quietly, tapping rapidly on the mainframe's keyboard. His sidekick waited about three more minutes before speaking up.
"Okay, what the hell are you doing?"
"Jason got into the city somehow... And his device got past my scanners. He isn't smart enough to create technology, or even pass his Algebra II class..."
--------------------------------
"...He is still caught up on that?!" Jason yelled, his fists hitting the chair he sat in as he watched the computer screen.
"Apparently." a dark voice replied from the other side of the room, covered by a two-way mirror.
"...Can you at least tell me your name? You may have busted me out, but hell, I still don't trust you, and you probably know that."
"You talk too much, Ballard. Just watch..."
--------------------------------
"...So how did he make it into the city and bypass my scans?" 2.0 finished, his head slowly moving up the screen's readings, shaking his head, and returning to typing.
"Maybe he got some outside help? Arachnos, maybe?" Kevin guessed, his mind still boggled at how many numbers there were on the screen.
"Maybe... That would explain how he got out of prison... But that frog was sent to me after he was imprisoned a second time... Arachnos isn't big on second chances, as you know."
"...Hm..."
--------------------------------
"I thought you said they knew you? Wouldn't they guess you?" Jason asked, watching the screen intently.
"No, I said they know OF me. I never give hints about my identity or tactics... Now hurry, your new suit is ready Gravitoritron."
"...I thought I was Gravitor?"
"Oh, you were, but I found yet another villain with that codename. I would rather your name be a little more unique. Now hurry up."
"Ugh... Sure thing, sir. Out."
Kevin deactivated the PPD radio, walking toward Experiment as he hit the switch on his watch activating his blue and green Liquid Burst armour. "Come on, John, we got another villain on a mission of mayhem."
"Ugh... Fine, I am coming." 2.0 replied, hitting the power button on the main computer and activating his own armour.
--------------------------------
The truck went sailing over a group of citizens, sending fiery pieces of debris everywhere as the ran, screaming. A stop sign then lifted into the air, twisting and turning into a sharp-edged... Thingy. It seemed to fling itself directly at an old man who was slowly trying to escape on his wheelchair. The bladed sign was stopped by a blast of energy.
The two heroes landed, Experiment sighing and Liquid muttering under his breath. "This is so annoying... You already beat him twice, and recently. Doesn't he know he can't fight back?"
"I really don't know anymore, Kev." Experiment replied, spines extracting from his arms. He aimed at Jason, now not even surprised at his brother commiting these crimes.
However, the next thing that happened WAS surprising.
He fired, aiming to have his spine spin around his brother's leg to bring him to the ground. However, the spine spun upward, the organic line attached to 2.0's arm going with it.
"...Eep."
And quickly followed by Experiment himself. He went flying into the air, and the spine then decided to fall again, John barely activating his jets to land softly.
He turned, now very pissed. "Alrighty, Gravitor, let's--"
"Actually, Gravitoritron now, John... Kinda had a problem with the whole 'naming' thing." Jason interrupted, chuckling behind his purple helmet.
"Bah." Experiment fired yet another spine, this one wrapping around Gravi's leg.
Of course, since he used gravity to stay up, he wasn't coming down very well.
"...Oh, I really should have seen this coming...."
Jason blasted into the air, pulling John along hard. He flew over billboards, 2.0 smashing into them. Over spotlights, hero into it. Over a helicopter's blades... John finally remembered that his jets broke Jason's control over his gravity.
He activated, bursting over the 'copter just in time.
"So cliche..." Kevin muttered from the street, giving the purse he had just saved to an old lady. "Now, to begin helping..."
*CRASH*
Experiment slammed into a C.E.O.'s desk, the wood shattering and the paper and supplies inside it clattering and flapping to the ground. Gravitoritron landed hard, aiming his arms at Experiment. Waves of gravity flushed together, slamming into 2.0's chest and sending him careening out of the wall.
A blue blast of liquid energy smashed into Jason, sending HIM into the next hallway, the citizens and workers running for their lives. The villain grunted, pulling himself to his feet. He glared up at Liquid Burst, his helmet rolling behind a cabinet. He wiped his mouth of blood from the hard shot, chuckling.
"Well fired... But let's see your reaction time!"
Cabinets, whiteboards, doors, crates, people, all of those things went flying at Kevin, who fired quickly to blast all of those things away from him. A box finally got lucky, slamming into his helmet and causing a concussion as he fell to the ground, trying to stand and failing from the dizziness.
Jason looked up, only to see John flying directly at him, spines outstretched. The hero's jets were deactivated and he was flung back out of his already created wall. Gravi grunted, pulling his helmet onto his head with his forces of gravity and smashing himself out of the roof, pushing himself back to base.
--------------------------------
Liquid, his head pounding and his stomach churning, finally got to his knees, only seeing a slight crumble from the roof signifying the villain's escape. He moaned, slowly standing and walking to the hole in the wall. He looked over, Experiment hanging on the wall by a spine. Kevin pulled him up, sighing.
2.0 grunted as he fell into the office, and grunted again as he stood, his hair covered in grey dust and such. "Oww.... THAT was unexpected..."
"What, the part where he took you for a joyride, or the part where he flung office supplies and employees at me?"
"No, in between that. The part where he picked up that giant octopus and flung it at you... Hehe... That was kinda funny..."
--------------------------------
"Well done... You managed to weaken those two heroic fools..." a hoarse voice spoke from the shadowy screen as Jason's armour receeded into plain blue jeans, white t-shirt and black shoes, "Now, if we wear them down enough, I-- I mean, We-- shall be unstoppable!"
"Blah blah blah, look, when do I get an awesome gun like that one your 'bot had? It had all those functions, the grenades, the blaster, stuff like that..." Jason's eyes glazed over in wanton longing.
"You will get a K6-Transformer Decimator soon... Just be patient." the voice interrupted on the Ballard's reverie, and Jason frowned.
"What's with the voice? You eat something spicy?"
"...No. Being a public speaker is harder than you think, harder more to hide what I do in my spare time."
"You're a public speaker? Who are you?"
"...Hehehe..."
--------------------------------
"My friends, I believe the time has come to revoke our permission for Longbow to work within Paragon City's walls!" the Paragon City Representative spoke to the crowd outside of Paragon City Hall. Jenny Ballard was taking photos in John's absense, but was shocked into listening at this point.
"They have brought with them Arachnos troops. You see, with the rebuilding of Faultline, they have been allowed to give their helicopters access through the War Walls. Do you realize how easy it is for a large group like Arachnos to simply steal one of those things and put it in mass production?! They have brought these villains upon us all!"
A few cheers from the crowd caused Jen to cringe. Were this people actually AGREEING?!
"However, to do this, I will need time... Three days, to write up the ballot and the followed voting and polls. After this, and I am sure you will all make the right decision, these villain magnets will not be let back into Paragon!"
A flood of cheers practically deafened the hero's sister. How could these people possibly think this a good idea?
"It may also be of note that any heroes allied with Longbow will also be forced out of this city... For instance, the hero best known for the creation of that necromancer, Blind Messenger, and whose brother attacked this city days ago, Experiment 2.0. He is more of a villain even that Dr. Vahzilok is! We can not let this practice continue!"
...Oh, this was bad.
--------------------------------
"Heheh... You will find out when the polls are begun. Now, go prepare. You must keep 2.0 from learning my plan."
((Oh t3h n0e-- I mean, oh no! This secretive villain is also the city of Paragon's representative! He is performing a large plan, not only against Experiment 2.0, but against Longbow and it's affiliates itself! How can he be stopped?! Who will warn Expe--))
"John!" Jenny yelled, gasping for breath as she exited the elevator. John frowned at his sister before pulling her close as he spotted her worried look. Something had happened. After a bit of shaking, Jenny began explaining.
((Oh... Well, still, suspense is that stench I believe!))
After his sister's explanation, John's face grew dark with worry. "I never DID like that guy... He always had something against Longbow. Always referring to us as 'candy canes' or 'hero bright-lites.'"
"Yeah, I always did say that was sort of a clue." Kevin muttered, shuffling a few papers and proceeding to walk from the desk as he went to proof-read the stories.
"Hmph... Great. Still, we have more problems. I doubt the whole city is going to vote against the protective power of Longbow..."
"Yeah, that's the problem John! The whole city doesn't HAVE to vote against them! Heck, if half the city doesn't vote--"
"...He won't..."
"He will. From his past attempts at passing stuff, he will probably fix it so that those unvotes will end up in his favour."
"Great... So, what do we do? We still have Gravitoritron to worry about, and now we have a corrupt politician trying to kick Longbow out of the city."
"And you."
"And m--... Duh. Jason HAS to have something to do with this. This guy is against Longbow, but according to you, he mentioned me specificially, right? I HAVE to know him..."
--------------------------------
"Damn, they're getting closer. Apparently, I need to give your brother a little more credit..." the voice said, the shadows still covering his face entirely on the screen. However, he could also be seen apparently working on something.
"Listen, I don't get why you hate my brother so much. I mean, I know he is a jerk and all, but you are doing everything in your power to piss him off, not just kill him. What is your motivation?" Jason called, investigating his new weapon.
"You want to know? Fine."
--------------------------------
--------------------------------
"Okay, I'll see you guys tomorrow," John called, stepping into the elevator. A few employees waved, a few others smiled, one or two did both. The elevator eventually hit the ground floor, and he walked past the secretary's desk. She smiled and stood , walking to the door. She opened it wide, and John bowed his head in thanks. However, a kick in the back from the same secretary surprised him. He fell forward, only to be grabbed by two Crey scientists.
He awoke, only to find himself trapped on an operation table, blinded by lights. He could hear muffled voices of scientists, and one deep, sinister voice. "You have it ready?"
"Yeah, I got it. Do you really think our first test should be on a living human though?" a scientist replied to the voice, only to have a dark chuckle follow.
"Are you stupid or something? If they are not alive, we will not get a true enough result. This is the only way to find out if this project will work."
"Sir, Countess Crey DID say to wait until she had her scientist perfect the correct way to administer this... I mean, if your calculations are wrong--"
"WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?!" The voice had turned from dark and sinister to frantic and insane, "Are you saying I am wrong?! Are you saying I could have made a mistake and SHE could possibly be smarter than ME?!"
"Of course not sir, it is just--"
*BANG*
The sound of a body hitting the floor resounded within John Ballard's ears. He winced, even if he couldn't see.
"Any other comments?"
The silences probably meant the shaking of heads.
"Good."
A sharp pain like a needle hit John's arm, and an odd heat followed. It spread through his like wildfire, warming his body entirely. It felt nice... Well, until the searing pain that he would come to know as his poison spread through his veins.
He tried to scream, he tried to thrash, but some sort of anestheasic had been put in him along with whatever had been put inside him just now. He could feel sharpness, a sharp pain in his arms, ripping apart the skin.
--------------------------------
Kreizer backed off. This was... unexpected. His calculations could NOT be off, so there must be nothing wrong... This was just an odd subject is all. After all, he had planned on the subject having spikes rip out of his arms, just... Not all over. And not acid poison-tipped enough to melt away the braces.
The most unexpected part was the part where cloud of darkness covered John, tentacles of darkness lashing out and smacking scientists across the room. Dr. Kriezer, however, got it worst. He was hit, sending him flying into a chemical vat. The walls exploded, sending a shimmering liquid over him. His skin changed, becoming mirror-like, reflective. However, as shiny as he was, it burned even worse. He couldn't see, the reflective surfaces of the lab and the lights blinding him entirely.
--------------------------------
John stood, his eyes glowing a deep red. His throat let out a growl, his head turning quicker than his body, his senses amazingly alert. He could swear that he felt... Almost animalistic...
*PEW*
A sharp pain, yet another needle, this time in the neck. He turned to see a man in black and white, aiming a tranquilizer gun. A spine was immediately shoved into his stomach.
John gasped, but his body didn't stop, rushing out of the door, smashing everyone in the way into the wall.
--------------------------------
--------------------------------
"...Nice story... Didn't need all the details though... Burning skin... Ew." Jason muttered, completing a rubix cube he held.
"...I don't believe you... Whatever. Now, prepare the rifle. You are going hunting... You wanted to meet your sister, right?"
Random beeps and clicks in the underground base obviously signified someone at work. A.K.A., John Ballard. He tapped incessantly on the keyboard, the picture altering and scanning. The video feed showed the Paragon City Rep. in all his corrupt glory, but with red dots covering him.
Kevin raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing?"
"Scanning the Representative's suit for anything suspicious." Experiment replied, smacking the desk as it glitched slightly.
"...And why is the compy malfunctioning?"
"Don't know... I just recently installed a repair program to fix this too..."
"...Hm. Odd. Well, me and Jen are going out to dinner. Seeya!"
"Halt!"
John spun in his chair to face Kevin, smirking. "So, you two are going out, eh?"
"W- What? No, no, of course not! Are you insane? We're just friends." Kevin stuttered, walking backwards slowly. John stood, walking toward him at the same pace.
"Right... So, that little letter that I found in your drawer was completely coincidental?" he said, pulling an open envelope with a heart attach from his pocket. He began reading aloud. "'Dear Kevin... Idiot. You know if you keep telling my brother that we are going somewhere, he is gonna figure something out! Just... Don't...' ...What the hell? 'Let him touch the couch?' I didn't see that be-- GET THE [censored] BACK HERE!"
Kevin was already halfway up the entry tube, a slight dent at the mouth showing his speed.
"...Ew..." was John's reply, walking back to the computer and ripping up the letter. He cleared his throat, returning to work. "Aaaaanyway... What the hell?"
The screen, previously showing the PCR, now showed the Rep. with a reflective head. "Ugh... Damn prankster... Don't know how he managed to alter it that fast, but still..."
*Delete*
"Okay, time to start over!"
--------------------------------
"...Did I ever mention how I loved the fact that your brother was ignorant?"
"Are you in position?" the voice spoke over the comm. link to Jason, who was aimed directly at the Paragon City Times entrance.
"Yes sir." he muttered back, eye through the sight. The door opened and his finger strained on the trigger, only to have a couple of workers walk out. He sighed, aiming yet again.
The door opened, and Kevin was hand in hand with Jenny. They were talking and laughing almost at the same time as the exited the doorway.
"...Fire."
A searing bolt of energy hit Kevin in the leg, sending him toppling to the floor. Jenny screamed in distress, falling to her knees.
"What.. FOOL! You were supposed to hit the girl!"
"She is my sister, you maniac. I am not heartless." Jason replied with a cold voice dripping with hatred.
--------------------------------
John was out in seconds, green handheld device in hand as he attempted to heal Kevin's leg. The wound, however, would not close. Whatever the energy that the blast was made from was apparently resistant to his devices. "Crap... Jen, call 911. Get them over here NOW."
"...Okay..." she stammered in response, running inside. John looked down at his sidekick, who now had his eyes closed. It seemed the shock of the blast sent him into unconsciousness.
"...Damnit..."
--------------------------------
"...Then at least kill your brother." the voice responded, a slight sense of humor in the sound.
"...No," was Jason's response, "I am not going to kill my brother, or my sister. Or my parents, before you say anything."
"...Fine... Then I will just have to do it myself."
The communication went dead. Jason's eyes widened. "...Do it himself?"
At the Ballard Residence, Emma and Anthony Ballard continued watching the television, as they did every friday. Since their retirement from heroing, they had nothing to do. They did not need jobs because of the Hero Retirement Plan, and they did not need to go shopping because of the Hero Retirement Plan Personal Robo-Butler their son John had created. The only thing they really needed to do was common housework and sometimes repairs, which were rather easy with Anthony's super speed.
In all honesty, they had pretty boring lives. The only times Emma even had to use her psychic powers any more was when Jenny or John were talking to them. They ALWAYS lied about their hero work. Emma still had no idea why, because, honestly, they should know that their own mother was psychic.
However, the Pay-Per-View movie they were watching (Some Star Trek movie. Don't ask me. I think Anthony is a complete dork personally.) was interrupted by an incoming news announcement. Apparently, a hidden sniper had shot Kevin... Something. The reporter didn't know the last name. The family, however, recognized his face. He was the teen that Experiment was teaching to be a hero.
"...Couldn't John just heal him?" Emma asked, having sighed in relief from the movie interruption.
"I don't know... If he could, he would have... I think something is wrong." Anthony replied, standing. However, Emma immediately flew upward and aimed her right hand toward the wall behind her chair, but about half a second too late. The wall exploded inward, debris smashing into Anthony's back, causing him to dash forward and turn, holding his back in pain.
A large robot set down in the building, aiming a large, pulsing rifle at the parents of its master's nemesis. Anthony Ballard prepared to strike at the robot while Emma readied herself to find its creator, but they were interrupted when three Seeker Drones uncloaked in mid air and flew at them. Two of them circled Anthony, breaking his attention from one to the other, causing him to lose his target over and over again, while one simply circled Emma's head noisily, causing her to lose her concentration.
----------------------------------
"I'll go with him." Jenny decided, jumping into the back of the newly arrived ambulance. Experiment simply nodded, giving the medics the thumbs up as they closed the door. The vehicle drove quickly, alarm blaring as it began exiting the district. Suddenly, a resounding smash caused the ambulance to flip, landing on its roof.
The alarm died, the medics falling unconscious from the fall. Jenny rubbed her head in annoyance, moving to make sure Kevin was alright. He groaned, but it seemed he hadn't been injured. She opened her cell phone again, calling for an ambulance and a tow-truck this time.
However, when she opened the doors to see out, she was immediately pulled out and knocked to the ground hard. She flipped up onto her feet, and turned. In front of her were two blue robots, arms twisting and backs pulsating. "...Okay... What the heck are you?"
"Units MC 1 and MC 2 were informed of your involvement in the hero Experiment 2.0's family. Units MC 1 and MC 2 were ordered to take you to our leader. Come peacefully, human." was the first robot's reply.
Jenny growled, flinging a ball of dark energy forward. It hit MC 2 square in the chest, but MC 1 shot forward, slamming his spinning fists into Jenny's stomach. She fell back, turning to the side as she fell so the puke didn't choke her. However, another hit to the back of the head caused darkness.
----------------------------------
Experiment gave the medics a thumbs up as they closed the door, Jenny holding Kevin's hand as they began driving away. He walked into the Paragon City Times building, missing the sound of a crash.
He entered the elevator and began going upward. It stopped on the eighteenth floor.
"...Bah, always gets stuck there." He muttered, hitting the 100 button again. The elevator restarted, taking its jolly old time. If anyone really payed attention to the speed that the numbers went up on the elevator usually, they would most likely wonder how on earth John Ballard ever got to work on time.
The elevator finally opened on the one-hundredth floor, letting John out. He went to the first window he saw and made himself look dramatic. However, that was quickly stopped as three small robots smashed through said window, sending the hero flying back. They stopped and landed as Experiment stood. They came up to his waist. He chuckled as he threw a spine at the one on the far right.
The spine slammed into it as it looked down. The bot pulled it from its chest, and flung it right back. 2.0 gasped and ducked, the spine barely missing his head. He dusted his arms as his armour covered him. "Alright then, let's try this a different way... Can't catch me!"
With that, he ducked back into the elevator, the doors closing on the bots.
He chuckled again, praising himself for his intelligence... Before the elevator jerked. He looked up at the top of the 'vator before jetting up and out of the trap hatch. He got out just as the drones finished cutting the wire and the elevator began smashing down the shaft. He sighed. "That cost about three hundred dollars, [censored]." he muttered, flying up to meet the drones head on.
Experiment collided with the side of the elevator shaft due to one of the Battle Drone's super-enhanced strength. Then, searing laser blasts began following him, forcing him to fly yet again. He turned, and smashed right through the elevator door. He was back on the 100th floor.
He turned, pulling his arms up. The two drones began smashing their fists against him, but each arm was blocked by a nigh-unbreakable spine. He continued blocking, making sure that no hit got through. He would need all his strength.
Then, he jumped out the window.
The drones looked to one another, and jumped out after him. However, before their jets could reactivate, spines were shoved into their right and left feet, respectively. The first drone went veering left, the other right.
"So glad I took that one drone down first," 2.0 muttered as he began chasing the left drone, "This is so much EASIER now!"
However, the drone quickly reinitialized the right jet. Apparently, he hadn't been as disabled as the hero thought. However, a quick glance behind him and a resounding crash informed him that the other one WAS disabled.
While his head was turned, Experiment fired another spine. A piercing sound of bone-on-metal and the screech of a falling 'bot made it obvious that he hit his target.
-------------------------------------------
Experiment continued his work on the data-chip he had recovered from the last drone, and the work showed up on the Data Terminal. Experiment glanced up, and smirked.
"Alrighty then, let's find you, shall we?"
((What? I did this just to make sure it wasn't deleted? Preposterous!
>.>
<.<
Okay, maybe not so much.
However, I also did this to let people know that I don't mind you posting here either.))
"Too bad, E..." A blonde, blue eyed man said to someone who looked related, laying on the ground, face bleeding and body broken. "You almost had it in you to beat me."
A resounding smash echoed through the Ziggursky Prison's courtyard.
---------------------------
Maybe you would like to know what led up to your favourite armour-wearing tech-geek being apparently smashed by a look-alike? No? Okay.
...Kidding!
Whadya mean you didn't want to know?! Tough! Deal!
Now... Let us see where it started... Ah, here it is.
---------------------------
Emma Ballard was rushed by her husband, Anthony, into the ordinary hospital on the ordinary streets of ordinary London, England. However, the parents, and the following child, were not normal at all. Now,--
---------------------------
Okay, going from John's birth PROBABLY will take too long...
---------------------------
The two boys, John and Jason, were racing through London's back streets, seeing who could reach home first. They had split up around half an hour ago on seperate paths, sure that their own path was the fastest. John was using articulate math and physics to choose his, while Jason was basing it on 'a feeling.'
Obviously, John won. About six seconds later, Jason was huffing and puffing behind. John, meanwhile, was standing tall and proud. His brother had a look of amazing confusion, to which John replied "I walked."
"How did you WALK?! We were both half a mile away!"
"...Well, technically, the bus was passing in the street on my path. I told you I would win."
"You cheated... John..." Jason huffed, walking into the back door. John simply shook his head.
"So sad... Too bad he was not gifted like I was..."
Emma, Anthony, John, and Jason all lived in the same home, obviously. They all seemed to have powers... Except for Jason. John assumed his mind power was super, but in actuality, his father had simply read him stories about complex mathmatical theorems and technological manuals at night to get him to sleep because they didn't have any story books.
Jason, however, appeared to have nothing. He had mundane knowledge, normal strength, average speed... He was a completely normal kid, all the way to the age of seventeen, when his parents informed the family that they were moving to America, Rhode Island, Paragon City.
---------------------------
John was walking out the door when Jason stopped him. "John! Look... I know you are going to City Hall to apply for a Heroing License... Could you... Put in a good word for me?"
John chuckled in response. "Jason, even if it DID take a 'good word' for you to be accepted, they still wouldn't give you a license. They wouldn't let a civie hurt themselves."
"I may not have powers, but I can fight! You know that!"
"Jas, last time you kicked me, we were mending your broken foot for a week. Jump in a vat of radioactive liquid, then apply. I am sure they will be happy to accept you." With another laugh, John was out the door, locking it behind him.
Jason was pissed. His brother knew he wanted to be a hero, and he mocked him like that?! Great brotherly love...
"I'll show him..." he thought, his fists clenching, "I'll show him I can be a hero... Just you wait, John..."
"Don't clench your fists like that, hon," his mother said as she passed, "You'll hurt your hands."
Jason sighed.