The Awakening, Part 1
By Mark Piggott (MidKnights Son, Protector Server)
The bell rang, taking Marcus Gates attention away from his notebook and up to the clock. 2:55 p.m. Class was over. He quickly finished copying the assignment on the board and started getting all his books together.
Remember class, the teacher yelled out as students began shuffling out the door, Your thesis are due to me by Friday. If you cant make that deadline, I need to know by Wednesday.
Marcus smiled. He finished his thesis days ago. He walked out of the classroom, slinging his backpack over his shoulder. As he walked through the halls of Paragon City University, past the other students, his mind begins to wander.
For 21-year-old Marcus Gates, this was the first step towards a new beginning. He would graduate with a degree in ancient history and travel the world, exploring ancient ruins for clues to the past Anything to get out of Paragon City.
As much as he liked his hometown, he also hated it. The constant battles between superheroes and the super-villains, gangs and other assorted criminals made his home a hard place to live. He was looking forward to his graduation and then boom its off to adventure, far away from here.
As he exits Atlas Hall, Marcus wandering mind leaves him unaware of the danger hes in. He doesnt realize hes being watched. Around the corner of the building, a group of Hellions watches his every move. A gang of devil-worshipers, the Hellions have tapped into supernatural powers, making them one of the most feared street gangs in Paragon City.
Is that him? a Blood Brother asks. Yeah, thats him, his leader known as Scorch says. And hes going to give us the secrets of immortality.
Scorch signals another group near the street. The Blood Brothers nod and move in towards their target. Lets go, he says to his Blood Brothers as they move in behind Marcus.
As Marcus walks towards the Yellow Line train station, he gets a sense of danger around him, kind of a funny feeling deep in his gut. He looks around to see a group of Hellions moving towards him. He turns to pick up the pace, but bumps into another group of Hellions.
Fear grips him, forming a knot in his stomach. Scorch, wearing a devil mask to hide his face, stares down at Marcus. You have something we want, little man, he growls.
Now Marcus is even more confused. Me? What could I have that you want? he asks. Dont lie to me, boy. We want the secrets of the Illuminati, he snaps back. The Illuminati? This confuses Marcus even more. He knows about them through his studies of history, but they were just a myth, a legend, nothing more.
I dont know what youre talking about, he answers back. Scorch smacks Marcus across the face, sending him flying backwards. Two of the Hellion Blood Brothers catch him and hold him tight.
Dont lie to me, he snarls. Scorch grabs Marcus left sleeve and rips it off. On his arm, a birth mark in the shape of an eye rests on his upper arm. You bear the mark of the Illuminati, he says. His eyes begin to glow and his hands burn with an unnatural fire. You better start talking, boy, or youre gonna burn, just like your old man.
Marcus fear now turns to anger. His father, Paul Gates, was all the family he had left. His mother died at childbirth. His father raised him all by himself, and now he may be dead.
As the anger swells inside Marcus, he feels something building inside him. His birthmark turns black and begins to glow with a dark energy. That energy begins to build and form around Marcus. The Hellions let go of him and step back, except for Scorch
I knew it, youre one of them the Sons of MidKnight, he says. Marcus doesnt understand what hes saying, but the dark energy emanating from his body engulfs him, and then suddenly ignites with an explosive fury, sending Scorch flying through the air. He lands hard on the sidewalk.
The Hellions look at Marcus. His body is now shrouded in the dark energy. Dont just stand there gawking, you idiots, kill him! Scorch orders. The Hellions come to their senses and draw knives and guns, ready to attack.
Suddenly, a high-pitched sonic shrill fills the air around them. The Hellions grab their ears and reel in pain. From above, a small armored figure drops from the sky between the Hellions and Marcus.
Alright boys, Emcee Boom Box is in the house! the diminutive hero shouts at the Hellions, taunting them. Emcee Boom Box lets loose another sonic blast, scattering the Blood Brothers across the ground.
Go on, get out of here, Ill take care of these jokers, he tells Marcus. Marcus nods his head. Thank you, he says and then takes off for the train platform. As his anger turns to worry, the dark energy surrounding him begins to fade. He knows he has to get home as quickly as possible.
The Awakening, Part 1
By Mark Piggott (MidKnights Son, Protector Server)
The bell rang, taking Marcus Gates attention away from his notebook and up to the clock. 2:55 p.m. Class was over. He quickly finished copying the assignment on the board and started getting all his books together.
Remember class, the teacher yelled out as students began shuffling out the door, Your thesis are due to me by Friday. If you cant make that deadline, I need to know by Wednesday.
Marcus smiled. He finished his thesis days ago. He walked out of the classroom, slinging his backpack over his shoulder. As he walked through the halls of Paragon City University, past the other students, his mind begins to wander.
For 21-year-old Marcus Gates, this was the first step towards a new beginning. He would graduate with a degree in ancient history and travel the world, exploring ancient ruins for clues to the past Anything to get out of Paragon City.
As much as he liked his hometown, he also hated it. The constant battles between superheroes and the super-villains, gangs and other assorted criminals made his home a hard place to live. He was looking forward to his graduation and then boom its off to adventure, far away from here.
As he exits Atlas Hall, Marcus wandering mind leaves him unaware of the danger hes in. He doesnt realize hes being watched. Around the corner of the building, a group of Hellions watches his every move. A gang of devil-worshipers, the Hellions have tapped into supernatural powers, making them one of the most feared street gangs in Paragon City.
Is that him? a Blood Brother asks. Yeah, thats him, his leader known as Scorch says. And hes going to give us the secrets of immortality.
Scorch signals another group near the street. The Blood Brothers nod and move in towards their target. Lets go, he says to his Blood Brothers as they move in behind Marcus.
As Marcus walks towards the Yellow Line train station, he gets a sense of danger around him, kind of a funny feeling deep in his gut. He looks around to see a group of Hellions moving towards him. He turns to pick up the pace, but bumps into another group of Hellions.
Fear grips him, forming a knot in his stomach. Scorch, wearing a devil mask to hide his face, stares down at Marcus. You have something we want, little man, he growls.
Now Marcus is even more confused. Me? What could I have that you want? he asks. Dont lie to me, boy. We want the secrets of the Illuminati, he snaps back. The Illuminati? This confuses Marcus even more. He knows about them through his studies of history, but they were just a myth, a legend, nothing more.
I dont know what youre talking about, he answers back. Scorch smacks Marcus across the face, sending him flying backwards. Two of the Hellion Blood Brothers catch him and hold him tight.
Dont lie to me, he snarls. Scorch grabs Marcus left sleeve and rips it off. On his arm, a birth mark in the shape of an eye rests on his upper arm. You bear the mark of the Illuminati, he says. His eyes begin to glow and his hands burn with an unnatural fire. You better start talking, boy, or youre gonna burn, just like your old man.
Marcus fear now turns to anger. His father, Paul Gates, was all the family he had left. His mother died at childbirth. His father raised him all by himself, and now he may be dead.
As the anger swells inside Marcus, he feels something building inside him. His birthmark turns black and begins to glow with a dark energy. That energy begins to build and form around Marcus. The Hellions let go of him and step back, except for Scorch
I knew it, youre one of them the Sons of MidKnight, he says. Marcus doesnt understand what hes saying, but the dark energy emanating from his body engulfs him, and then suddenly ignites with an explosive fury, sending Scorch flying through the air. He lands hard on the sidewalk.
The Hellions look at Marcus. His body is now shrouded in the dark energy. Dont just stand there gawking, you idiots, kill him! Scorch orders. The Hellions come to their senses and draw knives and guns, ready to attack.
Suddenly, a high-pitched sonic shrill fills the air around them. The Hellions grab their ears and reel in pain. From above, a small armored figure drops from the sky between the Hellions and Marcus.
Alright boys, Emcee Boom Box is in the house! the diminutive hero shouts at the Hellions, taunting them. Emcee Boom Box lets loose another sonic blast, scattering the Blood Brothers across the ground.
Go on, get out of here, Ill take care of these jokers, he tells Marcus. Marcus nods his head. Thank you, he says and then takes off for the train platform. As his anger turns to worry, the dark energy surrounding him begins to fade. He knows he has to get home as quickly as possible.