((Yay for Hal story! *Brings some of the popcorn from Laz's story as he sits in two places at once*))
Arc ID: 475246, "Bringing a Lord to Power"
"I'm only a simple man trying to cling to my tomorrow. Every day. By any means necessary."
-Caldwell B. Cladwell
((Hey! That's MY trick!
*Bonks Brawler on the head, steals time machine back, and stomps off muttering something about copyright infringment.*))
((Oh PLEASE, Diov, I did that LONG before you. 
*multiduplicates popcorn* I swear, this story gets better every time Hal tells it. 
))
"If I had Force powers, vacuum or not my cape/clothes/hair would always be blowing in the Dramatic Wind." - Tenzhi
Characters
*Peers in, sidesteps toward Burning quicky, then snatches the popcorn away, munching quietly as he watched.*
((*Does nothing to retrieve popcorn because he is unconcious*
*Is also unable to mention the fact that it was poisonous*))
Arc ID: 475246, "Bringing a Lord to Power"
"I'm only a simple man trying to cling to my tomorrow. Every day. By any means necessary."
-Caldwell B. Cladwell
((Just a quick story about my hero Hallucinogen. It is entirely possible many people have not done the arc this story is drawn from, but I am pretty sure I have kept it spoiler-free. Regardless, I felt I should mention it. Feel free to post comments and criticisms. Just be gentle, please. XD;
)
We have an MHI! O.R. Support unit 23 disabled! Three teams down, four crippled!
Who the hell IS it? Isnt anyone gonna say anythin useful? Omnivore Red 0-7-0 spat into his comm. Its Hallucinogen, isnt it? Ive been waitin for this.
No need, boss, I got this one, a confident voice came over the channel. I cant lose to some green smokey meta punk.
Damn! 7-1-7, what the hell ydoin? Do you know who this guy IS? the Gunslinger snarled back, but it was clear the hero had already engaged 7-1-7's team, his voice audible in the background: Well still win, Hallucinogen. Youll see.
You think you can stop me if a Kronos Class couldnt? yelled a young, determined voice, and the communications abruptly became riddled with static and obscured by the noise of battle.
Technically, Hal, you ran, another voice remarked casually, the voice of his Phantasm, the manifestation of spirit and hope that aided the young hero in battle. The Malta were hardly saying anything at all. It did not sound like much of a contest.
Dangit! Shut UP, Phantasm! Hal grumbled, and the line went dead.
Damn, 0-7-0 cursed, spitting on the ground with a flourish and drawing a pistol from either side of his belt, loading them in the same motion. Its not gonna happen. The Malta Group WILL complete Project Wildflower. I wont let this plan fail.
* * * * * *
Careful, Hal, the Phantasm said in his head as he crept into the last room, cloaked by the radiation he always emitted, a hallucinogenic variety that would convince anyone nearby that he simply wasnt there. . . and was suddenly staring down the barrel of a Gunslingers pistol.
Were not stupid, you know, 0-7-0 said, clearly able to see exactly where Hal was, green smoke pouring out of his bizarre form, only four feet high, wild yellow hair topping a face obscured by a gas mask and a body obscured by a bewildering haze. The Phantasm floated behind him, ready to attack as soon as someone made a move.
How the heck. . . Hal muttered angrily.
The more you fight us, the more we know about how you fight, the Gunslinger said, pacing from side to side, pistol trained on Hal. Director 17 whipped us up a nice little remedy to your radiation.
I can fight without it then, Hal said, glaring at 0-7-0. I cant lose now. I wont let you idiots mess up the world.
You gonna tell yer little robo-crush her friends are a bunch of idiots? 0-7-0 said casually, tossing his other gun in the air and catching it easily, still aiming at Hal.
Hal clearly had nothing to say to that, and just glared, his hands beginning to glow, a low hum coming from them and gradually rising in pitch. Were done talking.
Yes, I do blieve we are, said 0-7-0, and the Phantasm grabbed Hal just in time to pull him out of the way of two sap beams and a Tac-Ops grenade. And the Gunslinger was gone, his voice hanging in the air behind him.
The worlds ready for a new kind of freedom, Hallucinogen. A new freedom under our control.
L, listen to what youre SAYING! yelled Hals voice. Flashes of light shot all around the room as Hallucinogen rode the streams all over, beams of it bursting from his hands. The Phantasm floated in the middle of the room, three figures flanking it. . . a little pink-armored girl, a tall grey-armored security droid, and a replica of himself, all four of his figments blasting away with searing rays of light. The Tac-Ops swore as his gun melted in his hands.
Cant you aim right, god dammit? 0-7-0 yelled as the Sappers tried to fire on Hal, but it was no use. He was simply going too fast. The Gunslinger teleported again, three rays crossing where he had stood a moment before.
You dont understand anything! his voice echoed, and gunfire tore through the Phantasm. The being of light vanished instantly, managing only a Sorry, Hal. . . before it dissipated.
What the. . . Hal exclaimed, stopping just long enough for a Sapper to line up his shot. The blue sap beam hit Hal full in the side, and he tried to yell, but barely had enough breath left to moan, sinking to the floor.
Hes still conscious? a Sapper said incredulously. The hero already was struggling to his feet again as 0-7-0 teleported in front of him, aimed both pistols at his head in an instant, and fired, saying Not for long.
But as he fired there was another flash of light and Hal was gone again, the shot tearing only through thin air.
You wanna know what was in that shot? 0-7-0 called into thin air, squinting through the flashes and firing on Hals decoys one by one, each vanishing in turn. Its a poison. Causes the victim to be overcome by fear ndespair. They lose HOPE, Hallucinogen.
You cant destroy my hope with some poison, Hals voice returned. The light had died down, and the hero had vanished into the next room, dimly lit and populated by numerous computer terminals, tables and chairs. There were a lot of places to hide.
Call for backup, 0-7-0 said, striding into the room after him. Hes gonna try to stop Wildflower right under our noses. Gonna TRY.
* * * * * *
Somethin wrong? the Gunslinger called to an apparently empty room. Shadows moved everywhere, but he paid them no heed. Hallucinogen was trying to mislead him with light tricks. Hed seen it all before.
There was no reply. Had trouble with those passcodes, did you? 0-7-0 continued, scanning the room carefully. Didnt let you in? Too bad. Systems are locked. I got the key.
And not on some piece of paper neither, he went on. Hal was crouching in a corner at the end of the room, tensed and ready to move again. In my head. You aint never gettin it outta me. Even if you win you cant stop the Malta Group. The worlds gonna be ours, Hallucinogen.
At the end of the day, youre just another bunch of morons trying to rule everything, came Hals voice at last, and the Phantasm appeared again, a huge wave of light spreading from its hands with a cry of Damn straight, Hal. 0-7-0 yelled in surprise as he was knocked to the ground from the force of the attack, his eyes burning. The Phantasm fired again with another ray, and the Gunslingers eyes narrowed as he teleported again.
Besides, Hal continued, appearing in a flash beside him, one of our mutual friends gave me a little workaround.
0-7-0 fired without even thinking, leaping backwards. He had clearly caught the young hero by surprise, and a shot tore through his shoulder.
"Hal! What are you doing? Pull yourself together! the Phantasm yelled, firing on the Gunslinger as he leapt away, and forced another teleport. Hals chest was beginning to smolder, and black smoke was slowly drifting up from it. He coughed, more smoke floating from his mouth.
Dammit, 0-7-0 yelled, clearly a little shaken by Hals last comment. Who are you working for?! Tell me! Or just die!
Gunfire shot at Hal from across the room. Unable to see where his adversary was, and in too much pain and despair from the poison to move fast, Hal jumped from side to side, dodging bullets left and right.
Thats right, meta, DANCE! 0-7-0 yelled, a mad gleam in his eyes. Hal winced as he leaped, dark smoke building around his head with every breath. His glowing hands were blinking faster and faster.
And then a flash of light behind 0-7-0, and a formless image crept around to meet his eyes, and they were suddenly wide with horror.
No! Weve failed, its all over. . . Malta finished. . . metas roaming free unchecked. . . its a LIE, a damn illusion! Its all over, Hallu
But even as 0-7-0 recovered from the spectral terror and his pistol came to bear at the hero, aiming perfectly at his head and his heart, the smoke vanished in a blinding flash, and Hal shot at the Gunslinger in a stream of light, glowing hands connecting with his chest, and 0-7-0 fell, his pistols flying to either side and then suddenly devoured in twin streams of light before they ever touched the ground.
A glowing hand was aiming at his face, and the Malta struggled to see through the glare.
Yeah, Hal said, shackles of light forming around 0-7-0's hands and feet, pinning him to the ground. Its all over.
It doesnt matter, the Gunslinger spat. Director 17 already has another plan in motion. You cant stop us. Well fight till the end of time.
Fair enough, Hal said. I plan to be around then.
And with that, he walked off to the terminals, a little hacking device appearing in his hand with a flash, as the Phantasm commented, Now, you DO know how to work that thing, right Hal? elicting an irritated Gah! Come on, Phantasm! Im not actually COMPLETELY incompetent.