"Not entirely sure." Acid answered Matt, "I'm not really a telepath yet. All I know is there's a lot of anxiety in the air, and a big ball of it's coming right for us. Either someone just got some really bad news, or we've got a very nervous intruder."
Considering for a moment, Acid decided to leave it at that. The conversation going on beyond the door wasn't anybody's business just yet. It would be soon, but that could wait.
Acid couldn't help but laugh quietly to himself. Static really didn't seem to have any idea what was going on here...
"If I had Force powers, vacuum or not my cape/clothes/hair would always be blowing in the Dramatic Wind." - Tenzhi
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Jake hurriedly followed, still not quite having caught up to Penny Arcade, when she suddenly stopped right in her place, warning of at least a gigawatt of power. Jake flipped on his PFF, not sacrificing any of his momentum, and continued following Penny Aracade to the transistor. Taking mild interest in the process of contacting Paragon, he leaned against a wall until the signal went through, making the apparent 'Oh God!' 'A villain!' 'Trace the call!' responses a reality. Nonchalantly walking over with his hands in his pockets, he let himself be seen by the transmitter, giving a slight wave to the Commander. "Ah, Commander McMillan, how're you? Been a while, aye? So how's my dad?"
Jake's father, ever since assisting his first hero with his gadgetry, had become ever-intwined with Longbow, constantly being asked to upgrade and create new equipment for them. One one particular visit, Jake decided to come, and had met the Commander himself; however, hastily deciding he didnt' like his strict attitude.
[/ QUOTE ]
((OOC: I guess I wasn't quite clear here. We are *not* at Penny's place. We are hacking into an Arachnos transmission tower, which is a horribly dangerous thing to do... here, let me clarify
))
Penny reached out a hand abruptly, and yanked Jake hard, pulling him under cover with herself.
Above them, an Arachnos patrol flew slowly around, searchlights in hand. The patrol wasn't searching for them specifically: but they were heavily armed and heavily backed up, crab patrols, with Arachnobots and black helicopters in tow. Even when not on alert, they were carrying enough firepower to decimate any foe short of a full-scale assault force.
One of the things that made calling Paragon City so dangerous was the way one had to do it. There were several methods which one could utilize, all of which were horribly risky. Penny had chosen to hack directly into an Arachnos transmitter, located within spitting distance of one of the most heavily fortified installations on the Islands. If they got caught here, Arachnos wouldn't hesitate to burn them down first and ask questions afterwards. They wouldn't last long against the sort of forces that could be mustered instantly from the fort below.
Still, as with everything in the Islands, there was a time to fight, and a time to sneak around. Penny Arcade seemed to be as skilled at sneaking as she was at combat, not batting an eyelash as a searchlight passed within half an inch of her, but not quite illuminating her where she crouched, hidden in the shadow of the girder. She gave no hint, to the Paragon heroes on the other end of the phone call, that she was literally within a finger's breadth of discovery and almost certain death.
Almost as if she had done it many times before....
Power Breaker watched them from the ledge and shook his head. His nanites provided him with a likely scenario as to why she had to be up there at that moment. Whoever she was talking to, he hoped it was worth it.
Sometimes... Sometimes Arachnos went looking for trouble.
Seeing the patrol, he considered making his presence known. Not the group's, mind you. Chances were, he could provide a messy distraction, and the troops would give chase. He'd also be able to lose them pretty easily, too.
Usually.
It looked to be a normal patrol, though, so he let it be. With any luck (which he was, admittedly, in short supply on lately) they'd pass by and not notice the "Chosen" doing whatever their patrons had sent them out to do.
Of course, knowing Arachnos, they could just as easily start sniping them off the tower for kicks. Arachnos followed "Survival of the Fittest" after all, and that apparently included M.D.G. hunting...
My Stories
Look at that. A full-grown woman pulling off pigtails. Her crazy is off the charts.
((And what about Commander McMillan? 
))
"If I had Force powers, vacuum or not my cape/clothes/hair would always be blowing in the Dramatic Wind." - Tenzhi
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(Gah, sorry, my bad. Let's just pretend he had been a bit more discreet. >.>
[ QUOTE ]
((And what about Commander McMillan? ))
[/ QUOTE ]
((OOC: He gets his own post.))
His people were already buzzing around like bees when he stepped from his office.
McMillan liked to run a tight ship, and those who served under his command knew it. So when he stepped out, closed the door, and barked, "Well?" His people knew what he wanted.
"No luck on the signal trace sir. It's definitely coming from the Rogue Isles, but we can't pinpoint it any closer, too much interference."
"Visual analysis ready for inspection, sir."
"Background file has just come through, sir, here it is."
McMillan limped over and took the file, flipping through it. He didn't like the cane, if the truth be told. Still, it was better than losing the leg, though it had been close after his ill-fated excursion to the Isles. Whether he liked to admit it or not, Penny Arcade had saved his life back then.
Nor had that been an isolated circumstance. Though he had given he no indication of it - nor had a chance to, even if he would have wanted to do so, which he didn't - he had taken a personal interest in her file ever since.
Penny Arcade had a small collection of names in her file. A few were heroes. Many others were people with no known powers. All had escaped from the Rogue Isles with her help. Penny Arcade, while maintaining a front of respectable villainy, was quietly running something of an underground railroad. Her earlier background was sketchy, but McMillan believed he had pieced together most of it. It helped to explain why she was such a thorn in the side of Longbow, and every other heroic organization, doing things such as hacking into supposedly secure lines.
It was the visual inspection of the transmission, however, that alarmed him. While Penny Arcade left very few visual clues, as was her wont, what little he could glean was worrisome. The general impression of girders and sky, combined with his knowledge of her background, made him believe that she had hacked into a transmitter somewhere - a dangerous proposition at the best of times. Her offer had to be serious for her to take such a risk: but on the flip side, it was unlikely she would be able to transmit for long.
McMillan would have sooner died than admit that his leg hampered him from finding the hero, but facts were facts. He harrumphed at his staff, who correctly interpreted the noise as a compliment at their efficiency, and took his communicator in hand. "Alpha Strike Leader," he barked into it, "This is McMillan. There is a new development. Report here at once. McMillan out." He snapped the communicator closed, and headed back to his office, to wait for Gabe, whom he expected would appear momentarily. When McMillan said at once, he really meant it.
Carnacki sat in her chair quietly as Gabe went over the task force's details. She shifted slightly in her chair, irritated.
Something was bugging her.
It hovered just outside of her senses, but she couldn't pinpoint anything. That alone annoyed her greatly, as there were very few things that she couldn't derive from.
Sighing, she slumped slightly, only to straighten up again as Gabe had finished explaining.
"I am sorry to hear that your beloved has been kidnapped," Carnacki said, voice still no louder than a whisper, yet oddly able to project such a distance. "and I would gladly help to get her back. Your plan also sounds dangerous, which is a plus for me already."
Looking down at herself, she ran her hands over her black robes, and shrugged. "I never relied on my costume to give me powers, and I would like a new change... So why not? Time for a makeover, I guess..."
And with that, she tore off the sleeves of her robes, and unwrapped the bandage around her eyes.
She was grateful that no one gasped at the sight.
Her eyes were a dull grey, the signature colour of the cataracts that plagued them. And while there was a line of pale skin where the bandage had covered for so long, that was not the most shocking of details. There was a horizontal gash that went from the end of one eye, across the bridge of her nose, and ended at the end of the other. The cut was also a bloody red colour, which meant it was not a normal cut. Carnacki smiled sadly.
"Although a pair of sunglasses would be nice..."
((Just gonna jump in, yo!))
Jonas Black looked at the tattoo on his right arm just below the spiral scar he bore just above his forearm and listened to his brothers voice echo inside his mind.
"You'll never be able to save your soul little brother, I claimed that when you took my arm"
Don't you ever shut up?!" Jonas demanded staring at the tattoo on the arm which had used to belong to his brother. Jonas began to think back to how he had ended up like this.
It had been over a year since his brothers "death". His brother had been in deep with some of the darker mystics in Paragon. Jonas had never realized how deep until his brother Marcus took upon himself the sacred markings of the Darkin. For the ritual to be completed the bearer of the markings must sacrifice the people most dear to them.
On the night Marcus came for him it was only a lucky hit and a local hero that saved Jonas. The hero was Bushido X and he had a bad habit of causing undo damage to those he apprehended. Jonas didn't walk away unscathed, before he passed out from blood loss he reached out and grabbed his brothers severed arm.
When he woke up in the hospital his brothers arm had become his own, his brothers soul resided in his body, and Jonas had all the power of the Darkin.
The only problem with that is the more his brothers darkin spirit grows in strength the more the tattoo grows, the more power Jonas has, and...the less human he becomes.
He was drawn out of his reverie by a beeping coming from his pocket. Jonas answered his cell phone and was surprised to hear the voice of one of Paragon's finest.
"I'm sure you've heard about the task force by now...or are you still doing the antisocial thing?"
"I've heard about the kidnapping but its not exactly my cup of tea."
"K, well it's your cup this time, you're still looking for a way to get rid of the doo-dad on your arm right?"
"Possibly, but it sounds like this is one of those missions we get severance pay sent to our loved ones."
"Can you still do that creepy teleporty/jumpy thing?"
"Yeah...." Jonas was slightly amused to hear those terms used by a hero of such high standing
"Get to Mercy, now, I know you have a little clout among the 'citizens' of the islands. Plus there is a special little end of the world magical trinket that can probably take the mark off your arm."
"Hey wait Synap--, every single time." The speedster always had a bad habit with impatience.
Jonas heaved a sigh, lit a cigarette, and began to prepare for this little vacation.
I do not know my reasons for posting, but post I must. ~~Build
"We can't stop here, this is bat country."
--Johnny Depp
"I ain't bi-curious, I'm a man. Why do you think I'm wearing this tight spandex and got all these muscles?" Meatwad
Most heros rip through dimensions, remolecularize, or tap into the darkside to teleport. My version of that age old trick is closer to ripping my very esence apart and reassembling it at a predetermined point.
So after a quick 'jump' I was back back at my apartment and into my hero gear, which consisted of a pair of black glasses, a white dress shirt, and black dress pants (come on a hero doesn't have to wear gaudy tights).
After another jump and I was amid the trash and stink of Mercy...felt like home. "For some reason doing that always gives me a bad case of jet lag" *yawn*
Thats when I heard it, the sound of old playmates.
*hissss* Feel the fangs of Stheno" as the duo of snakes burst from the earth
I tried my hardest to suppress a grin "Comeon guys not today"
I turned to walk away from the weak little things when
*whack* I caught one of their curved swords in the upper arm, unfortunatley it was the wrong arm to hit. Black tendrils of a smoke like substance seemed to erupt out of the wound and cover my arm from wrist to elbow.
My voice seemed to drop two octaves as I stated "Wrong move, and I was gonna let you guys walk away."
I turned faster than they could react and planted two swift punches to each of their midsections. "In the words of one of my favorite video game characters, 'Your soul is mine'."
Black mist seemed to flow from the areas where my punches had landed and flowed into my arm. I started to turn away from the snake's lifeless corpses when the cold sensation hit. Sometimes it wasn't that bad, but other times (like now) it dropped me to my knees. I knew without even looking that the mark had grown.
Oh well
Another day, another battle, another pain; i popped my kneck a few times and started down one of the few cleaner (using this term loosely) side streets to see if I still had any contacts worth using in Mercy.
According to Synapse the actual task force won't arrive for awhile, so until then I'm on my own...never had a problem with that.
I do not know my reasons for posting, but post I must. ~~Build
"We can't stop here, this is bat country."
--Johnny Depp
"I ain't bi-curious, I'm a man. Why do you think I'm wearing this tight spandex and got all these muscles?" Meatwad
"Try these." Acid suggested, the hooded figure handing Carnacki a pair of sunglasses much like those seen on Arbiter Sands, "And if I were you, I wouldn't be so nervous about your outward appearance. Most people here just don't have much of a sense of aesthetics. Don't worry about it. Now, if you'll excuse me."
The barked announcement had been the last boulder. This was getting out of hand. Intent in his step, Acid walked briskly out the door, the robed figure making a beeline for a certain office.
"I'll handle this." he told Gabe as he passed him and Static Therapy, "You get everyone ready to go. The longer we stay here, the more likely this is to be compromised."
The Longbow agents about once more gave him the stink eye as Acid moved through the building, but at this point he didn't really care. There was business to settle.
McMillan may or may not have been surprised when his office doors burst open and instead of Gabe came someone that resembled a Circle of Thorns reject than anything else, the heavy gray cloak and hood giving an almost ridiculous appearance without any sort of glowing eyes. Still, the broad shoulders hinting at some sort of armor underneath did spread just a hinting twinge of malice.
"Do we have a problem?" the figure confronted McMillan in a stern, yet polite tone, though Acid may as well have told him straight-out that there had better not be a problem...
"If I had Force powers, vacuum or not my cape/clothes/hair would always be blowing in the Dramatic Wind." - Tenzhi
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[ QUOTE ]
"Do we have a problem?" the figure confronted McMillan in a stern, yet polite tone, though Acid may as well have told him straight-out that there had better not be a problem...
[/ QUOTE ]
McMillan didn't seem the least flustered. As efficient as ever, he appraised the hero of the situation. "We have a call," he said, the tiniest shade of annoyance in his tone, "From the Rogue Isles. From one supervillain named Penny Arcade. She is aware of the task force, has invoked a code Janus, and claims," his dry tone belied what he thought of the claim, "That she wishes to join up. She's waiting to speak to someone." He turned and glared at a technician, who shook his head. McMillan frowned, glancing at his watch. "In four minutes and twenty seven seconds," he said with an even drier tone, "We haven't been able to get a closer trace than the Rogue Isles." He nodded at a manilla envelope on his desk. "Her file, if you are interested."
Had it been up to McMillan, it was probable the call would already have been terminated. But McMillan was a man who knew his duty, and the regulations were crystal clear: a code Janus was simply not handled by the military branch - it must be given to the paranormal echelons. McMillan clearly didn't like it, but he was nothing if not faithful to his position.
For a moment, the figure just stood there in silence, the folds of the heavy gray cloak unmoving, the rim of cloth motionless on the floor. Underneath the drooping hood, in the blackness where a face should have been, McMillan could have sworn the figure now stared at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Uh-huh..." Acid finally let out quite slowly, the long hooded head turning about a bit, "Okay, where's the hidden camera? You're just pulling my tail, er leg, right? What're we playing today? Confuse the mastermind? I hate that. You're not a controller in disguise, are you?"
Of course, the figure meant something completely different than the Commander might have expected - not the fact that a seemingly untraceable call was coming in from the Rogue Isles, but that McMillan was being so distrusting of one 'villain', yet so open with another.
In short, Acid couldn't believe the man would be so forthcoming with him. After all, that was the very reason the Longbow around were giving him the cold shoulder all the time. If they hadn't been ordered not to from high places, they probably would've shot Acid on the spot.
Then again, McMillan was Freedom Corps - not technically Longbow. It was entirely possible he didn't know.
"Wait, you're being serious?" Acid's head moved back a bit in astonishment, then the faceless hole looked down upon the drab gray robes before turning to the Commander again, "Wow, I never thought this'd really work, you know? I just thought I'd try to be polite and not scare anyone. You humans seem to find my appearance particularly offensive at times. Oh, I'm sorry, I'm rambling - yes, I know Miss Arcade. Or rather, I know of her through a friend. She's being honest, if that's what you were asking about..."
"If I had Force powers, vacuum or not my cape/clothes/hair would always be blowing in the Dramatic Wind." - Tenzhi
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20 minutes after the little love tap the snake had given Jonas was fully healed. He had finished talking to the few contacts he had left and had found out nothing conclusive in the least.
Jonas shook his head and took a drag on the cigarrette he had pinned between the thumb and forefinger of his left hand.
Harshly exhaling the smoke he felt the vibration of his cell phone going off in his left pants pocket. Pinching the cig between his lips he reached into his pants pocket to retrieve his phone.
"Now who's calling me?" He asked before he had checked the call log. He flipped his phone open and read the message.
One missed call: Unknown Caller
Number Unknown
A look of perplexity crossed Jonas's face. Considering that the researchers at data had updated his phone with new tech it should have been possible to at least get an ID on the call, it didn't make sense that he should know nothing about a caller. He flipped the phone closed and tapped a rhythm on the cover. Shrugging his shoulders Jonas said, "Well, if it's important I guess they'll call back. Don't you think so you little puke."
The unconscious hellion laying at his feet didn't say anything, "Well since you're at a loss for words I'm gonna take that as a disaggreament on your part. I don't really like punks like you disaggreeing with me."
Jonas pulled the cig from his lips with his right had and watched as the paper and filter seemed to lose color and the flame turn a black/blue color. He stared at the flame for a second before grinding it out on the hellion's head. the veins around the burn mark seemed to pulse and become more visible.
"Oh yeah he'll feel that if nothing else when he comes to." He declared with a slight smirk.
The phone vibrated in his hand. Jonas flipped it back open and saw that it was the same caller. He hit the answer button and held the phone to his left ear.
"Joe's pool hall, it's your dime not mine, party hours are from dusk till dawn." Jonas answered with uncharacteristic humor.
"Warehouse 13, North dock, 10 minutes." The the caller abruptly hung up.
Jonas looked around for the hidden camera's, "This has gotta be one of those lame reallity shows. I mean mysterious phone calls, warehouses, docks, and time limits. Seems like all of a sudden I'm a hero or something, but we both know different don't we puke?" He voiced his question to the still unconscious hellion laying on the ground.
Well time to go walking into a trap...
I do not know my reasons for posting, but post I must. ~~Build
"We can't stop here, this is bat country."
--Johnny Depp
"I ain't bi-curious, I'm a man. Why do you think I'm wearing this tight spandex and got all these muscles?" Meatwad
*drip* my head ...
*drip* my ribs ...
*drip* my ?...... ARM
Jonas snapped back to consciousness and took in his surroundings to the best of his ability. High roof, stone floors, chained to a pressure pipe. Then memory crashed in around him.
He remebered walking through the door of the warehouse and feeling the first blow as it landed across the left side of his jaw. The second caught him somewhere in his lower ribs. The next thing he remembered was blows seeming to come from every possible direction landing mostly on his midsection and head.
"I don't remember you being such a wimp back when you ran with me and your brother." A voice from the past spoke up from behind him, the same voice from the call.
The persons name was on the tip of Jonas's tongue if only he could remember. The pain in his head and ribs had already began to dampen, but Damn did his arm hurt. Hadn't hurt this bad since he'd woken up in the hospital the day after he'd gotten it.
The voice spoke up again from behind his back but had seemed to have moved closer, "What no 'hello' for an old friend and play mate?"
That was it if only he had seconds to make the connection. Seemingly from no where he heard a high pitched whistle and crack as a box that had been lying off to his right side was split it two. Yep...that'll work , "So Scourger still playing with that little rat tail you call a whip?"
In reply he heard another whistle, but before the crack he felt a blinding pain down the middle of his back, "Ah, you remember me eh? well the old 'rat tail' you remember has had a few improvements, namely several razor sharp blades imbedded down its length as I'm sure you've already noticed."
Scourger was right it felt like he'd hit the bone. Man that hurt, but for some reason it seemed like the pain moved from my back down into my arm. Jonas chanced a look toward the arm and felt fear rize from somwhere so deep it was almost elemental. The mark had advanced from halfway up his forearm all the way to his shoulder.
"What no rebutal?, I'm disappoineted. You were always the smart elec of the group. Always had something to say. And now you lay there speachless." Scourger almost sounded regretful. Then *WHISTLE* *CRACK* another wound opened almost to the bone.
This continued for another 15 minutes before Scourger walked into Jonases line of sight. "Thats odd even your brother would have passed out from blood loss by now but you, you just keep glaring at that arm." As if by mentioning it the arm began glowing with a dark radiance.
"What the hell is that kid, I don't remember you being able to do that." Scourger's voice was filled with something between shock and curiosity.
"Yeah...well....I didn't know I could do that either. This may be a life changing experience for the both of us." Jonas said with a voice that had taken on something...more.
In one move the chains that bound him were broken and Jonas's fist had sank through Scourger. Scourger never had a chance to even feel pain as the mark absorbed everything from pain to soul to life force. Scourger's shriveled husk of a body slid off of Jonas's fist and collapsed on the floor.
Jonas hadn't been able to control his movements since the arm had begun glowing. But now the mark had went back to it's original color and Jonas's head had begun to throb.
Hey little brother there is a mirror to your left go take a look at your self. The voice in his head spoke up for the first time in awhile.
Jonas turned and found the mirror. He walked toward it with something akin to a drunken amble. He looked at his pallor in the mirror. God I look dead.
Hey, take a little look at your back I did a little work on it while I had the chance. The voice spoke with a little pride and a lot of dark humor.
Jonas turned and looked over his shoulder into the mirror at what should have resembled a pile of hamburger with some bone flecks. Instead every mark Scourger had put on him had been converted into the same black markings that now covered his right arm.
Jonas couldn't take it. He sank to his knees beside the mirror. He placed his head in his hands and for the first time in a long time tears spilled out of Jonas's eyes.
I do not know my reasons for posting, but post I must. ~~Build
"We can't stop here, this is bat country."
--Johnny Depp
"I ain't bi-curious, I'm a man. Why do you think I'm wearing this tight spandex and got all these muscles?" Meatwad
[ QUOTE ]
"Wait, you're being serious?" Acid's head moved back a bit in astonishment, then the faceless hole looked down upon the drab gray robes before turning to the Commander again, "Wow, I never thought this'd really work, you know? I just thought I'd try to be polite and not scare anyone. You humans seem to find my appearance particularly offensive at times. Oh, I'm sorry, I'm rambling - yes, I know Miss Arcade. Or rather, I know of her through a friend. She's being honest, if that's what you were asking about..."
[/ QUOTE ]
"It wasn't," McMillan said dryly. Truth be told, McMillan wasn't pleased about the composition of the task force, and was even less pleased about the suspension of typical security protocols. Still, orders were orders, and he had his own suspicions about what would be coming down the line. Soon enough, McMillan privately suspected, the world would need both its heroes and its villains... but that was a thought for another day.
"The decision of inclusion of new task force members ultimately rests with the leader of the task force. As such decisions are not within the purvue of this command, I will not question the judgements of those who are responsible for making them." McMillan didn't like it, but respect for another officer - even one from a different grop - restrained him from any further action. "All duly designated task force members are authorized to view information that is relevant to the task force. There it is." He didn't like that either, but he was in a position where he didn't have much choice in the matter.
"There is a decision to make. Perhaps you would be good enough to have someone pick up the line."
((ZOMG. I'm oh so terribly sorry for missing posting these last couple days, and I swear upon the immortal soul of <insert person here> that I will post soon. Blargh, I go to sleep now.))
Ill handle this. You get everyone ready to go. The longer we stay here, the more likely this is to be compromised. Acid murmured to Gabe as he walked past. Gabe nodded, and the beckoned Static to join him in the briefing room.
People were slowly beginning to trickle back in, most with drastically changed appearances. Matts hawk was gone, and he now sported a rather new set of tattoos. One of the police officers Gabe had never had time to properly introduce himself to was clean shaven, and looking all the more uncomfortable for it.
Poor guy. Gabe thought. When I had hair, I hated shaving, too. Thanks, Crey.
Suppressing the need to rub his head and assure himself no hair had grown since hed last thought about its loss, Gabe once again began to build a disguise for himself. He strapped on the Crey chest plate hed seen lying around, and the matching gloves whizzed and hissed satisfyingly as they connected to the vambraces, and the servos powered up. A simple snap of his fingers confirmed he wouldnt need to worry about his powers being effected.
The legs, though. What to wear there? Longbow sweats wouldnt do, but theyd serve adequately to prevent sores. There, a large robotic set of greaves/boots. Tossed randomly to the side, theyd finish off the armor plating which would probably keep him alive, and completely cover his main distinguishing feature. One last thing was require, though. His face, too many people in Arachnos would recognize it. If they wanted to infiltrate Mercy, theyd do better without having to kill some over-observant arbiter. A helmet, something that looked like itd belonged to a Paragon Protector before it was refitted, that would do. He popped the visor, flipped open the mouth guard, and dropped it into place. With a poof of escaping air, it sealed. Statistics scrolled down his screen, and a HUD remarkably similar to the one his normal headpiece displayed winked into being.
Looking around the room, everyone else seemed to be at a similar stage he was, so he opened a channel to the room.
Finish up, folks. On Acids return, we leave.
Static looked around.
They were all trying to disuise themselves. He doubted that would last long, but who was he to judge. He'd seen some pretty stupid arbiters before.
He pressed a button on his wristcomputer. Text rolled down the screen as he pressed several other ones, checking various things both on his suit and on his backup ones in his safehouse. He doubted he'd get a chance to grab them, but you never knew...
On the roof of the building, the black HALO's rear ramp gave a hydraulic roar as it was pulled into the fuselage of the chopper once more, the idling turbines revving up to flight speed, blades of the main rotor spinning up to generate lift once more.
Leaving behind several Longbow agents seeking cover from the buffeting winds, not to mention cursing under their breaths at the lack of any warning for the unannounced departure, the MI-26 locked in a course due east...
--------------------
"That won't be necessary." Acid answered McMillan with what seemed like a gentle smile in his voice. The folds of the cloak shifted about, as the wearer was clearly moving something around inside, "In fact, I recommend you cut the channel as quickly as possible. Arachnos isn't bad when it comes to tracking hackers, and I'm rather sure they're already further than you. Now, if you'll excuse me, time may be of the essence here. Oh, and don't worry - I'll take care of this personally."
Acid turned to leave, hoping the Commander would take things as they were for now. His present state of emotion suggested it, at least.
Dammit...why does telepathy have to be so hard to learn...?
--------------------
Not far down the girder Penny had taken refuge on, a hulking figure who donned a cape materialized form thin air. The mace-like weapon in the man's hand gave him away almost immediately - a Bane Spider Executioner, the markings of the Elite Division prominently evident upon his broad shoulders.
"Now then..." the Executioner mumbled under his breath, voice somewhat garbled by the helmet, "Gotta be somewhere around here. Miss Arcade! Oh, Miss Arcade, where aaare youuu...?!"
"If I had Force powers, vacuum or not my cape/clothes/hair would always be blowing in the Dramatic Wind." - Tenzhi
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[ QUOTE ]
"That won't be necessary." Acid answered McMillan with what seemed like a gentle smile in his voice. The folds of the cloak shifted about, as the wearer was clearly moving something around inside, "In fact, I recommend you cut the channel as quickly as possible. Arachnos isn't bad when it comes to tracking hackers, and I'm rather sure they're already further than you. Now, if you'll excuse me, time may be of the essence here. Oh, and don't worry - I'll take care of this personally."
Acid turned to leave, hoping the Commander would take things as they were for now. His present state of emotion suggested it, at least.
Dammit...why does telepathy have to be so hard to learn...?
[/ QUOTE ]
Acid had hardly begun to speak when a technician piped up, "We've lost the signal, sir."
Penny Arcade, probably thinking much along the same lines as McMillan, had already cut the line.
McMillan simply gave a curt nod to Acid's statement. "Good Luck," he said simply, and turned back to his work as Acid left.
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Not far down the girder Penny had taken refuge on, a hulking figure who donned a cape materialized form thin air. The mace-like weapon in the man's hand gave him away almost immediately - a Bane Spider Executioner, the markings of the Elite Division prominently evident upon his broad shoulders.
"Now then..." the Executioner mumbled under his breath, voice somewhat garbled by the helmet, "Gotta be somewhere around here. Miss Arcade! Oh, Miss Arcade, where aaare youuu...?!"
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"That was fast."
He had caught her - but only just. She had already removed the equipment she had added, and had been flying away. Seeing his entrance, and hearing his speech, she turned back towards him. Had he been even seconds later, he never would have been able to locate her.
She knew well enough he wasn't an Elite Executioner, whatever uniform he wore. The Elites called Penny Arcade a number of things, but had never given her such as mild a name as "Miss Arcade."
"I wondered," she smirked at him, her rocket boots easily allowing her to manuver to his level, "How long it would take someone to show up. Got curious, did you?"
Jonas's tears had dried. His back and arm still hurt, but the pain had been reduced to a dull/numb type of pain. The blood that stained his back and arm needed taking care of. He looked around his surroundings and noticed a water faucet under the mirror. Standing he stumbled toward the slowly dripping faucet. Halfway to the faucet he noticed a shriveled husk of something laying on the ground.
'Come on little brother shouldn't be too difficult to figure out. Those nice new tatt's on your back had to come from somewhere, so what better place to take them from than the punk that gave you the wounds.'
Jonas looked with shock on Scourgers husk of a corpse. "What the hell did you do Marcus he was human. The snakes are one thing, they are straight up monsters. But you can't go around killing everyone you feel like."
'You are sadly mistaken little brother I didn't do any of this, that was all you. You really no how to make a mentor proud.'
After turning the knob on top of the faucet and watching the water begin to pour forth, Jonas started to wash the conjealing blood from his arm. "What do you mean 'mentor'."
'Ah...you don't remember, how...quaint. Here I'll show you.'
Jonas brought his arms out of the frigid water and grasped the side of his head as a picture of two young children were playing inside an abandoned warehouse. The voice of memories surfaced in his mind.
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'Comeon Jonas. Hey, let me show you something' The two boys ran to the middle of the warehouse and the larger one turned to the little one and delivered a solid punch to his solar plexus.
'Ow, Marcus! That hurt!' The little one said after being knocked back a few steps.
'Jebus little brother, we're never gonna get any respect around here if you can't take or throw a decent punch.'
The little one glared at his brother and shifted his weight to throw a right jab at his brothers head. Marcus easily stepped aside as the blow flew past his face. He turned his body into his brothers swing and landed another vicious punch into Jonas's stomach. Jonas fell to the coughing as the breath left his lungs.
'That's *cough* *cough* not *cough* fair Marcus!' Jonas tried to shout at his brother between fits of coughing.
'So what. If we're gonna get respect we can't play fair.' Marcus stated with a smirk behind his words.
'Comeon get up Jonas. I'm gonna show you how to throw a punch.' Marcus demanded wrapping a hand around Jonas's upper arm and pulling him roughly to his feet.
'Look. Plant your feet, don't lead with your shoulder, rotate your fist. Do this and you will be able to put your entire body ito the punch.' Marcus had been demonstrating the entire time he had been going through the steps.
'Now you try.' Marcus turned to face Jonas. Marcus had a smile on his face as he watched Jonas repeat exactly as he had shown him.
'You and me little brother one day we are gonna own this place.'
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Jonas now had a head ache to go along with the rest of his pain. He finished washing the blood from his hand and stood.
"Yeah I also remember, right after that our parents decided that Arachnos was getting to violent and we left and moved to Kings Row."
'Yeah. You may not know it little brother but the only thing I have to do while I'm in here is watch old memories and lookit your old girl friends.'
"Thats private, so stay OUT of there" Jonas stood and ripped his torn dress shirt away. Thats when he noticed something unusual. He looked down at his upper body and noticed that not only did he have a six-pack but that his overall muscle mass had increased.
"When the hell did I get muscles?" He muttered under his breath.
'Those come with the marks brother. After all the demon in the marks has to have a suitable avatar or the body begins to decay. So a few changes have to be made.' Marcus intoned with a chuckle.
"....Am I gonna sprout horns and develope a thirst for small children?" Jonas said half sarcastically half fearfully.
'......'
"I hate you..."
'Don't worry bout that little brother in a little while that goes away. As do a lot of things. But what you will gain is worth it.' The voice said almost contemplatively.
"How 'bout we get out of here? The task force should be here soon."
'While you're at it take Scourgers shirt and wrap your arm in something. Those marks make you and target for not only the Circle Of Thorns but also Ghost Widow.' The voice advised calmly.
"I think this is the first time you've said anything like that to me since the day in the warehouse."
'Don't mistake survival for kindness kid. You die, I die. At least till we fully transform.'
"What happens then?"
'Then you ain't gotta worry bout the voice in your head any more.'
Jonas wondered at that as he stood and began to do as Marcus had suggested. He ripped his shirt into peices and wound them around his right arm. He walked over to Scourger, and as soon as his hands touched the shirt the body seemed to turn to dust. He popped the sleeveless shirt a few times in the air and slid it over his head.
'Oh yeah, how do you know that this isn't another set up?' Marcus was speaking of the task force.
"I don't." Jonas was just about tired of his brothers ceaseless chatter.
'Then how you gonna meet up with them?' Marcus still had that annoying smirk in his voice.
"One thing you have never even realized about me. I'm always where I'm needed. Always have been and always will be, a few tattoos and a ghost aren't gonna stop that" Jonas stated
'Yeah my brother the hero.' Marcus openly laughed at his own pitiful joke. Jonases anger had been mounting through the entire conversation and he had finally built up enough to forcefully closed the doors in his mind providing him with much needed silence. Jonas shrugged, sighed, and retreived his ciggarettes and matches from a pocket and lit one. He looked around and noticed his discarded sunglasses laying by the door to the warehouse. He picked them up, put them on, and almost took a step out of the whare house door when the change hit him.
All of a sudden Jonas could see the minutest flaw on the frames of his glasses. He could hear the beat of a fly's wings somewhere near the roof. And he could smell the fear on the people in the streets; police, gangmembers, and bystanders all had the same smell on them. A fear that runs to every extension of their lives.
Jonas shrugged and took a step out of the door way willing his feet to take him to where he was needed.
I do not know my reasons for posting, but post I must. ~~Build
"We can't stop here, this is bat country."
--Johnny Depp
"I ain't bi-curious, I'm a man. Why do you think I'm wearing this tight spandex and got all these muscles?" Meatwad
Jake followed suit, still encased in his omni-potent Personal Forcefield, confident that not much, if anything, could get through. Looking at the Bane Spider, and then hearing Penny's retort, Jake did the obvious thing that anyone else in that situation would have.
He face-palmed.
"Ya know, we could've gotten away..." He said in a clearly irritated voice, making sure that no one but Penny could hear. "Unless, of course, this is part of some sort of plan I'm not aware of..." This was said with some trace of hope.
Otherwise, the Bane Spider would immediately alert those near him, and in turn, those near him would alerlt the whole of Grandville. Soon enough, it'd be a battle against Arachnos in the Headquarters of said-Arachnos. Jake could try to use some of his influence, which, albeit, was really only with Black Scorpion, who was impressed with his gadgetry, but very few people who hack a com-tower generally get off scot-free.
Thankful that things had kept running somewhat smoothly, Acid returned to the group, satisfied that they'd already prepared and assembled for departure.
"Alright." his hooded head gave a nod, "Let's move."
With a flash of white light, the door he'd come through vanished into thin air, replaced by a luminous vortex roughly three meters in diameter. The gateway resembled slowly swirling liquid light, fluid purest white, yet somehow wasn't blinding to the eye. It was simply there, like a blank spot in a painter's canvas.
"Light gate." Acid explained, stepping forward, "Don't worry, it won't atomize ya or anything."
Without further ado, he stepped into the gateway. Those following would find themselves transplanted into a certain nondescript building in Cap au Diable without even noticing a transit had occurred - the regional Vanguard DPO.
Apparently, low tide persisted right now, as maintenance personnel had stripped some of the six funny-looking boxes off the wall around the portal, busy adding more blinking lights to them...
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"Yes yes yes." the Executioner waved his fingers toward her nonchalantly, his attention more on the jack-in point, "One moment."
As if it was the most natural thing in the world, the main aimed his mace at the spot, unleashing a powerful crimson beam into the structure, vaporizing more than half of the material at the impact site with cacophonous noise.
"Requesting Control." he then put two fingers to the side of his helmet, "Reporting area clear. Rikti. A few. Nothing to worry about. Negative. Eliminated. Not alone - we had some unexpected help from Vanguard. Two. I didn't ask. Because Lord Recluse has ordered us not to. Do you really want to be the one to question his orders?"
The Executioner chuckled at the obvious reply from the other end of the channel, "I thought so. Of course. Out."
"That oughta take care of them for a while." the man turned to Penny again, "That could've gotten dangerous. You're very good, Miss Arcade, but Arachnos shouldn't be taken so lightly. I do hope you had a back-up plan. Either way...oh, how rude of me. My name is Acid, and the helicopter should be here any minute..."
"If I had Force powers, vacuum or not my cape/clothes/hair would always be blowing in the Dramatic Wind." - Tenzhi
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"Praetorian, the task force command ship is sounding the ready call." The communications officer notified the captain from his station.
The captain, walked to the center of the bridge and sat down in the captain's chair. There were two helm stations in front of him, and he was flanked by standing stations for the tactical and executive officers. In the background two other bridge crew were working the scientific equipment as one guard stood near the side doors on each side of the bridge with a commanding view of all that went on in the tiny space.
"Signal that we are ready. Raise shields and take us out. Let us do the empire proud."
War-Bird rose from the ground and engaged his personal shield, which swept around him and caused his green hull to glow slightly under the armor plating. As he engaged his cloaking device, the light faded to a silhouette, and he began moving toward the rally point.
The tactical officer stepped from the bridge, ordering a junior officer to the panel as he left. His eyes met the captain's once, and he was in the lift headed down to main engineering.
Static nodded. Gabe was right, this was what being a hero was about, giving your life to save another. "In that case I'm going with you." he said, a smile crossing his face. "Besides, having a real villain with you might improve your chances of blending in."