The board walk on Talos Island was usually a pretty fun place, one of the few in Paragon City. That is, when its not being overrun by gangs or a target for hostage seeking paramilitary groups. But today none of Paragons dangers were present and it was a pretty nice day to boot. A little bit of a breeze was blowing and there was not a single cloud in the sky.
On this day, Joanna Spencer was strolling the boardwalk on one of her very rare and thus very precious days off. When the sun started to go down, Jo decided to head back home. Her walk to the tram took her past the Paragon Police Department precinct office in Talos. As she approached she noted that the street was quiet. In fact the only activity on the street was a trio of vans parked on the corner opposite the precinct. Jo could have just as easily walked around the other side of the Talos hill and avoided the suspicious vehicles. But, as always, her curiosity got the better of her and she started toward the mystery vehicles.
The closer she Jo got to the vans and the police station the more things seemed out of place. She occasionally heard fait bursts come from the station house. Jo stood across the street from the parked vans. Jo thought she could barely make out silhouettes in the drivers seat through the heavily tinted glass, but she couldnt tell.
Behind her she heard a group of very loud college age young people approaching. She had seen them on the board walk, one of they guys had tried to lay his best rap on her. I wonder if he still would have taken his shot if he knew I was really 10 years older than I look? She wondered at the time. But now Jo figured they were heading back home or to campus to continue the party. As the group walked past Jo was shaken from her curious observations and decided she would continue on her way home as well since she was due to met up with Peter in a few hours for dinner after his patrol.
However, no sooner had she turned her back to the police station than an explosion ripped through the second floor. Fire belched out of the second story windows and pieces of debris and glass were ejected from the building. Instinctively Jo dropped to the ground, face down and covered up to protect her self from the hail of shrapnel. The group of college kids was not so wise and instead turned to see the explosion. A few of them were hit in the face by flying pieces of glass.
Her ears still ringing Jo went to pull her self up to help the injured college kids. But she and the others were quickly confronted by three men carrying rifles and shouting. Jo instantly recognized the uniforms worn by the shrouded men. They were Council commandos.
When it became clear that Jo and the others couldnt understand what the soldiers were saying they fired several rounds at he ground and gestured back toward the vans. One of the soldiers grabbed Joanna by the arm and physically dragged her to the van that was last in line. No sooner was she tossed inside than the group of partiers was thrown in the van with her. One of the guys in the group was petrified. He simply couldnt move from sheer terror. Standing outside the tailgate, two of the soldiers were trying to force him in to the van. Finally frustrated by the situation, one of the Council solders slammed the stock of his rifle into the back of the young mans head. The young man fell limp and was shoved into the rear of the van with the rest of the group followed by three commandos.
The vans screamed down the streets of Talos. After a few minutes of driving, Jo heard the metallic clank as vans drove onto a metal ramp. Then they quickly came to a stop. The rear windows were painted over and the cargo area was sealed off from the cab except for a small window covered by a metal grate. Jo couldnt see where they had gone, but surmised they were headed to Striga Island, she figured that they had driven onto a ferry in Talos. Outside Jo heard the muffled sounds of slamming doors and muted footsteps. Some of the footsteps got closer.
The cargo doors swung open and light flooded into the dark cabin. Silhouetted against the bright light was a council soldier. The soldier gestured off to his left and three more commandos stepped into view, rifles at the ready. The three commandos in the van disembarked and were replaced by the three new ones.
You are now prisoners of the Council. You will be released when Paragon City meets our demands and releases Council soldiers in their custody. Until that time you will be held at our facility. If you cooperate you will not be harmed. If you resist us in any way, punishment will be swift and severe. That is your only warning. The soldier at the cargo door remarked. His tone was stern but not hostile. Most of the other hostages had regained their composure. But the one young man that the commandos had to knock out had regained consciousness and was shaking uncontrollably. His friends had decided to distance them selves from him as much as possible.
The group sat in total silence. After a long while, the frightened young man started muttering to himself. Jo couldnt make out his words; she was becoming increasingly concerned about him. He was terrified and not in control of his actions. His survival instinct was overwhelming him. She new that the only thing on his mind was escaping. That posed a problem, he could get himself or someone else killed.
Jo was startled when one of the solders shouted; SHUT UP! he had leaned down to shout right in the young mans face.
For a moment the young man was quiet again. But it didnt last long. Soon he was muttering again. Jo moved closer to him and hooked her arm in his. She could finally hear what he was saying. He was repeating the Hail May over and over again in Latin. His shaking subsided but only slightly.
Jo tried to calm him down. Shhh, its going to be ok. You need to calm down. They wont hurt us if Jo was cut short by a back hand from one of the commandos.
Jo tasted the blood in her mouth. Before she could spit on the man that struck her, her mouth was covered with duct tape and her hands bound with flex cuffs behind her back. Later on, when the same commando tried to knock out the frightened young man again with the butt of his rifle, Jo kicked the back of the soldiers right knee sending him to the ground. After that she spent the rest of the trip with her legs bound as well.
The trip was long. The group spent an unbearable amount of time in the hot cramped space before they finally arrived at their destination. The ferry had docked somewhere and the vans pulled off and drove the rest of the way.
When the doors opened again the group of captives was greeted by a night sky that was overshadowed by powerful flood lights shining down on the convoy. In front of Jo was a massive wall lined with soldiers and gun turrets. As the group was guided at gunpoint into a near by bunker, Jo looked off to her right to see a volcano, or more accurately, the Councils volcano. At least I know where I am , she thought.
Back in Steel Canyon, Pete had returned to ChemShield. He had removed his armor and had been waiting to for about a half hour before he decided to try and call Joanna. No answer on her cell or at her home. Wilson waited another 30 minutes before trying again, still nothing. If Paragon were any other town, he might not have been worried. But in a city where literally every citizen who had lived there for any length of time was touched by some criminal activity, the chances were good that the dice had finally rolled Jos number.
Wilson went to the monitoring station and switched on the tracker in Joannas cell phone. It wasnt giving a signal, that meant either she (the phone) was out of range, the phone was damaged, or the signal was being blocked. Wilson checked the police wire for anything that might look significant. One immediately jumped out at him.
Paragon City Policy Department Report
Incident Location: Paragon City Police Precinct, Talos Island
Incident date: XX/XX/XX
Incident time: XX:XX
Description: Attack on Paragon City Police Station believed perpetrated by Council. At approx XX:XXpm a team of commandos stormed the PPD station on Talos
After the initial attack the perpetrators split into two teams, with the second heading to the holding cells on the second floor
The commandos freed a mid-level Council officer named Leonard Buchner, being held in the Talos jail while awaiting transfer
destroyed the second floor jail to cover their escape. Shortly after the attack the Paragon City government received demands to release several ranking Council officers being held in exchange for 7 hostages being held by the Council
Wilson stopped there. He quickly accessed the PPDs traffic camera feed that Tobias had hacked a number of months ago. On the video feed he saw Jo being captured by the Council commandos. Pete didnt waste any time and suited up.
Pete made his way with all possible haste toward Striga Island. He knew that the Council could take the hostages to any one of their hidey holes hidden around the city. But after going to all the trouble, they probably didnt want to risk getting caught with their pants down when Longbow or the Police figured out where they were. So the Council probably took their prisoners to as secure a location as possible. There was no spot more heavily defended than their base on Striga.
On Striga, Joanna was trying to get her flex cuffs off from around her wrists. The guards had thrown her in a cell that was nothing more than a rectangular concrete room with a heavy steel door. No bed, no sink, no toilet. The guards had cut the restraints around her ankles so she could walk, and removed the tape from her mouth. But they had neglected (either intentionally or not) to remove the cuffs from around her wrists. She was standing at the door franticly trying to use the edge of the tiny window in the door to slice off them off. Her fingers had started to turn purple, almost matching the color of her finger nail polish. Finally, the cuffs broke and the sensation started to return to her hands.
Oh thank God. She sighed in relief.
Her guard pounded on the door. NO TALKING! he shouted.
Jo sat on the floor and did two things. First she regretted wearing shorts, since the concrete floor was unbearably cold. But how could you have known this would happen though , she consoled her self. Second she started to look around the room for anything that might help her get out. Above the door was a close circuit camera that was recessed into the wall. In the far corner of the room there was a mall grate, about 3 by 6 inches. For some reason the Council had decided that the top half of the room should be painted green. The door was a single piece of heavy steel that opened outward, so the hinges were on the outside. It was a simple but effective design. Unless you had superpowers you werent getting out. Even then, getting out was pretty unlikely without help.
Across the hall, Jo heard the doors to one of the cells creaking open. She stood up to pear through the tiny view slot. Across from her cell she saw the frightened young man that she had tried to console in the van. He was in the corner of his cell, as a soldier entered holding what looked like food and a blanket. When the Council guard knelt to set down the items the young man sprang up from the floor and tackled the guard from behind. He then slammed the guards head into the floor and then tried to sprint away. But on the other side of the opened door another guard stepped out and immediately cracked the young man across the face with his baton. The young man fell to his knees spitting out blood at what looked like a few teeth. The guard hit him across the face again. A dark black and purple bruise appeared on the young mans face. The guard had broken his cheek bone and nose. His left eye was swollen shut.
The guards dragged the young man and his unconscious victim away. Oh Pete, Joanna thought, I hope you get here soon.
Leave him alone! Joanna shouted through the small portal in the door. Let him go damnit!
The guard began pounding his fist on the door and shouting for Jo to be quiet. But she continued yelling for the Council to bring him back. The others began shouting as well.
After a few moments of ear shattering screaming, the door to her cell opened. A guard with a riot shield and a tazer stormed in, followed by a second with flex cuffs. Jo had her hands restrained behind her back. She was dragged out of her sell and lined up with the other prisoners. In front of them was the badly beaten young man that had tried to escape just a few minutes before. But now he was on his knees, his entire face swollen and black. Holding him by the collar was another guard. In the guards other hand was a pistol.
You were warned that if you attempted to resist, there would be consequences. The guard explained. Maybe the rest of you will be smarter.
The guard raised his weapon to the back of the young mans head. A cold chill ran down Jos spine. The guard pulled back the hammer on his weapon. Jo couldnt allow them to kill that man. With a sudden strike, Jo stepped back and drover her elbow into the guard behind her. Her elbow struck just underneath his rib cage. When the guard doubled over she grabbed his arm and flipped him over her shoulder, at the same time relinquishing him of his weapon. Just as she stood up she heard a gun shoot and she froze, dropping the pistol.
Jo was horrified to see that the guard had shot the young man in the back of the head as she struggled with her guard. She stood there, watching the blood pool under the unfortunate hostage. The guard that she had disarmed collected himself. All around her the other hostages were sobbing in horror and fear.
The next thing Joanna heard was a pistol hammer being cocked and a guard say, her next.
In what could only be called a minor miracle, an arc of energy rained down from the catwalk and knocked out all of the guard covering the prisoners. Jo looked up, she saw Pete standing on the catwalk in the black Lazarus armor. Pete came down and helped all of the frightened prisoners out of their restraints.
Pete looked over at the dead hostage lying on the floor and then looked at Joanna. He wanted to say something, but he didnt want to give anything away to the other hostages.
Is everyone alright? Is anyone injured? Pete asked.
The frightened survivors shook their heads.
Alright then, Im Atomantium, Im here to get you out. Everyone follow me and stay quiet.
Pete looked over at Joanna, can you make sure everyone stays together? He asked.
Joanna nodded.
Okay, everyone flow me. There is a Longbow chopper flying in to pick us up on the beach. So we are going to make our way to the south end of the base.
Pete started to lead the group out of the base. They made their way through the winding maze of corridors. Keeping seven people out of sight was not an easy task, especially when one was nearly seven feet tall and mate black. Getting out would be a lot tougher than getting in. To get in Wilson could rely on his optical camo to slip though the guards unnoticed. But now he had to lead 6 people out from nearly the center of a base that was crawling with guys that would make sure he didnt accomplish his task.
Pete turned to look at Joanna. For the first time he noticed the bruise on her face and the cuts on her forearms. He reached up to brush Jos hair from her face but hesitated when he noticed the other hostages watching. Before he could give the all clear, an ear bursting alarm began to sound. Their secret was out.
With no more need for stealth Wilson blasted the ceiling of the corridor and collapsed the passage behind them. The groups took off down the last few dozen yards of the base before the exit. Patrols were closing in on them rapidly. Wilson managed to stop the few Council soldiers that they encountered. Fortunately it was a large base and they were in a seldom used portion of it. But the attacks were likely drawing more Council to this part of the base.
As they approached the last room, Wilson announced, This is it everyone, the next door leads out to the beach. But to get there they had to cross one more large room and a short breeze way. The room they had to cross had 4 entrances, with the door leading out straight ahead of them.
Pete crossed the threshold first. The room was clear. He signaled for the group to head past him and sprint to the door and the far end. Wilson would follow. Behind them Joanna could hear the snarling of approaching Nightwolves and the lumbering walk of Warcrys and Mechs. The others didnt seem to notice yet as she led the group toward safety.
Just as Joanna and the others made it to the breeze way, she heard a blast go off. She turned to see Wilson slam into a wall. The other hostages began to panic. But Jo did her best to try and keep them calm. Wilson unloaded on the ceiling to cover the groups exit. But the Nightwolves were already in the doorway in front of him and clearing the debris.
Wilson turned and shouted, I need you to guide these people out! Delta should be out there along with an H-60 to airlift everyone off the island!
Wait, what are you going to do? Jo shouted back knowing full well what the answer was.
Im going to hold off these guards while you escape. That was the last thing Wilson said. He pushed Jo passed the threshold into the breezeway and closed the door.
Joanna took in a deep breath and turned to the group of hostages waiting for her guidance. She rattled off her instructions quickly, her voice and her body language was confident and resolute which seemed to infect the frightened escapees.
Okay here is the deal. Once we exit that door, everyone needs to stay close and hug the cliff to stay out of sight of any Council lookouts. Jo instructed.
The group exited the base and did just as they were instructed. They were all lined up against the sheer cliff, with Jo scanning the horizon for the helicopter. For a moment her heart sank when it wasnt immediately visible.
Jo felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned to see Delta standing next to her. She could barely make out his outline. The black stealth suit he wore made him extremely difficult to see in the dark even though he was only a foot away.
Is this everyone? He asked.
Yes it is. Before Jo could continue, Delta pulled out a small infrared light from his H harness and pointed it out toward the water. About 60 second later the beach erupted in a hail of swirling sand and high winds. The Black Hawk came down about 12 inches off the sand, right in front of the escapees. Everyone instinctually ducked their heads as Delta helped them in.
Joanna was the last one to get on, but before climbing in she hesitated.
She looked over at Delta. Hes still inside. He stayed behind to cover our escape. She said.
Ill come back for him. Right now you need to get in and get to safety. Delta replied. The Longbow crew chief broke in and started to order Delta and Jo to wrap up the conversation and get on the helicopter. The pilot was getting antsy about being detected.
If we wait it might be too late. I need to help him. With that she took off back to the base.
Delta cursed and ordered the Longbow pilot to lift off. They werent out of the woods yet and if they had to land before they made it safely back to Paragon, the hostages might still need protection. He would have to come back for Jo and Atomantium once he finished the rescue.
Back inside the base, Jo saw the badly scared rock walls of the underground bunker. At least Pete gave them a hell of a fight, she thought. But she also knew that Pete had likely been overwhelmed.
Jo crept through the base searching for Pete with no clue where to look. For a short time she was able to follow the signs of struggle that had been left on the rock walls. But that quickly dried up, likely because the Council had been successful in subduing Wilson.
Finally, Jo came to a room that she was curiously drawn to. In it there was only one Nebula guard and he was occupied with entering data on a terminal. Jo snuck in behind him. In one clean move she kicked in his knee cap from behind forcing him off of his feet. As he went down she wrapped her arm around his throat with her wrist over his corroded artery. In a few seconds he passed out. Jo quickly gagged him and used the flex cuffs on his belt to restrain him.
The terminal he was entering data on was also regulating some kind of energy field. The field was created as energy was being focused through four prisms aligned so that the field formed a pyramidal shape. Inside the transparent energy pyramid was suspended a black and purple ball, that, according to the console, was an unbound Warshade. It was being held prisoner.
Jo was contemplating whether or not to help it when it began to speak.
Please allow me to help you rescue your friend. The disembodied ball of energy pulsed as it spoke.
Wait, what? How do you know about that? Joanna asked feeling odd speaking to something that didnt have a physical form.
Time is short and I fear that your friend does not have much time. He is not far from here but he is heavily guarded. I have heard the guards mention the captured hero who helped a group of prisoners escape. I sensed your presence when you arrived. I am aware of your actions and your bravery. I have long been without a host and I believe that you are worthy. The Warshade explained. Jo was surprised to find that the alien spoke with a female British accent. It was delightfully lyrical.
Jo was skeptical buy desperate. She had heard of the Kheldians, the whole idea of bonding with another sentient life form didnt sit well with her. Joanna enjoyed only having one voice in her head.
Joanna, I promise that you will not be lost in the bonding.
Jo didnt answer. She read through the information that the unconscious guard had left of the screen. The information read like a horror story. According to the record the Council had captured the Warshades host, a hero named Black Star, 3 years ago. They had spent several months attempting to remove the Kheldian. They were eventually successful, but the procedure drove the original host insane before she eventually committed suicide. The means by which she did so are too gruesome to be recounted here.
My God. Jo finally gasped. Jo had heard stories about the Council. How vicious they could be. Some of it just seemed impossible. But seeing the Councils own records and being a party to their brutality first hand, made their viciousness painfully real.
I could not protect her. What the Council did to her was unspeakable. But your friend can still be saved. The Warshade responded, sensing Joannas thoughts.
The experiences of the last 10 hours had left Jo shaken. She had always been close to the dangers in Paragon, but Pete had always been there providing a wall between her and anything that might happen. Like with Pete, Jo felt comfortable with the unbound Warshade. It was almost like they had known each other.
Alright, lets get Pete out of here. Jo decided to take the risk. There was no longer any question in her mind if this was the right thing to do.
The energy field went down. Freed from its confinement, the Warshade floated only a few inches from Joanna.
Are you certain this is your wish? The alien asked one final time.
Yes. The alien entered Joannas body through her eyes and in a few seconds where there had been two life forms, there was now one.
Jo looked down at her hands expecting to see a black and purple gas. But she looked to be intact. Thats a relief, she thought.
Behind her, the Nebula guard had been cutting himself out of his restraints in a sharp rock. While Jo was distracted he tried to assail her from behind. Jo heard the guard moving and turned, hitting him with a point blank blast of Kheldian energy. He was staggered but not down. Jo fired a second blast from her eyes. The second shot knocked out the guard. Neat, she muttered. With the guard out and with her shiny new powers apparently working, Jo resumed her search for Pete.
So far the bonding seemed to be working pretty well. The alien gave Jo all the knowledge she needed to use her powers. She didnt have a disembodied voice in her head fighting for her consciousness. Most importantly she wasnt on the sideline any more.
Jo made her way to where the Council was holding Pete. The Council had him suspended in air, hanging by his arms. He was restrained at the wrists, but it wasnt a physical restraint. Rather it was a blue and purple ball of energy that covered Wilsons gauntlets.
The Kheldian wasnt kidding when it told Jo that Wilson was heavily guarded. All around the chamber were Nightwolves, Nebula guards, Mk I Warcrys, and a Galaxy Archon who was overseeing the torture. Fortunately, they hadnt gotten around to removing Wilsons armor.
The biggest immediate threat to Jo was the Galaxy. But he was obscured by the other guards. Jo waited until she could get a clear shot at him. She morphed into her Dark Nova and floated until she saw her opportunity. She rippled fired two blasts and the Galaxy was down. Before the guards noticed what had happened, Jo destroyed the generator that was powering Wilsons restraints and he fell to the ground. By the time the Guards traced the source of the blast, Jo had morphed again into a Dark Dwarf.
The 4 Nightwolves charged the intruder and the mechs and Nebula guards opened fire. Jo met her attackers head on. The Nightwolves tried to surround Jo, but she shook the ground with a powerful stomp. The Nightwolves were knocked of balance and she attacked. She traded blows with the feral animals while taking fire from the other guards. But it wasnt long before she managed to subdue the wolves and turn her attention to the other guards.
Jo caught the shooters off guard when she teleported from across the room to right in the middle of their ranks. From behind the group she once again shook the ground and knocked the Nebula guards off balance. The unaffected Warcry quickly reacquired Jo as a target. But rather than fire it staggered. Jo turned and drove her massive clawed fist through the machine. When the mech collapsed she saw Pete standing behind it with a piece of the machine in his hand.
The Nebula guards opened fire again. Jo morphed back into her nova form and ripple fired two explosive energy blasts. The last of the guards were down and Jo morphed back into her human form.
Jo? Pete was stunned to see Jo. The fact that she had just turned into a giant alien lobster hadnt sunk in yet. He was surprised that she was still on the base. His first instinct was to be upset that she hadnt evacuated, but he was grateful it had been her to help him. At that moment the revelation finally sunk in.
Joanna nodded in affirmation.
Soo you have superpowers now? Pete asked.
Looks like. Joanna answered.
Well then how about we get out of here so you can tell me about it. Pete continued.
I thought youd never ask. Jo morphed back into her Dwarf form and led the way back out.
The two fought their way out of the base. Jo led the charge by drawing fire from the patrols they encountered while Pete laid down fire. Before long the two were on the beach on the east side of the island. With the sun just starting to peek over the island and the waves lapping at the sand, it would have been a romantic setting if gun-toting psychos werent trying to kills us , Jo thought.
Jo and Pete took a moment to catch their breath.
With all the commotion back there I forgot to say thanks for the rescue. Pete commented.
Im just glad I could be the one doing the rescuing for a change. Jo morphed again into her dark nova. Lets get off this island.
At ChemShield, another roll reversal was taking place. Jo was sitting on the examination table holding a cold compress to her bruised jaw. Pete was sitting on the doctors stool in front of her holding her free hand and cleaning the numerous cuts on her forearm.
So you bonded with a Warshade to save me.
Thats right Pete. I have to say, the superhero thing isnt easy. Jo answered.
Does that mean your going to give it up? Pete didnt know which response he would have rather heard. But he was happy with the one he got.
No, no I dont think I am. I have an opportunity to help people; I dont think I could look at my self in the mirror if I ignored that. Besides, the Council is a serious presence in this city. They need to be brought down.
Jo knew Pete couldnt argue with that. After all that was basically his sentiment for putting on the armor and risking his own life day in and day out. But regardless of what Pete thought, Jo felt compelled to join the fight. Shed seen what the evil in Paragon City is capable of. The city needed all the good people it could get.
Pete nodded his head. Jo could tell by his expression that he was formulating a question. Pete always over thought everything. When he was in thought he would nod his head and push out his lower lip.
Jo, I gotta ask, are you ok with having another personality rattling around in your head? Not that I dont think youve got a strong personality or anything like that, its just that its possible that Pete was getting into one of his famous endless babbling loops. Jo decided to break in as she often did.
Its not exactly like having another personality in my head Pete. Its more like a second conscious or enhanced intuition. Its a little voice that tells me how use my powers. But to be honest, I dont know what the full implications are of being bonded to another life form.
Pete stopped looking Jo in the eye once he heard that. He had gone back to bandaging her forearms. He was concerned. But Jo knew the only way she could ease his mind was through her actions. She would have to prove that the alien that inhabited her body wasnt a threat.
Not looking up, Pete asked, Have you decided on a name?
As a matter of fact I have.
Jo paused for a moment.
Well dont keep me waiting! Pete exclaimed.
Black Star. I wanted to pay tribute to a woman that was taken to early.
Does this mean youll be joining me on my patrols?
The board walk on Talos Island was usually a pretty fun place, one of the few in Paragon City. That is, when its not being overrun by gangs or a target for hostage seeking paramilitary groups. But today none of Paragons dangers were present and it was a pretty nice day to boot. A little bit of a breeze was blowing and there was not a single cloud in the sky.
On this day, Joanna Spencer was strolling the boardwalk on one of her very rare and thus very precious days off. When the sun started to go down, Jo decided to head back home. Her walk to the tram took her past the Paragon Police Department precinct office in Talos. As she approached she noted that the street was quiet. In fact the only activity on the street was a trio of vans parked on the corner opposite the precinct. Jo could have just as easily walked around the other side of the Talos hill and avoided the suspicious vehicles. But, as always, her curiosity got the better of her and she started toward the mystery vehicles.
The closer she Jo got to the vans and the police station the more things seemed out of place. She occasionally heard fait bursts come from the station house. Jo stood across the street from the parked vans. Jo thought she could barely make out silhouettes in the drivers seat through the heavily tinted glass, but she couldnt tell.
Behind her she heard a group of very loud college age young people approaching. She had seen them on the board walk, one of they guys had tried to lay his best rap on her. I wonder if he still would have taken his shot if he knew I was really 10 years older than I look? She wondered at the time. But now Jo figured they were heading back home or to campus to continue the party. As the group walked past Jo was shaken from her curious observations and decided she would continue on her way home as well since she was due to met up with Peter in a few hours for dinner after his patrol.
However, no sooner had she turned her back to the police station than an explosion ripped through the second floor. Fire belched out of the second story windows and pieces of debris and glass were ejected from the building. Instinctively Jo dropped to the ground, face down and covered up to protect her self from the hail of shrapnel. The group of college kids was not so wise and instead turned to see the explosion. A few of them were hit in the face by flying pieces of glass.
Her ears still ringing Jo went to pull her self up to help the injured college kids. But she and the others were quickly confronted by three men carrying rifles and shouting. Jo instantly recognized the uniforms worn by the shrouded men. They were Council commandos.
When it became clear that Jo and the others couldnt understand what the soldiers were saying they fired several rounds at he ground and gestured back toward the vans. One of the soldiers grabbed Joanna by the arm and physically dragged her to the van that was last in line. No sooner was she tossed inside than the group of partiers was thrown in the van with her. One of the guys in the group was petrified. He simply couldnt move from sheer terror. Standing outside the tailgate, two of the soldiers were trying to force him in to the van. Finally frustrated by the situation, one of the Council solders slammed the stock of his rifle into the back of the young mans head. The young man fell limp and was shoved into the rear of the van with the rest of the group followed by three commandos.
The vans screamed down the streets of Talos. After a few minutes of driving, Jo heard the metallic clank as vans drove onto a metal ramp. Then they quickly came to a stop. The rear windows were painted over and the cargo area was sealed off from the cab except for a small window covered by a metal grate. Jo couldnt see where they had gone, but surmised they were headed to Striga Island, she figured that they had driven onto a ferry in Talos. Outside Jo heard the muffled sounds of slamming doors and muted footsteps. Some of the footsteps got closer.
The cargo doors swung open and light flooded into the dark cabin. Silhouetted against the bright light was a council soldier. The soldier gestured off to his left and three more commandos stepped into view, rifles at the ready. The three commandos in the van disembarked and were replaced by the three new ones.
You are now prisoners of the Council. You will be released when Paragon City meets our demands and releases Council soldiers in their custody. Until that time you will be held at our facility. If you cooperate you will not be harmed. If you resist us in any way, punishment will be swift and severe. That is your only warning. The soldier at the cargo door remarked. His tone was stern but not hostile. Most of the other hostages had regained their composure. But the one young man that the commandos had to knock out had regained consciousness and was shaking uncontrollably. His friends had decided to distance them selves from him as much as possible.
The group sat in total silence. After a long while, the frightened young man started muttering to himself. Jo couldnt make out his words; she was becoming increasingly concerned about him. He was terrified and not in control of his actions. His survival instinct was overwhelming him. She new that the only thing on his mind was escaping. That posed a problem, he could get himself or someone else killed.
Jo was startled when one of the solders shouted; SHUT UP! he had leaned down to shout right in the young mans face.
For a moment the young man was quiet again. But it didnt last long. Soon he was muttering again. Jo moved closer to him and hooked her arm in his. She could finally hear what he was saying. He was repeating the Hail May over and over again in Latin. His shaking subsided but only slightly.
Jo tried to calm him down. Shhh, its going to be ok. You need to calm down. They wont hurt us if Jo was cut short by a back hand from one of the commandos.
Jo tasted the blood in her mouth. Before she could spit on the man that struck her, her mouth was covered with duct tape and her hands bound with flex cuffs behind her back. Later on, when the same commando tried to knock out the frightened young man again with the butt of his rifle, Jo kicked the back of the soldiers right knee sending him to the ground. After that she spent the rest of the trip with her legs bound as well.
The trip was long. The group spent an unbearable amount of time in the hot cramped space before they finally arrived at their destination. The ferry had docked somewhere and the vans pulled off and drove the rest of the way.
When the doors opened again the group of captives was greeted by a night sky that was overshadowed by powerful flood lights shining down on the convoy. In front of Jo was a massive wall lined with soldiers and gun turrets. As the group was guided at gunpoint into a near by bunker, Jo looked off to her right to see a volcano, or more accurately, the Councils volcano. At least I know where I am , she thought.
Back in Steel Canyon, Pete had returned to ChemShield. He had removed his armor and had been waiting to for about a half hour before he decided to try and call Joanna. No answer on her cell or at her home. Wilson waited another 30 minutes before trying again, still nothing. If Paragon were any other town, he might not have been worried. But in a city where literally every citizen who had lived there for any length of time was touched by some criminal activity, the chances were good that the dice had finally rolled Jos number.
Wilson went to the monitoring station and switched on the tracker in Joannas cell phone. It wasnt giving a signal, that meant either she (the phone) was out of range, the phone was damaged, or the signal was being blocked. Wilson checked the police wire for anything that might look significant. One immediately jumped out at him.
Paragon City Policy Department Report
Incident Location: Paragon City Police Precinct, Talos Island
Incident date: XX/XX/XX
Incident time: XX:XX
Description: Attack on Paragon City Police Station believed perpetrated by Council. At approx XX:XXpm a team of commandos stormed the PPD station on Talos
After the initial attack the perpetrators split into two teams, with the second heading to the holding cells on the second floor
The commandos freed a mid-level Council officer named Leonard Buchner, being held in the Talos jail while awaiting transfer
destroyed the second floor jail to cover their escape. Shortly after the attack the Paragon City government received demands to release several ranking Council officers being held in exchange for 7 hostages being held by the Council
Wilson stopped there. He quickly accessed the PPDs traffic camera feed that Tobias had hacked a number of months ago. On the video feed he saw Jo being captured by the Council commandos. Pete didnt waste any time and suited up.
Pete made his way with all possible haste toward Striga Island. He knew that the Council could take the hostages to any one of their hidey holes hidden around the city. But after going to all the trouble, they probably didnt want to risk getting caught with their pants down when Longbow or the Police figured out where they were. So the Council probably took their prisoners to as secure a location as possible. There was no spot more heavily defended than their base on Striga.
On Striga, Joanna was trying to get her flex cuffs off from around her wrists. The guards had thrown her in a cell that was nothing more than a rectangular concrete room with a heavy steel door. No bed, no sink, no toilet. The guards had cut the restraints around her ankles so she could walk, and removed the tape from her mouth. But they had neglected (either intentionally or not) to remove the cuffs from around her wrists. She was standing at the door franticly trying to use the edge of the tiny window in the door to slice off them off. Her fingers had started to turn purple, almost matching the color of her finger nail polish. Finally, the cuffs broke and the sensation started to return to her hands.
Oh thank God. She sighed in relief.
Her guard pounded on the door. NO TALKING! he shouted.
Jo sat on the floor and did two things. First she regretted wearing shorts, since the concrete floor was unbearably cold. But how could you have known this would happen though , she consoled her self. Second she started to look around the room for anything that might help her get out. Above the door was a close circuit camera that was recessed into the wall. In the far corner of the room there was a mall grate, about 3 by 6 inches. For some reason the Council had decided that the top half of the room should be painted green. The door was a single piece of heavy steel that opened outward, so the hinges were on the outside. It was a simple but effective design. Unless you had superpowers you werent getting out. Even then, getting out was pretty unlikely without help.
Across the hall, Jo heard the doors to one of the cells creaking open. She stood up to pear through the tiny view slot. Across from her cell she saw the frightened young man that she had tried to console in the van. He was in the corner of his cell, as a soldier entered holding what looked like food and a blanket. When the Council guard knelt to set down the items the young man sprang up from the floor and tackled the guard from behind. He then slammed the guards head into the floor and then tried to sprint away. But on the other side of the opened door another guard stepped out and immediately cracked the young man across the face with his baton. The young man fell to his knees spitting out blood at what looked like a few teeth. The guard hit him across the face again. A dark black and purple bruise appeared on the young mans face. The guard had broken his cheek bone and nose. His left eye was swollen shut.
The guards dragged the young man and his unconscious victim away. Oh Pete, Joanna thought, I hope you get here soon.
Leave him alone! Joanna shouted through the small portal in the door. Let him go damnit!
The guard began pounding his fist on the door and shouting for Jo to be quiet. But she continued yelling for the Council to bring him back. The others began shouting as well.
After a few moments of ear shattering screaming, the door to her cell opened. A guard with a riot shield and a tazer stormed in, followed by a second with flex cuffs. Jo had her hands restrained behind her back. She was dragged out of her sell and lined up with the other prisoners. In front of them was the badly beaten young man that had tried to escape just a few minutes before. But now he was on his knees, his entire face swollen and black. Holding him by the collar was another guard. In the guards other hand was a pistol.
You were warned that if you attempted to resist, there would be consequences. The guard explained. Maybe the rest of you will be smarter.
The guard raised his weapon to the back of the young mans head. A cold chill ran down Jos spine. The guard pulled back the hammer on his weapon. Jo couldnt allow them to kill that man. With a sudden strike, Jo stepped back and drover her elbow into the guard behind her. Her elbow struck just underneath his rib cage. When the guard doubled over she grabbed his arm and flipped him over her shoulder, at the same time relinquishing him of his weapon. Just as she stood up she heard a gun shoot and she froze, dropping the pistol.
Jo was horrified to see that the guard had shot the young man in the back of the head as she struggled with her guard. She stood there, watching the blood pool under the unfortunate hostage. The guard that she had disarmed collected himself. All around her the other hostages were sobbing in horror and fear.
The next thing Joanna heard was a pistol hammer being cocked and a guard say, her next.
In what could only be called a minor miracle, an arc of energy rained down from the catwalk and knocked out all of the guard covering the prisoners. Jo looked up, she saw Pete standing on the catwalk in the black Lazarus armor. Pete came down and helped all of the frightened prisoners out of their restraints.
Pete looked over at the dead hostage lying on the floor and then looked at Joanna. He wanted to say something, but he didnt want to give anything away to the other hostages.
Is everyone alright? Is anyone injured? Pete asked.
The frightened survivors shook their heads.
Alright then, Im Atomantium, Im here to get you out. Everyone follow me and stay quiet.
Pete looked over at Joanna, can you make sure everyone stays together? He asked.
Joanna nodded.
Okay, everyone flow me. There is a Longbow chopper flying in to pick us up on the beach. So we are going to make our way to the south end of the base.
Pete started to lead the group out of the base. They made their way through the winding maze of corridors. Keeping seven people out of sight was not an easy task, especially when one was nearly seven feet tall and mate black. Getting out would be a lot tougher than getting in. To get in Wilson could rely on his optical camo to slip though the guards unnoticed. But now he had to lead 6 people out from nearly the center of a base that was crawling with guys that would make sure he didnt accomplish his task.
Pete turned to look at Joanna. For the first time he noticed the bruise on her face and the cuts on her forearms. He reached up to brush Jos hair from her face but hesitated when he noticed the other hostages watching. Before he could give the all clear, an ear bursting alarm began to sound. Their secret was out.
With no more need for stealth Wilson blasted the ceiling of the corridor and collapsed the passage behind them. The groups took off down the last few dozen yards of the base before the exit. Patrols were closing in on them rapidly. Wilson managed to stop the few Council soldiers that they encountered. Fortunately it was a large base and they were in a seldom used portion of it. But the attacks were likely drawing more Council to this part of the base.
As they approached the last room, Wilson announced, This is it everyone, the next door leads out to the beach. But to get there they had to cross one more large room and a short breeze way. The room they had to cross had 4 entrances, with the door leading out straight ahead of them.
Pete crossed the threshold first. The room was clear. He signaled for the group to head past him and sprint to the door and the far end. Wilson would follow. Behind them Joanna could hear the snarling of approaching Nightwolves and the lumbering walk of Warcrys and Mechs. The others didnt seem to notice yet as she led the group toward safety.
Just as Joanna and the others made it to the breeze way, she heard a blast go off. She turned to see Wilson slam into a wall. The other hostages began to panic. But Jo did her best to try and keep them calm. Wilson unloaded on the ceiling to cover the groups exit. But the Nightwolves were already in the doorway in front of him and clearing the debris.
Wilson turned and shouted, I need you to guide these people out! Delta should be out there along with an H-60 to airlift everyone off the island!
Wait, what are you going to do? Jo shouted back knowing full well what the answer was.
Im going to hold off these guards while you escape. That was the last thing Wilson said. He pushed Jo passed the threshold into the breezeway and closed the door.
Joanna took in a deep breath and turned to the group of hostages waiting for her guidance. She rattled off her instructions quickly, her voice and her body language was confident and resolute which seemed to infect the frightened escapees.
Okay here is the deal. Once we exit that door, everyone needs to stay close and hug the cliff to stay out of sight of any Council lookouts. Jo instructed.
The group exited the base and did just as they were instructed. They were all lined up against the sheer cliff, with Jo scanning the horizon for the helicopter. For a moment her heart sank when it wasnt immediately visible.
Jo felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned to see Delta standing next to her. She could barely make out his outline. The black stealth suit he wore made him extremely difficult to see in the dark even though he was only a foot away.
Is this everyone? He asked.
Yes it is. Before Jo could continue, Delta pulled out a small infrared light from his H harness and pointed it out toward the water. About 60 second later the beach erupted in a hail of swirling sand and high winds. The Black Hawk came down about 12 inches off the sand, right in front of the escapees. Everyone instinctually ducked their heads as Delta helped them in.
Joanna was the last one to get on, but before climbing in she hesitated.
She looked over at Delta. Hes still inside. He stayed behind to cover our escape. She said.
Ill come back for him. Right now you need to get in and get to safety. Delta replied. The Longbow crew chief broke in and started to order Delta and Jo to wrap up the conversation and get on the helicopter. The pilot was getting antsy about being detected.
If we wait it might be too late. I need to help him. With that she took off back to the base.
Delta cursed and ordered the Longbow pilot to lift off. They werent out of the woods yet and if they had to land before they made it safely back to Paragon, the hostages might still need protection. He would have to come back for Jo and Atomantium once he finished the rescue.
Back inside the base, Jo saw the badly scared rock walls of the underground bunker. At least Pete gave them a hell of a fight, she thought. But she also knew that Pete had likely been overwhelmed.
Jo crept through the base searching for Pete with no clue where to look. For a short time she was able to follow the signs of struggle that had been left on the rock walls. But that quickly dried up, likely because the Council had been successful in subduing Wilson.
Finally, Jo came to a room that she was curiously drawn to. In it there was only one Nebula guard and he was occupied with entering data on a terminal. Jo snuck in behind him. In one clean move she kicked in his knee cap from behind forcing him off of his feet. As he went down she wrapped her arm around his throat with her wrist over his corroded artery. In a few seconds he passed out. Jo quickly gagged him and used the flex cuffs on his belt to restrain him.
The terminal he was entering data on was also regulating some kind of energy field. The field was created as energy was being focused through four prisms aligned so that the field formed a pyramidal shape. Inside the transparent energy pyramid was suspended a black and purple ball, that, according to the console, was an unbound Warshade. It was being held prisoner.
Jo was contemplating whether or not to help it when it began to speak.
Please allow me to help you rescue your friend. The disembodied ball of energy pulsed as it spoke.
Wait, what? How do you know about that? Joanna asked feeling odd speaking to something that didnt have a physical form.
Time is short and I fear that your friend does not have much time. He is not far from here but he is heavily guarded. I have heard the guards mention the captured hero who helped a group of prisoners escape. I sensed your presence when you arrived. I am aware of your actions and your bravery. I have long been without a host and I believe that you are worthy. The Warshade explained. Jo was surprised to find that the alien spoke with a female British accent. It was delightfully lyrical.
Jo was skeptical buy desperate. She had heard of the Kheldians, the whole idea of bonding with another sentient life form didnt sit well with her. Joanna enjoyed only having one voice in her head.
Joanna, I promise that you will not be lost in the bonding.
Jo didnt answer. She read through the information that the unconscious guard had left of the screen. The information read like a horror story. According to the record the Council had captured the Warshades host, a hero named Black Star, 3 years ago. They had spent several months attempting to remove the Kheldian. They were eventually successful, but the procedure drove the original host insane before she eventually committed suicide. The means by which she did so are too gruesome to be recounted here.
My God. Jo finally gasped. Jo had heard stories about the Council. How vicious they could be. Some of it just seemed impossible. But seeing the Councils own records and being a party to their brutality first hand, made their viciousness painfully real.
I could not protect her. What the Council did to her was unspeakable. But your friend can still be saved. The Warshade responded, sensing Joannas thoughts.
The experiences of the last 10 hours had left Jo shaken. She had always been close to the dangers in Paragon, but Pete had always been there providing a wall between her and anything that might happen. Like with Pete, Jo felt comfortable with the unbound Warshade. It was almost like they had known each other.
Alright, lets get Pete out of here. Jo decided to take the risk. There was no longer any question in her mind if this was the right thing to do.
The energy field went down. Freed from its confinement, the Warshade floated only a few inches from Joanna.
Are you certain this is your wish? The alien asked one final time.
Yes. The alien entered Joannas body through her eyes and in a few seconds where there had been two life forms, there was now one.
Jo looked down at her hands expecting to see a black and purple gas. But she looked to be intact. Thats a relief, she thought.
Behind her, the Nebula guard had been cutting himself out of his restraints in a sharp rock. While Jo was distracted he tried to assail her from behind. Jo heard the guard moving and turned, hitting him with a point blank blast of Kheldian energy. He was staggered but not down. Jo fired a second blast from her eyes. The second shot knocked out the guard. Neat, she muttered. With the guard out and with her shiny new powers apparently working, Jo resumed her search for Pete.
So far the bonding seemed to be working pretty well. The alien gave Jo all the knowledge she needed to use her powers. She didnt have a disembodied voice in her head fighting for her consciousness. Most importantly she wasnt on the sideline any more.
Jo made her way to where the Council was holding Pete. The Council had him suspended in air, hanging by his arms. He was restrained at the wrists, but it wasnt a physical restraint. Rather it was a blue and purple ball of energy that covered Wilsons gauntlets.
The Kheldian wasnt kidding when it told Jo that Wilson was heavily guarded. All around the chamber were Nightwolves, Nebula guards, Mk I Warcrys, and a Galaxy Archon who was overseeing the torture. Fortunately, they hadnt gotten around to removing Wilsons armor.
The biggest immediate threat to Jo was the Galaxy. But he was obscured by the other guards. Jo waited until she could get a clear shot at him. She morphed into her Dark Nova and floated until she saw her opportunity. She rippled fired two blasts and the Galaxy was down. Before the guards noticed what had happened, Jo destroyed the generator that was powering Wilsons restraints and he fell to the ground. By the time the Guards traced the source of the blast, Jo had morphed again into a Dark Dwarf.
The 4 Nightwolves charged the intruder and the mechs and Nebula guards opened fire. Jo met her attackers head on. The Nightwolves tried to surround Jo, but she shook the ground with a powerful stomp. The Nightwolves were knocked of balance and she attacked. She traded blows with the feral animals while taking fire from the other guards. But it wasnt long before she managed to subdue the wolves and turn her attention to the other guards.
Jo caught the shooters off guard when she teleported from across the room to right in the middle of their ranks. From behind the group she once again shook the ground and knocked the Nebula guards off balance. The unaffected Warcry quickly reacquired Jo as a target. But rather than fire it staggered. Jo turned and drove her massive clawed fist through the machine. When the mech collapsed she saw Pete standing behind it with a piece of the machine in his hand.
The Nebula guards opened fire again. Jo morphed back into her nova form and ripple fired two explosive energy blasts. The last of the guards were down and Jo morphed back into her human form.
Jo? Pete was stunned to see Jo. The fact that she had just turned into a giant alien lobster hadnt sunk in yet. He was surprised that she was still on the base. His first instinct was to be upset that she hadnt evacuated, but he was grateful it had been her to help him. At that moment the revelation finally sunk in.
Joanna nodded in affirmation.
Soo you have superpowers now? Pete asked.
Looks like. Joanna answered.
Well then how about we get out of here so you can tell me about it. Pete continued.
I thought youd never ask. Jo morphed back into her Dwarf form and led the way back out.
The two fought their way out of the base. Jo led the charge by drawing fire from the patrols they encountered while Pete laid down fire. Before long the two were on the beach on the east side of the island. With the sun just starting to peek over the island and the waves lapping at the sand, it would have been a romantic setting if gun-toting psychos werent trying to kills us , Jo thought.
Jo and Pete took a moment to catch their breath.
With all the commotion back there I forgot to say thanks for the rescue. Pete commented.
Im just glad I could be the one doing the rescuing for a change. Jo morphed again into her dark nova. Lets get off this island.
At ChemShield, another roll reversal was taking place. Jo was sitting on the examination table holding a cold compress to her bruised jaw. Pete was sitting on the doctors stool in front of her holding her free hand and cleaning the numerous cuts on her forearm.
So you bonded with a Warshade to save me.
Thats right Pete. I have to say, the superhero thing isnt easy. Jo answered.
Does that mean your going to give it up? Pete didnt know which response he would have rather heard. But he was happy with the one he got.
No, no I dont think I am. I have an opportunity to help people; I dont think I could look at my self in the mirror if I ignored that. Besides, the Council is a serious presence in this city. They need to be brought down.
Jo knew Pete couldnt argue with that. After all that was basically his sentiment for putting on the armor and risking his own life day in and day out. But regardless of what Pete thought, Jo felt compelled to join the fight. Shed seen what the evil in Paragon City is capable of. The city needed all the good people it could get.
Pete nodded his head. Jo could tell by his expression that he was formulating a question. Pete always over thought everything. When he was in thought he would nod his head and push out his lower lip.
Jo, I gotta ask, are you ok with having another personality rattling around in your head? Not that I dont think youve got a strong personality or anything like that, its just that its possible that Pete was getting into one of his famous endless babbling loops. Jo decided to break in as she often did.
Its not exactly like having another personality in my head Pete. Its more like a second conscious or enhanced intuition. Its a little voice that tells me how use my powers. But to be honest, I dont know what the full implications are of being bonded to another life form.
Pete stopped looking Jo in the eye once he heard that. He had gone back to bandaging her forearms. He was concerned. But Jo knew the only way she could ease his mind was through her actions. She would have to prove that the alien that inhabited her body wasnt a threat.
Not looking up, Pete asked, Have you decided on a name?
As a matter of fact I have.
Jo paused for a moment.
Well dont keep me waiting! Pete exclaimed.
Black Star. I wanted to pay tribute to a woman that was taken to early.
Does this mean youll be joining me on my patrols?
It sure does Pete, it sure does.