Supremacy

((Supremacy follows the actions of a number of pro-mutant and anti-mutant factions, as tensions reaach boiling point in the austerity following the second Rikti invasion. The foremost of these are Humanity First, the human supremacist group, and Ebon Sun, a former mutants rights group turned terrorist.

While the plot will have a main storyline running through it both Shadow Phoenix/Helios and myself expect others will no doubt feel some impact from this, and have stories of their own.

For further OOC info contact either @Shadow Phoenix, or myself. This plot will also be updated on the Wiki.))


08/10/2007 Late morning, A disused factory building on the outskirts of Atlas Park

The infamous human Supremacist Partisan, clad in black and bronze leather, wearing his trademark metalic mask, was leaning against a dusty piece of Machinery reading today’s issue of the Paragon City Post...

[ QUOTE ]
MILITIA IN KINGS ROW CLEAN UP!

Story by Katie Norton.


In a press conference called by the hero Britanic, he announced the newly reformed Militia’s intention to clean up Kings Row, where the super team is now based. However this clean up doesn’t just refer to the high levels of crime that has historically plagued the Row, but rather physically helping to restore some of the Row’s most neglected, and downtrodden areas.


The first of the projects planned in the Militia’s “Cleaning Up Our Community” initiative is the dilapidated Jimmy Carter Baseball Park. The Jimmy Carter field hasn’t been in use since before the first Rikti Invasion, and is currently an overgrown mess of brambles, weeds, and junk from years of fly-tipping. The park’s bleachers are in a dangerous state of repair, and the outbuildings are all currently condemned. Though the park will need extensive restoration , the benefit to the community will be immense.


In Britanic’s own words...


“Restoring the Jimmy Carter Baseball Park isn’t just about giving our children somewhere safe to play, its about restoring hope to a community. Its about showing that no matter how bad things get, through hard graft, and teamwork things can always be put right again.”


“I will be putting the resources of my own company, Sentinel Industries, into this, while my own Militia teammates will be pitching in, and getting their hands dirty too. What I want to see is the people of Kings Row come on down to the Jimmy Carter field, and help us do something of real benefit. After all the Militia doesn’t wish to merely protect, and serve, but to actively be a part of, and work alongside our community.”


Local residents, are already applauding the Militia initiative, and it looks as if there will be no shortage of volunteers to support the project.


CYBER-CRIME ON THE CLIMB!


Story by George Stantz.


There has been a rash of criminal activity perpetrated against technical and munitions companies situated in Paragon, and the Rogue Isles of late.


Supposedly super secure computer systems have been hacked with relative ease, and several firms have been victims of robberies where their security systems have been shut down.


One Rogue Isles based company, Corpmunitions, had several pieces of experimental technology stolen after their systems were shut down.


In Paragon, the PPD's cyber-crimes division is currently investigating several cases of cyber-intrusion into the computer systems of several Paragon based technology giants, possibly... Cont pg.2

[/ QUOTE ]

“I see my old friend Britanic is playing politics again. Hoping to establish that rabble the Militia as some sort of people’s heroes. They should of stayed disbanded when Wayne Securities shut them down.”

“Do you think the Militia are likely to cause us any problems with the Ebon Sun operation sir?”

Partisan turned to face the long brown haired woman clad in a uniform similar to his own. His green eyes visible through the bronze metalic mask seemingly trying to stare her down.

“If everything goes to plan my dear Quck Fix, the Militia, and especially mutants like Britanic will be more concerned with dealing with the negative feeling brought against them thanks to the actions of Ebon Sun, rather than chasing us down.”

“Yeah, its great that a group who is supposedly looking out for mutants is gonna take the fall for all the trouble we are gonna stir up for ‘em”

Both Partisan, and Quick Fix turned to the Humanity First officer Street, dressed as they were, sat on the cold concrete floor cleaning, an automatic pistol. The blond haired Blackshirt’s badly scarred face, a memento from an encounter with former Humanity First enforcer Big Game, contorted, and twisted as he spoke.

“That’s what I like about working with you boss, you always got a patsy ready to take the blame, whether they know it or not.”

“This isn’t an exercise in appropriating blame Street. This is a clever strategy to help the simple people of Paragon, and the Isles come to the realisation that the mutants, and eventually all metas among them are threats that need dealing with.”

“I see in the paper that Cyberspace’s efforts to gather the equipment he requires seems to be continuing without problems. Lets hope his abilities continue to prove their worth when we kidnap Arbiter Coles from the Arachnos Ministry of the Interior.”

“Partisan, its not that I doubt your strategy, but kidnapping an Arbiter is incredibly risky. You know that an attack on an Arbiter is seen in the same light as attacking Recluse himself. If something goes wrong, Arachnos won’t hesitate to hound us at every turn.”

“Im well aware of that Quick Fix. Which is why there had best be no mistakes. This kidnapping is an integral part of my strategy in the Isles, and I will not reconsider. As for my Paragon City strategy we will continue to wait on Gary Judge to make his decision on interviewing me.”

“You think he’s gonna go for it boss?”

Although Partisan’s mask fully hid it both Quick Fix, and Street knew he was smiling.

“Of course he will Street....Think of the ratings!”

{11/10/07, Mid Evening, The Chapel, Mercy Island}

The credits started to roll for Judge and Jury the television talk show Partisan had been interviewed on, and just aired on Paragon’s Channel 7. Beneath his bronzed mask, Partisan started to smile. He knew full well that neither Gary Judge, or his network could resist the opportunity to interview someone as notorious as himself, and now the show had been screened he was ready to put the next phase of his plan into effect.

Partisan reached across the desk he was sat at, and pressed a few buttons on a sophisticated comm unit, before speaking into it. ”Street, do you read me?”[/b]

There was a crackle of static before the Humanity First agent answered. ”reading you loud, and clear boss.”

”Good. Does Sea Four have the device ready?”

”Yeah, Sea Four managed to pull his finger out. The fan mail is ready to go.”

”Excellent! Make sure Channel 7 receive it in the morning...Partisan out!”

Partisan thought for a moment about Gary Judge. Judge was the sort of person that in many ways agreed with Partisan’s thinking, if not his methods. However Judge was more useful to his cause not as a speaker, but rather as a martyr. Still, if Judge didn’t open his own mail then someone else could be martyred in his place, keeping Gary Judge on the air. After all his show was quite entertaining.

Partisan once again pressed a few buttons on his comm unit before speaking. ”Quick Fix, have you and Cyberspace left for the Arachnos Ministry of Interior building in Port Oakes yet?”

The comm crackled then a female voice came over the comm. ”Not yet sir...Um Kyle says he needs to ..er finish something first."

Annoyance was evidence in Partisan’s voice. ”You tell him to get moving NOW! I will not tolerate his antics, and I want that Arbiter. You have much work to do.”

There was a crackle over the comm, and a male voice spoke. ”Hey, Big P, settle down man. This is a classic episode, and is only a couple of minutes left. Im telling you that Bugs Bunny kills me every time.”

”Perhaps you should worry less about that rabbit killing you, and more about me instead. MOVE OUT NOW!!!”

There was a pair of hasty clicks, as Quick Fix, and Cyberspace shut down their comms. Partisan turned off his own comms, and spun around in his chair. He looked directly at a black, and bronze banner bearing the Vitruvian symbol, of his organisation.

Now we start putting the pieces into play!...

{13/10/07, late morning. On a train heading to Talos Island from Founders Falls}


The mutant hero Britanic sat on the crowded monorail with his adopted daughter Cassidy. Britanic had originally planned a family day out on the beaches of Talos, but once again everyday life ruined that.His other daughter Rachel he was forced to ground after catching her picking the lock to the drinks cabinet again. Despite being a heroine herself, her rogue talents learnt from years of street living often landed her in trouble at home. His fiancé’ Suzi was once again visiting fellow Hyperion Watchman High Burn, who was going through a crisis of her own at the moment. Britanic’s carefully planned family day was going to be a “Daddy/Daughter” day instead.

”....God damn mutants at it again!”

Britanic unconsciously adjusted the black wraparound sunglasses that hid his glowing mutant eyes as he looked at the portly rough spoken man reading a newspaper.

”...Its just typical. Mutants are always harping on about how they are so hard done by us regular people when its them causing the trouble in the first place. I mean look here in todays paper. Front page you got a mutant rapist, and murderer. If that ain’t enough you got some mutant attitude group trying to fire bomb that Gary Judge off the TV.”

Britanic looked towards the man’s newspaper, and started to read the front page of today’s Paragon City Post.

[ QUOTE ]

DON’T FEEL LIKE DANCING!

The trial of one of Paragon City's worst serial killers in recent years known as the "Slow Dancer" started yesterday.


Over the last three years over thirty cases of sexual assault, and murder have been attributed to the Slow Dancer. However the PPD believe the true number could be double that.


The man in the dock, Edward Malcom Lewis, is said to be a mutant with the ability to exert unnatural influence over females through a release of hyper concentrated pheromones. It is believed the Slow Dancer targeted his victims at various Paragon nightspots. First getting them on the dance floor, and then releasing his mutant enhanced pheromones on them. The women, unable to resist the chemical reaction, would leave the women totally spellbound by the Slow Dancer, and practically subservient to his will. Once under his power the Slow Dancer would whish the females away to quiet locations, where for the most part they were [censored], and brutally strangled.


The Slow Dancer was finally captured last month after a sting operation by the Paragon Police Department. Female PPD Officer Susan Wickes is responsible for the maniac's capture, but is said to be traumatised by the event that lead to the Slow Dancer's capture, and is currently on medical leave.


Although District Attorney Geraldine Meadows is confident that the PPD has more than enough evidence to convict the Slow Dancer, she is hoping Officer Wickes will be well enough to testify herself.


The trial is expected to last six months.


HOTMAIL!

Emergency Services were called to Channel 7 studios yesterday after an incendiary device, sent through the mail , was accidentally triggered. The package addressed to "Judge and Jury" talk show host Gary Judge exploded when opened by one of the studio's post room staff. The as of this moment unidentified victim is said to be in a critical condition, and it is unknown if he will survive.


About twenty minutes after the blast a call was received at the studios from a militant mutant rights group calling themselves "Ebon Sun", and claiming responsibility for the attack. The fire bombing is said to be in response to Gary Judge's interview of notorious human supremacist Partisan, and judge's apparent sympathy for Partisan's.. Cont pg.2

[/ QUOTE ]

“...telling maybe that Partisan guy and that Humanity First is right.”

Britanic was about to stand up and say something himself, but another passenger spoke first.

“They Humanity First are a bunch of terrorists themselves. Besides they have a grudge against all metas, mutant or otherwise. For forget a lot of these people do their best to help us everyday.”

“Look buddy even if we didn’t have ‘em we would get by.”

The man with the paper shoved it in the other passenger’s face pointing at the picture of the mutant serial killer the Slow Dancer. “A normal, everyday police woman caught this mutant creep, not some fancy pants cape. Maybe rounding ‘em all up, and locking ‘em away ain’t a bad idea.”

Britanic reached for his sunglasses, about to take them off, and join the arguement. He was stopped by Cassidy who reached up, and grabbed his arm. Before she was de-powered she could of easily forced him down, but now all she needed was a gentle touch, and a few words.

“Don’t Dad. The guy’s a jerk, and even if you don’t like it, entitled to his opinion.”

Britanic gave up going for his glasses. He then sat back, smiled, and gave Cassidy a hug, thinking to himself. Why do I get the feeling there are going to be a lot more jerks like him, very soon...

{14/10/07, early evening. The Arachnos Ministry of the Interior building Port Oakes.}

The Humanity First plan to kidnap Arbiter Coles was meant to have happened several days earlier, however thanks to hacker, and techno-geek Cyberspace’s insistence of watching the last bit of a Bugs Bunny cartoon, the team narrowly missed their mark. The bronze masked Partisan had been furious, and it was likely that Cyberspace’s much needed skills were the only thing that still kept him alive.

The insertion had been fairly straightforward, and the few guards encountered were easily dispatched using the bio-toxins, and electrical discharge weapons brought specifically for this mission. The Arbiter, no doubt never dreaming anybody would dare target him, had been easily incapacitated by one of Quick Fix’s other toxins.

Both Quick Fix, and the Humanity First soldier Sea Four stood behind, and watched as the short red, and white armoured hacker Cyberspace worked his magic.

“So how you doing Kyle? You planted the evidence or what?”

“C’mon Doc, you’re talking to a pro here. Take a look for yourself, this is what Arachnos will see when they check their CCTV footage.”

Cyberspace hit a few keys, and an extremely poor quality video sequence started to play. The video appeared to have been badly effected by electrical interference, but seemed to show two metas battling with Arachnos soldiers, and Arbiter Coles. One of the metas, appeared to have been spewing noxious clouds from his mouth, while the other blasted the Wolfspiders with electrical discharges from his hands. Couple the video with the physical wounds left by Sea Four’s electrical discharger, and the residues left by Quick Fix’s toxin sprays, and it was pretty convincing that two metas had attacked the facility. The footage then showed the electricity wielding meta pull up a number, of files then start deleting them of the Arachnos computers. After that he seemed to fritz the systems using his own powers before helping his partner haul the unconscious Arbiter up, and escape.

“Im impressed Kyle, pretty damning evidence, but surely if someone has infiltrated the Ministry to erase data files, they’d remember to wipe the security footage too.”

Cyberspace smirked as he leant back and put his hands behind his head. “I already did that too. This footage will be found via a separate security server, unknown to the normal Ministry security. It seems that Arachnos likes to spy on its own.”

“What about them files? You got them sorted too, right?”

“You bet Sea Four. Once Arachnos are able to get back into the computers here, they are find their intruders did indeed wipe a lot of stuff. But what I did was leave enough crumbs so that if they scoop them all up, the name Ebon Sun will keep cropping up. That will give Arachnos enough of a lead to go looking for our reclusive mutant friends, and we all know how subtle Arachnos are in when they are looking for something.”

“Ok Kyle, stop being so smug. Just fritz the computers so we can get out of here will you.”

“No problem Doc. The lady asks, then I deliver.”

Cyberspace pulled out a small calculator like object, and plugged in a length of lead from the device to the computer. After pressing a few buttons the computers started to crackle, and spark. An electrical burning smell filled the air, and smoke started to appear from the computer panels.

Cyberspace jerked the wire free, and pocketed the device before speaking. “Ok guys we left the bread crumbs, let see if Arachnos follows...”

A rather curiously cold mutant read today’s copy of the underground newspaper the Informer. Sophie Woods, or rather her Rogue Isles identity of Glacier, liked to stay upfront on the news here and around the globe, so the Informer, free from the oppressive scrutiny of Arachnos often provided her a good read..

Sat on a cast iron bench in Nerva Archipelago, she crossed her legs the opposite way they had been, and took a sip from a straw of her fast-food style cola carton, before reading the first article...


[ QUOTE ]
There has been a hell of a lot of flapping today at Arachnos High Command in Grandville over yesterdays infiltration of the Arachnos Ministry of the Interior building in Port Oakes, and the kidnapping of Arbiter Coles. The exact details concerning the incident are still quite sketchy, but it has Recluse’s seat of power into a hive of activity, and speculation over who would be insolent enough to perpetrate such an act in the first place.

We at the Informer love it when the Spiders get their comeuppance, and got one of our snoops on the scene as soon as possible. Posing as a reporter for the Rogue Isles Protector we got the following statement from the Arachnos Ministry of Information's Arbiter Redmont...

"At approximately 18.22 hours the 14th of October, two as yet unidentified men infiltrated the Arachnos Ministry of Interior building in Port Oakes. The two brutally murdered several brave loyal Arachnos soldiers, before entering the offices of Arbiter Coles, who is charged with the overseeing of intelligence operations against subversive mutant groups operating in the Etoile Isles."

"Arbiter Coles, he was subsequently overpowered, and subdued. The raiders then proceeded to try erase all references to both the terrorist group they represent, as well as the building's security footage. Thinking their mission a success, they kidnapped Arbiter Coles, and made their escape."

"Despite the terrorist's efforts, their plan has been undone by Arachnos technical ingenuity. Arachnos High Command have both security footage of the raid, and managed to recover most of the files thought to have been erased."

"The raid appears to be the work of a mutant subversive group under the surveillance of Arbiter Coles, seeking to escape Arachnos scrutiny."

"I am unable to reveal who these subversives are, but can tell you that such an affront to our Lord Recluse's authority will not go unpunished."

We at the Informer feel kind of sorry for the chumps that pulled this caper. After all... Cont pg2

[/ QUOTE ]


She sighed to herself after reading the article. "This is bulls**t." she said, throwing the paper aside.

"Fight for rights yeah, but don’t kill people unless they fight back. Sounds like it could be some militant activist group like that Ebon Sun. I Guess I’ve made mistakes in the past, but Jesus, breaking into the Ministry, killing a bunch of Spiders, and then kidnapping an Arbiter!... Darn, this is gonna end up being a bloodbath."

For a moment she pondered whether to head back home to Minnesota, and try live a normal life. She only came to the Isles for a bit of cash every once in a while, and even then she mostly tried to keep it legal. Having previously fought in mutant rights campaigns, albeit only with a group of likeminded friends, Sophie knew real trouble was brewing.

Her reading of the article was enough to trigger an involuntary action in herself. She tried to take another sip of her cola but it was now completely frozen solid. Her anger had caused her ice-like powers to freeze the liquid.

She let out an annoyed “Grrrr!!!” before she bent down flicking a switch on her boots, and throwing the now frozen drink aside. She then leapt away in an effort to try warm herself up, and calm down so there wouldn’t be anymore embarrassing mis-haps with her powers. After all unintentionally freezing a drink solid after reading a story was one thing. Losing it around some Spider with an attitude...well it didn’t bear thinking.

{16/10/07, early morning. A secluded alley in Steel Canyon}

A meeting between shadowy figures in the dead of night. Cliché, perhaps, but hardly uncommon in the City of Heroes.

The first figure watched as the second approached, then spoke in a melodic, yet quiet voice
“What colour is the dawn?”

The second figure threw back the hood of her cloak, revealing a pale blue face and hair, and a hostile expression.
“Screw that Amico…you kicked me out, remember? I don’t know what you want to tell me, but I’m not gonna jump through hoops to hear it”

Sighing, the first figure dropped his hood too, the wild orange fur covering his face a strange contrast to his voice.
“Antipode…we have a problem. The Ebon Sun is failing…and something terrible is rising in its place. Oblivion is determined to force our cause on the people of the world, using any means necessary.”

“Why should I care? You’ve already shown me how much you value my opinion. I’m content to keep out of your business.”

“You can’t fool me, Antipode. Oblivion knows what you’ve been doing. The only reason he hasn’t moved against you yet is because he believes you to be no threat to his plans.”

Antipode stood silent for a moment
“It’s all I can do. Would you have me stop?”

Amico sighed
“you can’t help them any more. Oblivion is cutting off all our ‘soft’ projects. All the safehouses, all the children with no ‘useful’ mutations…everything. They will have to survive by themselves, or trust in the goodwill of the humans.”

Antipode couldn’t stop the pained expression from flashing across her face
“You fool Amico. Do you know how close I was to securing their amnesty? And now this.”

She passed over a copy of the Rogue Isles Informer

“Theres no word yet, but my contacts tell me the name ‘Ebon Sun’ is circulating around the spiders. And that attack on that TV show guy? What the hell were you thinking! All that work, gone in an instant. I had to fight my way out of my contact meeting today, they wanted to bring me in for questioning! Any chance we had of resolving this peacefully has gone, along with any future in Paragon or the Isles”

Amico scanned the paper briefly, before throwing it aside
“I…had no idea this was going down. I swear it. Oblivion doesn’t keep us in the loop anymore; he’s filled the council with lackeys and yes-men. I…I should have sided with you before, when we still had a chance of fighting him. I realize that now. But we have a serious problem, beyond all this.

“More serious? How can it get more serious?”

“It’s Caduceus…he’s joined Oblivion. He goes by Sanguine now. And he’s agreed to let all Oblivions followers undergo the treatment. He says we should forget any romantic notions of the bloodline, and use it as a weapon to ensure our supremacy in the battle to come.”

Looks of both despair and rage contended for place on Antipodes visage.
“He…damn him!! And damn you! How could you let this happen?! I….I…..damnit.”

Amico approached her gingerly
“I feel your pain, sister. All those who knew him are appalled…but there are so few of us now. And I know that whatever we feel, you must feel a hundredfold. But you had to know…we have only the smallest chance of salvaging this as it is. But the path he has chosen can only lead to ruin, either for us or for the humans.”

“You…your right, Amico. The time for internal politics is over. I’m calling the PPD in on the main base. We can do what we must afterwards”

Amico shook his head
“You cannot. There are still children down there, and Oblivion has a failsafe system to collapse the base in case of intrusion. Exodus and I will get them out if we can. You have a far more urgent task. All our safehouses in the Rogue Isles have been cut off. That’s hundreds of mutants, all hiding from the spiders, that need your help…particularly if Oblivion insists on stirring up that hornets nest.”

Antipode nodded reluctantly
“You are right, of course. But when the time comes, I will do what I must to stop Oblivion and his twisted bloodline. I…I’m sorry I ever doubted you, brother. When this is all over, I will have to come and see you properly. It has been far too long.

He nodded, smiling
“That is has sister. I look forward to it.”

Drawing their hoods back up, they parted ways, with noone knowing of their meeting



…except…


“…look forward to it.”

The handsome man with the disturbing purple eyes leaned forward, drawing closer to the delicate girl seated before his desk.
“Is that all, Psychosis?”

“Yes, my lord Oblivion.” Her voice rang eerily in the small room

“I see. Very well, I would like you to pay a ‘visit’ to Amico when he returns. See that he sees things our way.”

Psychosis nodded and grinned viciously “And the other?”

Oblivion considered this for a moment.
“Leave her. I have a far more satisfying way of disposing of her. And then the bloodline shall belong to me alone”

{31/10/07 Early evening, somewhere in Port Oakes}

The raid on the Ebon Sun safe house had gone without a hitch. The three mutants who had fought to defend the place were slaughtered by the Blackshirts lead by Quick Fix, and Sea Four.

As the former biochemist turned terrorist, Quick Fix, checked the last of the bodies An Arachnos Officer, and several Wolfspiders walked into the room. The Officer, and two of the Wolfspiders seemed little bothered by the carnage, or the Humanity First Blackshirts surrounding them. However their comrades obviously sensed something was wrong, and appeared very fidgety.

”Only three bodies Quick Fix?”

Quick Fix looked up at the Arachnos Officer, then got back on her feet, before answering.

”Four if you count Coles. It seems most of the others have already bugged out. No doubt planning to leave on one of those boats the mutant Antipode had arranged through her allies in that meta-human agency the Corporation. Its lucky Cyberspace hacking them again turned up that nice bit of information. They are playing right into our hands, and now we have a perfect place for a retaliatory strike by Arachnos for murdering an Arbiter.”

As if on cue two Blackshirts walked in behind the Archnos Wolfspiders, carrying the badly beaten, and now dead Arbiter Coles. Without any ceremony the two Blackshirts threw Arbiter Coles corpse onto the floor.

Shock was apparent on some of the Wolfspider’s faces, more so when their Officer and two of their comrades turned on them with knives. Quick Fix, and Sea Four then dispatched the remaining two Wolfspiders with clean shots to the head.

The Arachnos Officer wiped the blood off his blade onto the body of one of the dead Wolfspiders before speaking again to Quick Fix. ”In death they will do more for humanity than they could of ever during life. Once I report to Arachnos High Command about the Murder of Coles, and confirm Ebon Sun’s involvement, it will only be a matter of time before Recluse vents his rage.”

”Which should then panic the mutant community, and either tip Ebon Sun’s hand , or have someone lead us straight to them. Here, take this. It has details for one of the boat pickups that are ferrying mutants back to the U.S.”

The Arachnos Officer took the file, and quickly flicked through it. ”Hmm, looks like I have a boarding action to plan. Assuming you are finished here, il call in reinforcements, and a clean up crew.”

Quck Fix holstered her pistols. ”Ok, we will get out of your hair...by the way, congratulations on your promotion, both in Arachnos, and now Humanity First.”

The Arachnos Officer smiled, as Quick Fix, Sea Four, and the other Blackshirts left the building...

{4/11/2007, late afternoon, Port Recluse}

Antipode looked down at the scene from on high, waiting. Everything was in place, at last. Looking toward the docks, she could see the boat Mr Sebastian had promised, all prepared to sail.
Further out, in the docks themselves, were the Arachnos customs and security officers. With any luck, they wouldn't realise what had happened until it was all over.
Next, carefully concealed both in shadowy corners and in plain sight, were the handful of Corporation agents who would be causing the distraction.
She glanced towards the warehouses in the area. She couldn't check up on them now, but if all had gone to plan, the refugees would be waiting, in Sebastians chosen disguise.

And heading toward the docks with his entourage, the ubiquitous Ghost of Sharkhead, the one known as Scrapyard
The key to the whole operation

"You guys should get in place. It won't be long now."
Antonio 'Big Game' Fedele merely grinned easily, but her other companion, Echo Thompson, nodded grimly. All three of them knew just how easily this operation could become a bloodbath.

Leaving them to get into position, Antipode dropped off the low roof and headed toward the main warehouse. She felt a momentary twinge of guilt - letting her friends do her dirty work - but that was the whole point. Neither of them were mutants, and both were at least tolerated by Recluse.

Making sure she was not spotted by any spider patrols, she slipped inside the main warehouse, coming face to face with the refugees and their chosen leader - a mutant who, until recently, had been holding down a living in a factory, and attempting to hide the strangeness to his eyes that was the mark of his mutant heritage. Still, even without metahuman powers, he had proved a valuable asset in this matter.

"Jacob. It is time. Are they all ready?"

"As we'll ever be. Missin' a few...dunno where they got to. Trouble, perhaps, or cold feet."

She nodded "That will have to do...if necessary, getting a handful out should be no trouble compared to this lot."

And a lot is was, truly. over 1500 mutants, packed into the warehouse, many of them just children, scant few of whom had any combat ability. All wearing the checked shirts common to the workers of Sharkhead

She took a glance out of the door.
"He's just coming by now...I have no idea how they arranged this, but looks like we're on!"

Outside came the sounds of weapons fire, as the operatives outside opened fire on the Ghost, and the reply as high explosives were detonated mere meters from an Arachnos security outpost. She eased the door open further, waiting...

"Go, now!"
The main doors heaved open, and suddenly a mass of scrapyarders poured onto the docks, and made for the docked ship, Antipode taking to the sky above them.

She surveyed the battle - it seemed as if chaos itself had struck Port Recluse, with Corp agents, Scrapyarders and Arachnos security engaged in a 3-way mass brawl. Out of the corner of her eye, she thought she saw Echo moving through the group, strategically evening the balance of power when needed, keeping the brawl going as long as she could.

With the clamor being caused, there remained only a few customs agents to bar the mutant exodus - they were easily swept aside, and the refugees swarmed onto the boat.

Aside from picking off the occasional opportunist, she had had to do nothing at all. It was almost too easy.

All too soon, the last mutant had boarded, and the ship began to move off. The instigators of the brawl had melted away, leaving a few battered Arachnos officials to make sense of the days events.

Antipode landed outside an unmarked building, far from the port.
"I take it back. It was a good plan"

Mr Sebastian merely smiled
"But of course, Miss Antipode. Now, regarding the matter of payment...?

"I can give you 3 right away, the rest soon. Unless you want to explore that...other...method of payment?"

The enigmatic smile never left his lips "We shall see. I will be in contact."

"Huh. Yeah, best stay low for a bit first I guess. Well, you know where to find me."

The exchange was made without further issue, and she was soon on her way back to her flat. After the past few weeks, everything seemed to be going her way at last. She only hoped Amico was having such an easy time with his task.

((This is actually set before Brits last post))

24/10/07 Evening, Sharkhead Isle

The warehouse was filled with darkness; the only light source was a single computer, filling the area around it with ghostly flickering blue light. Within the wash of blue was a single person, whose hands raced across the keyboard, entering commands and redirecting data without making a second thought. He had hacked the Corporation’s computers originally just as a bit of fun, since however he had found an abundance of information that aided Partisan in his greater plan. He had hacked the system earlier this evening and found that Mistress Jaqueline, John Sebastian’s lover and magical advisor, had foolishly started up her laptop and connected it to their system. It was only a matter of moments before he was inside and snooping around. He knew they were in some form of meeting and Jaqueline would be busy minting it, so he had plenty of time to snoop about. He moved through all kinds of files, medical reports, contact numbers, birthday photos, spells, financing, future wedding plans, Corpmunitions Shipping Shedu-

The last one caught his eye and he opened up the file. Inside were documents on when, where and what the Corpmunitions ship, The Pride Of Sharks, was going and doing. He opened up the most recent and studied it carefully. The ship was about to have a few extra journeys from the isles to Paragon city. The other things that caused his curiosity to grow was that the ship was transporting more than it’s usual payloads. The document did not say what it was transporting; only that it was a larger number that usual. He checked the other documents to be sure and soon was convinced that the Corporation was up to some-thing. He copied the file and moved back into the main directory. There was one final file upon her computer ‘Antipode’

“Hello…what have we here?”

Before he could click on it the connection was rapidly severed and instantly he knew that they had realised they were being hacked.

The young man cut of his connection to the greater web and began to print off what he had copied. As soon as it was done he began to type furiously once more and a timer appeared on screen, counting down to when the HDD would be wiped clean. With that running he made his way to the exit.

He was half way down the street when he rapidly turned the corner. He peered back at the warehouse to see the form of Red Grevious, The Corporations Chief of Security, kicking in the warehouse door and then sending his personal Red Guard into apprehends whoever was inside.

The young man slowly moved down the street towards the teleportation network and activated his module disappearing in a flash of light.

----

Partisan had been difficult to sway but a smaller system had been set up in the Chapel for Cyberspace to do quick information gathering tasks. It also brought Humanity First into the new world of Cyber-crime. Sitting on the swivel chair he rolled over to the system and began to load several programs. He began to type and one program began to run what appeared to be a low resolution video of the Bronze helmed leader, Partisan,

“What is it Kyle? I am in no mood for interruptions!”

“Ohhh but you’re gonna like this one Big P...” he began to smile …”You’re gonna like this one a lot!” he began to explain what he found.

{08/11/07, 6.20pm, Skyway City}

[u]Rebecca[u]

Rebecca Adams had seen much suffering over the years, and strived to help alleviate the misery she often witnessed around her. In Skyway City she helped run one of the soup kitchen’s that looked after the local homeless, some of which were mutants, or member’s of Skyway’s Lost mutate communities. Being the sister of rogue mutant Midnight Rose and a mutant rights activist herself, she could easily identify with the plight of those homeless who also had the stigma of being different .It was for this reason that many of those who were different would come to her soup kitchen for aid, and also why she had managed to draw the attention of Humanity First.

Little did she know, the people she helped, the soup kitchen where she worked, and herself were to be deliberately used in a scheme to help ferment anti-mutant feeling. Oblivious to the conflict that was about to erupt in front of her, continues to give out food, smiles, and hope to Skyway’s homeless.

[u]Trace[u]

For every fantastically powered hero in Paragon, there was just as many men, and women who who took to the streets protecting the innocent with little more than cunning, guile, intelligence, and the occasional handy piece of equipment. Trace was one such person. Skilled in archery, hunting, and tracking, Trace used these abilities both to protect Paragon’s citizenry, as well as aiding him in his speciality of tracking down missing persons. Today Trace’s quarry was a fifteen year old runaway mutant, who’d adopted the name Flashfyre. His investigations had lead him to Rebecca’s soup Kitchen in Skyway City.

[u]Flashfyre[u]

Sean Bickley better known as the mutant Flashfyre was a young man in turmoil. When his pyro-kinetic abilities first surfaced he badly burned his younger sister. Devastated at the accident he ran away from home, and lived rough on the streets of Steel Canyon for over a month before hooking up with the Outcasts. It was the Outcasts that gave him his street name, and tried to bend him to their ways of street thuggery, and crime. However after seriously burning a private security guard during a robbery, Sean lost all will to remain in the gang, and escaped to Skyway, where he hoped to disappear. Best he could hope for was for everybody to just forget who he was, and maybe get a decent feed at Rebecca’s soup kitchen. So just as he always did these days Sean shuffled with the line, awaiting his meagre sustenance.

[u]Pin Pointer[u]

Amy Pointer, better known as Pin Pointer had for a short time been a member of the Militia, and sometimes sidekick of the Crimson Archer. After Wayne Securities shut down the Militia she decided to put aside her short lived hero career, and return to finish her schooling. However after hearing that her old mentor Crimson Archer had taken up the bow again, as well as the Militia reforming, she started to get anxious herself. Now without the knowledge or blessing of her doting, yet worrying father Amy once again took to the streets as Pin Pointer.

Young Amy was a classmate of Sean Bickley’s, and his fiery mutant manifestation and disappearance was big news in her school. Amy took it upon herself to try find Sean, and her searching had led her to this Skyway soup kitchen. From her vantage point on the fire escape opposite she could see that the soup kitchen was about to become the centre stage for something more than feeding the homeless. She spotted Sean, a bearded man carrying a bow watching Sean, as well as several extremely healthy looking homeless, and a man with a badly scarred face seemingly at their head. Amy pulled an arrow from her quiver ready for what ever was about to go down.

[u]Street[u]

The heavily scarred Humanity First officer Street’s motivation for joining were mostly unknown to all but himself. However more often than not, he was at the centre of any conflict between Humanity First, and their meta human prey.

As part of the latest in Humanity First leader Partisan’s scheme to destabilise human/meta relations, Street, along with several Blackshirts had been sent to Skyway to manufacture an incident involving the young mutant Flashfyre. Dressed in rags and filthy clothing, Street, and his men shuffled along the line, seemingly waiting their turn for food.

[u]Gang’s all here![u]

As Rebecca ladled out steaming soup to the poor street wretches, she noticed several unusual men further down the queue. Despite wearing the rags of people forced to live on the streets for some time, their physiques betrayed the fact they normally obviously ate well, and were generally very healthy. So as she poured the soup into the bowls, and directed people inside where they could eat in the warmth, she continued to watch them.

It was just as Sean, got to Rebecca, and was about to receive his food when it all kicked off. Just as Rebecca went to ladle the hot soup into Sean’s bowl, the man standing behind him with the heavily scarred face stopped her, forcibly holding the ladle back and staring into Sean’s eyes merely inches from his face.

”What the hell do you want to go feeding scum like him for? Sick mutant freaks ought to be starved out.”

Sean started to get agitated, and could feel the other men closing around him. Rebecca started to get angry, and pulled back on the ladle pouring soup across the table. ”Im here to help everybody, even arrogant bigots like yourself, leave the boy alone.”

Street shot Rebecca a venomous stare. ”You’d help someone like him? Did you know he used run with the Outcast’s. The freak torched some poor security guard pretty bad. You should be helping his wife and kids instead. But it gets worse doesn’t it kid? How much reconstructive surgery is the eight year old sister of yours going to have?"

Sean started to back against the table, his eyes started to glaze over reddish black colour.”It wasn’t my fault!..I didn’t mean too. ...It was an accident!”

"Yeah, and accident like all you mutant vermin.”

Just then a voice came from behind Street, and his men. ”Ok, back away from the boy. Come on Sean im taking you home.”

Street and his men turned around to look, as did Sean, and Rebecca. Standing in front of them was Trace, with an arrow already strung in the bow, aimed at Street’s chest.

”Sean you’re parents love you. They just want you to come home....Come on Sean, now!”

Sweat beaded on Sean’s head, his face contorted in anguish. “No! Cant ever go back, never. Why won’t everybody just leave me ALONE!!!” With that Sean’s body burst into flames, and he threw his arms open in a wide arc. A wave of flame flew outwards, panic commenced.

Rebecca fell back against the building furiously trying to pat out the flames on her left arm, screaming. ”Everybody get back NOW!!!”

Street, and his men dived forward both to avoid the flame, and to tackle Trace. As they slammed into Trace, he went down hard, and the arrow he had ready fumbled. Street lifted his arm high, and the long blade of a combat knife glinted with the reflection of a street light. The blade never made it home though, as an arrow suddenly pierced Street’s hand forcing him to drop the knife. Trace, not about to look a gift horse in the mouth, head butted Street in the face, instantly breaking the Humanity First officer’s nose.

Street got up staggering off towards an alleyway, while two of his men proceeded to pummel away at Trace, the rest started to circle young Sean. Trace having managed to get to his knees, incapacitated another man with a swift uppercut to the groin. However the man’s partner managed to get a length of chain around his neck, and started to choke him. Just as Trace started to turn blue the chain went slack, and the man stumbled back screaming as he tugged on the arrow sticking out of his shoulder. As Trace looked up with blurry vision he could see a dark red, almost maroon colour clad teenage girl running towards him, carrying a compound bow, and sporting what looked like a red and white bullseye insignia on her chest.

”C’mon rookie, get up will ya. I ain’t gonna keep saving that butt of yours all day y’know.” She said as she reached down to help Trace up.

Trace allowed himself to be helped up by the teenage girl, who he could now see as wearing a red bandanna around her face, and having an odd black star tattoo around one eye. He once again looked at the costume trying to put a name to it. ”Im Trace, who the hell you supposed to be? Crimson Archerette?"

The girl chuckled. ”A shot and a miss! Close though Rookie. Call me Pin Pointer, and MOVE!!!” As the pair of archers dived out of the way a sheet of flame engulfed the area near where they had been.

From the Alleyway, and still clutching at his face, Street started to shout out. ”Come on, lets get out of here...Abort now!” The other men started to disengage, and run towards the alleyway. An enraged Sean followed the men with a jet of flame, catching the side of the building catching it alight.

Pin Pointer pulled out a large capsule ended arrow from her back quiver and started to take careful aim towards the alleyway, speaking to trace at the same time. ”Trace, yellow, and black flighted arrows on my back, hit Sean with one first, then the side of the building.”

”But im here to take the kid ho...” ”JUST DO IT!!!” Pin Pointer interrupted.

Trace pulled one of the arrows from Pin Pointer’s quiver and fired it at Sean, as it hit him it exploded in a cloud of white fire retardant foam dousing his body fire, and winding the boy at the same time.

At that very same moment Pin Pointer let loose her own shot, just as the last man turned the corner into the alleyway. The arrow nicked a down pipe on the side of the wall, and bounced around the corner into the alleyway. The was a loud Shooosh, and a bubbling sound which brought a smile to Pin Pointer’s face. Trace having put out the fire on the side of the building out with another of Pin Pointer’s arrows turned to face the alleyway.

”What was that?” He asked.

”Glue arrow rookie. Lets go collect them bad guys.” She replied smugly.

[u]What’s going on here then?[u]

As the pair rounded the corner they were both shocked to see the alleyway was a mess of glue, but no prisoners.

”Damn! I missed."

Trace crouched towards the ground, and dabbed his finger into some blood, before looking to the far side of the glue puddle.”No, your shot was dead on, except they just wasn’t here when it hit. Look at the ground, you got boot scuffs, and a blood trail. Look on the other side of the glue nothing." Trace looked at the wall. ”They didn’t climb out either.”

”Teleporter?” Pin Pointer asked.

”It looks that way. Not your usual angry homeless types im guessing. We better get back to Sean, and make sure everybody is ok."

Back outside the soup kitchen Rebecca cradled a crying Sean in her arms. As Trace, and Pin Pointer approached he looked up at them and wiped tears from his face. ”Im really sorry..I ..I didn’t want to hurt anybody."

Trace knelt down to be at eye level with the boy. ”We know that Sean. Your parents asked me to track you down, to take you home. They really miss you.”

”B..b..but my sister?”

Trace gave a warm comforting smile. ”She misses you too. I suspect that you thought the accident hurt her a lot worse than it really did. She’s doing fine. She just wants her brother back."

”..And your school friends miss you too.” Pin Pointer said as she pulled her bandanna down.

”Amy! Y..you’re a hero?” Sean asked obviously shocked.

”Yeah, but don’t tell Daddy, he will totally wig out if he finds out im doing this again”

Rebecca turned to Trace. ”Those men, are they likely to come back. I’m pretty certain they were not real homeless people. Too healthy, and obviously well fed.”

”I don’t think so. It looks like Sean was their objective, and he is going home...right?”

Sean nodded in agreement....

A short distance away

The Humanity First operative known as Quick Fix stood talking to a man, nondescript except for the thick rimmed glasses he was wearing. ”Right Mr.Ward, you have your story. Make sure you report the facts properly, if you wish to continue to benefit from the support of Humanity First.”

”..and the photos? I will need images for real impact."

”Don’t worry about that. I managed to jack a few CCTV still from some of the cameras in the area. “ said the Humanity First hacker Cyberspace as he appeared from around the corner.

Quck Fix turned to face him.”Any problems getting them out Kyle?”

”Nahh teleport went smooth. Cuts, bruises, and burns all around though, and Street looks like Wily Coyote after a fall from a cliff, but he will live.”

”Good give Mr. Ward everything he needs, and we will head back to Mercy.”

Cyberspace handed over a CD Rom, and the three then went their separate ways...

((Thanks to Arctic Princess, and Redsight for allowing me to use their characters for this piece.))

{09/11/2007, Mid morning, Atlas Park}

Amy Pointer aka Pin Pointer, had just picked up the post and sat on the bed in her room reading through it. She then noticed the picture of her classmate Sean Bickley on the cover of the Paragon City Post and started to read...

[ QUOTE ]
[u]Story by James Ward.[u]

A Skyway City soup kitchen became the scene for a spontaneous outbreak of violence yesterday when fugitive Outcast gang member Flashfyre was identified hiding amongst the homeless who frequent the kitchen.

Fifteen year old Sean Bickley, had been on the run since severely burning his younger sister with his mutant abilities during an argument some months ago. After leaving home the young mutant joined up with the notorious Steel Canyon mutant gang the Outcasts, and has been present during numerous criminal activities perpetrated by the group. It was during the time he adopted the gang name Flashfyre.


As a member of the Outcasts, the young Flashfyre developed a reputation for brutality, that astounded even his fellow gang members. More recently he inflicted third degree burns to Steel Canyon mall security guard Rob Gillingham, during a bungled robbery. This incident seemed to have caused conflict between himself, and his gang leadership, causing the young thug to abandon his position with the group.


Flashfyre had seemingly disappeared until he was noticed in a food line by other members of the homeless community. Its not clear exactly what happened, but at some point violence erupted, and the mutant Flashfyre is said to have burned several people, and even set fire to part of the soup kitchen at one point.


The young mutant’s rampage was stopped after the intervention of two of Paragon’s non-powered heroes Pin Pointer, and Trace, who had already been tracking the young criminal down.


In a somewhat surprising, and controversial move the young mutant has be released into the custody of his own parents, and is currently considered to be under house arrest. The PPD have said they will monitor the boy, but feel his parents might be a positive calming influence on him.


For the sake of those around the young thug, we hope that they are right. However considering the boy's violent... Cont. pg.2

[/ QUOTE ]

Amy’s face wrinkled with annoyance, as she started to think. That don’t sound right. That paper makes Sean sound like some sort of menace to society. He’s just someone who got scared, confused, and made a few mistakes. Why do they gotta make such a big deal out of him being a mutant for too. Sloppy reporting like that might start giving people the wrong idea if they don’t get all the facts. Maybe I ough’ta call the newspa...

”Amy! Princess!! You up there hun?” Came Amy’s father’s voice from downstairs distracting her thought process.

”Oh Gawd, Daddy!” Amy looked at the CCTV shot of herself at the bottom of the first page.”Crud! If Daddy sees that he’ll ground me for a month again." In a panick she looked around the room for somewhere to stuff the paper. In the end she shoved it behind her giant cuddly Statesbear, just as the door opened. She then spun around, and put on one of her most innocent looking smiles.

”Hiya Daddy! What’s up?"

Amy’s doting, but clueless father smiled. ”I got a surprise for you princess.”

”A surprise! Goody, what is it?” She asked eagerly.

”Well, rumour has it Justin Timberlake is just about to make an appearance at Atlas Park mall.”

”Ohhh myyy Gaaaawwwd!!! What are we still doing here? C’mon Daddy lets go before we miss him.” she excitedly said as she dragged her father out of the room, completely forgetting about the newspaper...

{13/11/2007, Early afternoon, Kings Row}

The crowd roared it's appreciation as he took the stand. Though until recently unknown, Charles Porter had become something of a local celebrity following his scathing attacks on unpopular government policies. And today would be no exception...

He flashed his customary smile, and motioned for the crowd to be silent.

"My fellow citizens! A dark time is apon us! All of us here are proud, honest workers, loyal Americans, and a credit to our race. We toil daily, in our own way, to better ourselves and to better mankind. But for every achievement, every battle fought, there are always those waiting in the shadows to pull us down. The government heaps abomnible taxes upon us, to 'protect us from the alien threat', they say, even though the threat has long since passed! They fight daily to deny us the luxury of life they have come to know, instead keeping us impoverished in the dirt. But, my friends, even this pales before the true mostrosity of their actions."

He brandishes a newspaper, now nearly a week old, but displaying an iconic image now burned into the minds of the people.

"Once again, the authorities have allowed a known criminal to run free! Not only free, i say, but accepted into a great position of responsibility, as one of our city's heroes! This monster, this 'Laugh Riot' is responsible for untold gruesome deaths, and now we are to be placed in his care? Our children to be placed in his care?"

Charles paused for effect, the crowd murmering slightly in disapproval

"Why has this come to pass? I can tell you. Paragon is gripped in the fist of an evil elite, an elite who plan to rule us as lesser beings, to surpass us in evrey way, and relegate us to a slave race. I see a future, where the mutants of Paragon shed their flimsy facades, and show their true colours as oppressive supremacists!
Who among you cannot remember a time when a mutant has been allowed extraordinary leeway, when those such as you or I would have been afforded none? When they have taken jobs away from the deserving due to their enhanced abilities? When they have injured a friend by 'accident'? Even when they commit astounding atrocities as Heros, they are lauded by their peers. I say no more!"

The crowd was entirely caught up in the tirade by now, small pockets erupting into cheers. He spotted a few people breaking off and going on their way...filthy mutant-lovers, he supposed.

"In America, it is every mans right to bear arms! Guns are available for any who want them, to defend themself against any attack. But the powers these mutants posess are beyond that of us humans. How can a mere handgun compare to a creature who can level buildings if displeased? Such power should be available to all, or none at all!"

He brandished a second newspaper

"Look at this! Another case of mutant carnage! We see it every week, and yet no attempt had been made to contain this 'Flashfyre'. How many more dangerous mutants are running around loose? How many more tradgedies are in the offing? It is time for the concerned citizens of Paragon to ACT!
We must gather our support, and march on City Hall. We will give them our demands - mutants must no longer be allowed to run free, to satisfy their own agenda! The Heroes will be decomissioned, and the criminals hunted down and brought to justice! Only then can we live out our lives in peace, with our fancied overlords stripped of all power to rule us!

The age of mutants has come to an end. Now we must usher in the new age, of humankind!"

He threw us his hands dramatically, but there was no need, he had the crowd now. Chants of 'Porter! Porter!' and 'no more mutants!" began to erupt. He truly hadn't expected such a strong reaction, but he knew that he had to run with it once it had surfaced. If the people of Paragon truly felt this way...it would only be a matter of time before City Hall had to act...and then they would be free, once and for all.

{13/11/2007, Early afternoon, Kings Row}

Stood anonymous amongst the mob was a one armed man, smiling at the chaos he had ultimately wrought. The empty right sleeve of his grey trench coat pinned back on itself, while on his head he wore a black woollen beanie hat. His face was a mess of scars, most of which were hidden behind a rough black beard, inflicted during a mishap by the now deceased mutant hero Gravimetrik.

As he watched the rabblerouser Charles Porter stir up the crowd he wondered how best to factor him into his schemes. On the one hand he could be a potential recruit for Humanity First, useful in helping to stir up Paragon’s sheep. However the more he thought about it the more he realised Porter wasn’t exhibiting any special charismatic influence over the crowd, but rather just voicing the feelings they already had. Sure he may get them to march on City Hall, maybe even break a few windows, but to truly be useful to his plan they really needed to hurt someone.

Charles Porter started to wave another paper around again, the one reporting on the Flashfyre incident, his men had engineered several days earlier. He started to smile again, as he now knew how best to use Charles Porter in his grand plan.

It looks like the young Flashfyre will once again prove useful in my schemes. I just need to arrange for Mr. Porter to be looking in the right direction. Whatever happens in that meet up, I win.

Between my two potential martyrs in Partagon, and tomorrow night’s raid by Arachnos back in the Isles, its only a matter of time before Ebon Sun reveal themselves. Once that happens, the war can truly begin.

Pleased with the progress of his plan he started to walk out from the crowd, not noticing that Charles Porter had spotted him, and was thinking ’filthy mutant-lover’. Ironic when you consider this man was actually Humanity First leader Partisan...

{Talos Island, Sarah Jones' Appartment, Early Tuesday Afternoon}

"There you are on the news again Freddy." Tina Onders grinned, sprawled across the sofa and flicking through the television channels.
"What am I today," Freddy Jones asked, "The despicable monster Laugh Riot or the all american example of a second chance, Headliner?"
"The grinning monster."
"I seem to be getting a lot more negative press that positive lately." The huge man grumbled as he bent over double to look in the fridge.

Sarah walked in from her study, pushing her short blonde hair back from her face. She seemed exhausted, and it was no surprise. She was spending every waking minute recently researching something in her study, head buried in ancient texts and arcane tomes. It was rare for her to don her costume and hit the streets as Afterlight these days. She said that something didn't feel right, as though she sometimes caught herself thinking the same thought twice at the same time. It didn't make a single bit of sense to Freddy, but Sarah had always been the genius.

"Hey sis. Haven't you got any food?"
"You ate it all Fredderick." She sighed, pouring herself a glass of water.
"No, I thought I saw some leftover Chinese in here."
Tina grinned. "Freddy. You ate that."
"Did I? How about some potato chips or something?"
Sarah shook her head. "Frederick, I love you like my own brother."
"I am your own brother."
"Lucky for you. Because you keep eating all our food, and despite my slender physical frame I do actually eat. Or rather, I did, before you got here."
"Cut me some slack." He grinned disarmingly and started searching the cupboards. "My place is in the Isles, organising transport is hard enough as it is. It's nice to know I have somewhere to come for a bite to eat."
"That's why they invented fast food Freddy." Tina quipped. "So what are you going to do about all this bad press?"
"I don't really care about it to be honest. Sticks and stones can't break my bones, and names won't ever hurt me either. I'm more worried about all the anti-mutant stuff on the news."
"I'm worried about it as well." Sarah nodded. "It's always had its ups and downs, but it's especially bad now. It's even spreading to other metahumans. If people see a superpower these days, and they can't see a piece of technology to explain it, they assume mutant."

Freddy nodded and walked over to an armchair that had been reinforced for Sarah and Tina's heavier guests like Freddy or Big Lunk and sat down. He was a handsome man with strong features, dark hair, green eyes and a rugged beard. It was his size that pegged him as a mutant straight away, he was just too large to be a normal man.

"I might take up that offer to go on that chatshow."
"Frederick, it will only make things worse. Those people can twist your words." Sarah frowned.
"I know sis, but I'm pretty good at that myself. It's about time one of us stood up for mutants, without actually going right ahead and blowing something up in the process."
"And you think you're the man for the job, considering your dark, sinister and hysterical past?" Tina asked.
"Right now Tina it's looking like I'm the only man for the job."

{15/11/07, Darwin’s Landing, Mercy Island}

The unusually sullen looking mercenary rogue Big Game sat in a deck chair on the main deck of his boat the Jelly Fish Dream, contemplating the ironies of life. In his hand he still held today’s copy of the Informer, where he’d found out about the death of his friend, and neighbor Salty Pete.

Game slowly looked over the side of his boat to the now empty dock where Pete’s boat the Wifes’s Envy was usually moored, and smiled as he remembered some of the good times they had in the past. Then not knowing wht he started to read the article for a second time....

[ QUOTE ]

[u]Story by the “Snitch”.[u]


Arachnos struck back at dissidents yesterday when Arachnos naval forces boarded a boat ferrying mutants to the U.S. mainland. As per usual the Arachnos Ministry of Information was very sketchy on exact details, but an insider source has revealed the entire boat’s compliment of passengers and crew was killed in the bloody boarding action.


After doing some serious digging we at the Informer have discovered the boat was the “Wife’s Envy”, captained by Mercy Island smuggling legend “Salty Pete”. The aging smuggler received his nickname not because of any nautical connections, but rather because he always fell for the “loosened top on the salt shaker” prank. His boat was so named due to his now departed wife’s jealously over the affection he showed for the battered old trawler over her.


At the time of boarding it is believed the Wife’s Envy was ferrying between twelve to fifteen mutant refugees seeking to escape Lord Recluse’s tyrannical rule, and increased recent Arachnos persecution against nonaligned mutants.


It is also believed the brutality of the boarding action is in retribution for the murder of the recently kidnapped Arbiter Coles. The Arachnos Arbiter was primarily responsible for the investigation, and monitoring of potentially subversive mutant factions within the Rogue Isles. His investigations seemed to have worried one such group as they actually staged an audacious raid on the Arachnos Ministry of Interior building in Port Oakes, and kidnapped Coles back on the 14th of October. The missing Arbiter’s body was found during an Arachnos raid on a mutant safe house, and it is believed that was where Arachnos also found out about this attempted mutant escape.


Although still not officially named by Arachnos, the mutant activist/terrorist group known as “Ebon Sun” keeps cropping up of late. It is widely suspected that they are most likely involved in a spate of mutant related activities both here and in Paragon City. However exactly what is happening is...Cont. Pg2

[/ QUOTE ]


Big Game thought about the circumstances that brought about his friends death.

His Pact teammate, and close friend Antipode had cut a deal with the Corporation to ship out mutants to the U.S. who might be in danger, due to rising tensions against their kind in the Isles. The biggest of these shipments had already gone, but there was still groups of stragglers that needed to get out. One such group was due to leave yesterday, however the Corporation boat that was meant to take them was having engine trouble. Big Game would of done it himself but the main crankshaft on his own boat still needed replacing. In the end he recommended his good friend Salty Pete take them.

Whether it was mere chance, or that Arachnos was tipped off, Big Game might never know, but it was very apparent that Arachnos intended no escape, and certainly no mercy...

{15/11/07, Around mid-day, Sentinel Industries, Kings Row}

At first glance it would seem they were nothing more than a businessman, and his young intern going over spreadsheets on a computer screen. However the businessman was extremely well built for somebody who worked behind a desk, and his eyes glowed with a diamond white light. As for his teenage intern, she seemed to emanate a feeling of power far beyond what any would believe her small frame was capable of containing. In the offices of Sentinel Industries they were known as Eric Mitchell, and Melissa Winters. To the world at large they were better known as two of Paragon’s premiere mutant heroes the battling Britanic, and the celebrity powerhouse Miss Teen.

As the pair continued to work, the intercom system on Britanic’s office phone crackled to life.

”Sqqquuark...Mr. Mitchell there is a telephone call for you from a Bruce Raymond from Channel 7 on line three.”

”Sorry Missy, give me a moment.” Britanic said as he pressed a button on his phone. ”Did he say what he wanted Cheryl?”

”...Only that he was a producer for the ’Judge and Jury’ television show. I imagine he wants to try and get you to appear on it”

Britanic looked over to Missy, raising his eyebrows and pressing his lips together as if to say ‘I really can’t be bothered’. Missy simply grinned back as she scrolled down a page on the screen.

”Ok Cheryl, il take the call now. Thanks luv.”

”...My pleasure Mr. Mitchell.” came the reply from his personal assistant Cheryl as she turned off the intercom her end.

Britanic picked up the phone receiver, and pressed the line three button on the base before speaking. ”Good afternoon, Eric Mitchell, how can I help?”

A weasel voiced man answered. ”Ahhh Britanic, big fan by the way. Im Bruce Raymond from Channel 7, and a producer for the smash hit TV talk show ‘Judge and Jury’.”

”Yes I know that already. What do you want?”

”I like it...direct, straight to business, no messing about.

Britanic looked to Missy and sighed. ”Look, Im a really busy bloke, can you just spit it out.”

”Ok, ok. As you no doubt already know there has been rising tensions with Paragon’s mutant communities of late. As one of Paragon’s most respected, and prominent mutant heroes, we at ‘Judge and Jury’ was hoping you you’d appear on the show and be interviewed by Gary Judge on the subject.”

”Not interested mate, good b...”

”Whoah! Don’t hang up. Don’t you want a chance to speak up for Paragon’s mutants?”

”Sorry, but im far too busy at the moment. I might be able to fit you in say....ooh, late January. Good bye Mr. Raymond.” Britanic said as he hung up the phone.

Missy turned away from the computer screen to face Britanic. ”Soooo why not? You worried about the whole camera adding ten pounds thing……?”

”Why not what?” Britanic asked, his eyes glowing a little more intense as they often did when he was annoyed.

”Why not go on the show? I know you are not overly fond of doing those sort of appearances, but even you agree that sometimes they prove useful. Besides I think you would be a pretty good mutant spokesman. I mean they might end up with someone with blue skin and horns……” She waved her hands to try and erase her last sentence.. “……not that there’s anything wrong with that!”

”No thanks luv. Gary Judge is a little too bloody right wing for my tastes. I very much doubt my opinions really matter to him, and no doubt anything I do say will be somehow mis-represented.”

”Gee boss, I wonder how someone as paranoid as you manages to step outside the apartment in the morning.”

”Not paranoid Missy, just cautious. I mean come on we are talking about a TV show that had Partisan as a guest on it!”

”This is America, Eric, we all have a right to an opinion and to express it on television.”

”Im pretty bloody certain that it’s a bit different for wanted felons who spout what is essentially a load of ***locks!”

Missy started to chuckle. ”Ok bossman, I’ll drop it...because I can see how that keeping a low profile dressed in a skin tight Union Jack is working out for you”. She pouted before adding. “Actually I’m surprised they have not tried to contact me to do it. After all I am the patron, and spokesgirl of TEAM Spirit. Maybe Randy was right? Maybe giving up the endorsement has bumped me down to……” She gasped……”B list!”

Britanic looked blankly at her for a moment. “TEAM Spirit?”

Missy put her hands on her waist, and raised her eyebrows at him.”You have no idea do you?” Not waiting for a reply she carried on. ”Teens for Equality and Accepting of Mutation! One of the public interest groups I’m involved with. It’s about educating teenagers to learn to look beyond the fact that their classmate might look like a jellyfish, have extra limbs or telescopic eyes. Being a teenager is hard enough, you know. Even the adorably cute ones like myself. Kinda makes sense they would get in touch with me……wonder if they still think I charge by the minute for TV work?”

Britanic leant back in his chair, stretching as he spoke. ”Not really luv. You’re probably too squeaky clean for their liking. Not exactly great for ratings. Now me, that’s a different story. There is all kinds of stuff they could take, twist, and run away with. I could end up doing more damage for mutants than good.”

Missy seemed to think over his words for a moment, before speaking again with an amused grin on her face.. ”You could be right... Better hope they don’t replace you with someone more naive, less savvy, and with an even more murky background.”

”Funny Missy!” He said, but suddenly thought to himself... 'What if she’s right?...'

((Special thanks to Romanov for his Miss Teen dialog edits.))

Headliner charged into the rampaging crowd of Supa Trolls, lowering his head and ramming his shoulder into the first one he made contact with. Grabbing it around the waist he tackled it to the ground. A big pair of hands grabbed the back of his t-shirt and pulled him back up, the rest of the group turning on him. A fist connected with the side of his face and sent him staggering into another Troll that punched him in the gut. They piled on, all jumping on him and hitting whatever part of his body they could reach as they dragged him to the ground, the plain clothed hero disappearing under a mountain of green.

The panicked residents of Skyway City all fled from the super powered brawl, well used to the rampages of the Supa Trolls and the heroes who tried to stop them. But a small group didn’t flee, they moved in to get a closer look.

“Mike, get that camera rolling, I don’t want to miss this! We’ve got a great shot of Headliner here!”

The young dark haired female reporter ran forward, her camera crew close behind. The media had been following Headliner ever since he was pardoned for his crimes as the meta-criminal Laugh Riot and gained his hero license. Some of them wanted to show him as an inspiring example of redemption, others were hoping to catch him make a dangerous mistake and show his true colours.

“Have we got the shot? Good, okay. Let’s go.”

The reporter took a deep breath and faced the camera, as behind her Supa Trolls went flying into the air as Headliner surged to his feet from under them.

“This is Shelly Hartford reporting for PCL News from Skyway City where we find ourselves watching a familiar site, members of the ‘Trolls’ gang on a Superadine induced rampage of violence and destruction.” She said as Headliner ripped a mailbox up from the street and smashed a Troll across the head with it. “As you can see, by his towering stature and the trademark H emblazoned upon his chest, the Trolls are being challenged today but none other than the controversial Headliner, former meta-criminal Laugh Riot.”

Headliner wrestled with one of the massive Trolls for the mailbox, letting go of it and driving his fist straight through the metal to punch the Troll on the other side. Letters spewed out onto the street as the green titan fell to its back and Headliner ripped his arm out of the mailbox.

“Having seen Headliner capable of defeating some of Paragon Cities most inspiring heroes during his criminal career this reporter has no doubt that this mob of the so called ‘Supa Trolls’ will prove no match for his mammoth strength and endurance.” She turned briefly to look at the combat as Freddy was pushed against a wall by the combined effort of two Trolls. Once against the wall he pulled his arms free from their grip and grabbed their faces in his huge hands, pushing off the wall and roaring out his frustration as he slammed the Trolls to the ground. “Indeed, as we can see, Headliner is making short work of his opponents. Headliner is a known Mutant type meta human, which explains not only his unusual size but also his incredible strength and near invulnerability. But has he truly changed from the terrifying masked indi-wait, I think the conflict is coming to an end. Let’s move in for an interview!”

The crew rushed forward as Headliner got off of the Troll he had pinned to the ground and been pummelling. He let out a great sigh and pulled off his bandana, running a hand through his dark hair.

“Headliner! Headliner, Shelly Hartford, PCL News! A few questions please!”

The huge man turned to look at the reporter and her camera crew, smiling tiredly. “Alright, so long as its quick. And please, call me Freddy.”
“Excellent, yes, Freddy. Tell me Freddy, do you feel you’ve accomplished something here today?” She asked, shoving the microphone way over her head and practically into his beard.
“Well, of course. I won’t deny that there’s been a bit of collateral damage, but compared to how things could have been… well, I’m just glad I was able to do what I could. Maybe now these young men can get the help they need.”
“And did you enjoy it?”
“Pardon?” He asked, politely confused.
“Did you enjoy fighting the Trolls, Freddy? Footage of you in the past shows you greatly enjoying fights with super powered individuals.”
“…I wouldn’t say I enjoyed the fight, Miss Hartford. I enjoy helping people.
“And if this allows you to legally fight others all the better?”
“No, that isn’t what I said.” He frowned. “I take joy in using my abilities to help people, not to hurt them.”
“When working as the criminal Laugh Riot however you -”
“Miss Hartford,” he said firmly, “if you wish to know about my past, there are plenty of news stations and newspaper who have already run extensive investigations and analysis on me. Is there anything else?”
“Oh, of course Freddy.” She smiled prettily. “How do you feel about the opinion of certain individuals and groups that you are an example of why there is such distrust for mutants recently?”
“I… me? I’m afraid I don’t understand.”
“Certain people are of the opinion, Freddy, that the fact that a mutant criminal now fights on our very streets under the protection of the law is a sign that mutants are receiving unfair special treatment.”
Freddy sighed and rubbed his beard, trying to think of the best thing to say. “Miss Hartford, I understand that I’ve become a bit of a controversial figure. I don’t blame people for not trusting me. But bringing the fact that I’m a mutant into the issue doesn’t seem relevant to me.”
“Would you care to elaborate?”
“Well… I’m just a man. The same as any other man. I made mistakes in my life, terrible mistakes, and now I’m trying to make up for them. Every man has, or will, be in that situation at some point in his life. My mistakes were just bigger, Miss Hartford, that’s all.”
“Some would say that is because of your mutant abilities.”
“I won’t deny that because of my powers, I was in a position to make those terrible mistakes that I probably wouldn’t have been otherwise. But you can believe me when I say that I didn’t make the wrong choices I have because I was a mutant, being a mutant only put me in the place where those choices had to be made. It’s the same for all mutants, or anyone with special abilities. We have more to offer than most people do, both for good and bad.”

There was a silence for a moment as Shelly and her crew thought over what Headliner had said, some of them surprised that he was making so much sense. He wasn’t what they had expected at all. But then a gleam came into Shelly’s eye, and she held back a smile.

“Freddy… Headliner. Headliner, are you saying that you believe mutants have more to offer than non-mutants?”
“In the sense that we can do things non-mutants can’t, yes.”
“You believe that mutants can do greater things for the world than non-mutants?”
“Because we have these abilities it me-”
“You believe mutants are superior?”
“I never said that, if yo-”
“Headliner - are you of the opinion that non-mutants, normal people, are inferior to you?”
“Miss Hartford, you’re putting words in my mouth, I just meant that we are born with natural gifts that people like you could never even dream of.”
The young reporter raised her eyebrows and stared up at Headliner. “People ‘like you’? As in ‘you people’, Headliner? Was that a racist, a mutant supremacist, remark? Can we quote you on that?”
“What? Wait, no, I just meant that you could never do the level of good for this city that people with superpow-”
“I’m incapable of doing good, Headliner? Because I’m just a normal person, not as ‘evolved’ as you?”
“Stop twisting my words, I won’t put up with it. I never said anything like that.”
“Calm down Headliner, no need to get angry, we don’t want you backsliding.”
“I am not angry, and that isn’t funny!”
“Right Mike, cut. We’ve got our footage, we’ll be on the news by six o’clock tonight. Thank you for your time Freddy.”
“You can’t show that, you made - come back here!” He called after her, but Shelly Hartford and her camera crew weren’t stopping. He threw his bandana to the ground in frustration. “I should’ve kept my big mouth shut.”

{23/11/07, late evening, Sentinel Tower, Founder’s Falls}

Britanic sat down in his favourite chair, picked up the remote and flicked on the TV in the hopes of a little relaxation. He’d spent most of his day in meetings or on the phone dealing with everything from securing building permits for his construction company to chasing up the deliveries of the new teleportation units for the Militia. With Suzi working on some songs in the music room, Cassidy doing homework, and Rachel scouring the kitchen cupboards for snacks he felt he took the opportunity to unwind by watching the news.

The bulk of the news was fairly uninteresting, and Britanic felt himself start to drift off until he heard the name Headliner mentioned. Formerly the mercenary criminal Laugh Riot, the pardoned Headliner now fought to protect Paragon, and it’s citizens. Having been an acquaintance of Headliner while he was still known as Laugh Riot, Britanic was especially interested in his progress, and watched the report with great interest.

On the TV screen Headliner’s battle with the Supa-Trolls played out the reporter in the background gave a running commentary. She made little comment about the actual good he was doing, instead preferring to focus on his awesome mutant might. Once the fight was over she managed to catch him in an on the spot interview.

As Britanic watched the interview certain questions, and phrases started to stick out in his mind. Maybe it was the way the footage was edited, or perhaps he was just over analysing things, but the interview gave him an uncomfortable feeling.

[ QUOTE ]
“...Well, of course. I won’t deny that there’s been a bit of collateral damage...”

“...Did you enjoy fighting the Trolls, Freddy? Footage of you in the past shows you greatly enjoying fights with super powered individuals...”

“...And if this allows you to legally fight others all the better?...”

“...Certain people are of the opinion, Freddy, that the fact that a mutant criminal now fights on our very streets under the protection of the law is a sign that mutants are receiving unfair special treatment...”

”...My mistakes were just bigger, Miss Hartford, that’s all.”

“Some would say that is because of your mutant abilities.”

“I won’t deny that because of my powers, I was in a position to make those terrible mistakes that I probably wouldn’t have been otherwise...”

”...It’s the same for all mutants, or anyone with special abilities. We have more to offer than most people do...”

“Freddy…… Headliner. Headliner, are you saying that you believe mutants have more to offer than non-mutants?”

“In the sense that we can do things non-mutants can’t, yes...”

“You believe that mutants can do greater things for the world than non-mutants?”

“Because we have these abilities it me-”

“You believe mutants are superior?...”

“Headliner - are you of the opinion that non-mutants, normal people, are inferior to you?”

“Miss Hartford, you’re putting words in my mouth, I just meant that we are born with natural gifts that people like you could never even dream of.”

“...People ‘like you’? As in ‘you people’, Headliner? Was that a racist, a mutant supremacist, remark? Can we quote you on that?”

“What? Wait, no, I just meant that you could never do the level of good for this city that people with superpow-”

“I’m incapable of doing good, Headliner? Because I’m just a normal person, not as ‘evolved’ as you?”

[/ QUOTE ]

Britanic sighed, and rubbed the back of his neck. It was obvious that what Headliner had said, had been taken out of context, and twisted by the reporter. However that wouldn’t really matter. Britanic knew full well the actual words alone would be damming enough for some people, and those people were likely to end up being very vocal on the subject...

The same time, the Chapel, Mercy Island...

As Partisan watched the newscast on Cyberspace’s computer rig he started to smile under his brassy-bronzed metalic mask.

”Stupid oaf walked straight into that one. Admittedly Paragon’s more intelligent denizens will no doubt realise Headliner was practically railroaded there. Still, there are plenty out there who will be taken in by it.”

”Yeah people can be real stupid sometimes...but this ain’t no big deal,...right boss? I mean he’s only one mutant.”

Partisan turned, staring at the master hacker with piercing green eyes, visible through the eyes of his mask.

”Possibly, but remember Kyle an avalanche can start with a single rolling stone. This has the potential to be blown up into something bigger, and ultimately of use to myself...”

((Big thanks to Brit on helping to write this bit…it’s massive. You’ve been warned ))

{28/11/2007, 11.14pm, Atlas Park}

It had been an exhausting time for the Bickleys so they had decided on having themselves an early night, however the eldest son Sean just couldn’t sleep. He had been home for a week now, and things were still strained. His family had been overjoyed to see him safely home of course, and thankfully Amy had been right about the severity of his sisters injuries. Even so, far too much had changed to go back to the way things were.

Sean could see the change in attitude, even if his family tried to hide it. They were careful, oh so careful, whenever he was around. Careful not to ‘upset’ him. In the end, it boiled down to one thing. They were afraid of him now, afraid of what he could do to them.

Sean wasn’t due to start back at school for a little while yet. He supposed it would be the same there. Could he really stand it, living every day knowing that those who were once his friends now feared him? Or worse still……knowing that his lack of control might bring reality to their fears. Such were the thoughts that ran through his head night by night. He wrestled with his conscience –– to stay, and risk all those who cared about him, or to leave once more, and bring them grief through worry.

This night, however, he was not sharing these thoughts alone. He had quietly gone downstairs, being careful to wake no one, and was just pouring himself a drink when he heard the voice.

“Flashfyre.”

The voice, though oddly soothing, still managed to scare the [censored] out of him. He turned around with a start “Who’s there?”

“Softly, please. You wouldn’t want to go waking your family now, would you?” Said the man as he stepped out of the shadows. His deep purple eyes glinting disturbingly in the reflected light from the outside. “I am here, to help you, Flashfyre. If you will but listen. That is all I ask of you.”

“N..N..Not so fast... How’d you get in here?”

Sighing, the man gestured. Sean’s glass was softly pulled from his hand. Sean watched transfixed, as it floated across the room to rest on a table by an empty chair.

“You are not the only one with……shall we say, ‘extraordinary’ talents. Not by a long way.”

Sean’s eyes flicked upward momentarily, worry evident on his face.

“No need to worry about them……it is you, and you alone I have come to see. Now take a seat, we have much to discuss.”

“So..just who are you?” Sean asked as he carefully seated himself, not taking his eyes off the stranger.

“A fair question. My name is Oblivion, and I am the leader of a group of mutants whose job it is to seek out talented individuals like yourself, in order to both teach them, and protect them from those who do not understand their awakening power. In most cases, we would catch a gifted mutant at a young age, well before his or her powers were to manifest. Back at our home, we have many such children, who all grow up never unintentionally losing control of their power, or being judged for having it in the first place.”

“That’s...well...quite a speech. But I gotta say, I’ve never heard of anything like that. If this is true, how come you never found me, before I……I……”

“I am sorry to cause you grief. You are correct though. Where once we were able to help thousands, we now ourselves number barely in the hundreds. Those we would protect you from have hunted us nearly to extinction. Humans fear our power, and would see us gone... All humans.”

“Wait……I don’t believe you……there’s no way my family would ever turn on me like that. Or my friends.”

“It is a hard truth to face. But it is truth nonetheless. You remember what happened last week, how those men turned on you, just for being a mutant? How about the gang you joined……all of them to a man, mutants who have been forced to live on the streets, mutants given the name ‘Outcasts’. They may have taken the name and made it their own, but the meaning is still there. You are safe now, yes, with a family who care for you. But they cannot protect you from the world, the world that will come to hate you just for being different. Only you can face that……and we can help you.”

There was a moment of silence, punctuated by the far-off sound of a crowd roaring in appreciation from somewhere distant from the house.

“I……I guess your right. About some things, at least. But I’ve only just got back, and all. I can’t go running off to some mutant training camp just yet.”

Oblivion nodded sagely “You need not make a decision just yet……but when you are ready, we will be there to help you.”

“Right. Someday, soon, perhaps?” It was evident Sean was in turmoil as he battled himself trying to make a decision.……”I dunno though...I can’t risk hanging around here knowing I could go up in flames any second either”

The noise outside that had been but a background annoyance had now reached raucous levels.

”What’s going on out there?” Sean asked as he pulled the curtains open. Both Sean, and Oblivion looked out the window, and saw a crowd of thirty or so men, and women marching towards the house.

”It seems you might not have the luxury of time to think things over after all.” Oblivion said as he stepped towards the window to take a better look.

”You mean they’re here for me?...They ain’t ever going to leave me alone...ain’t they?”“

Oblivion had no time to answer the question as a brick smashed through the window. Sean started to tremble, and clench his fists forcing himself under some measure of control. ”I gotta stay calm...can’t let them do this to me.”

Oblivion started to smile to himself, this would be easy now, the norms would force Sean’s hand. He knew Ebon Sun now had it’s new recruit. With the sound of someone running down the stairs he dropped his smile and looked over to them. A middle age man dressed in just his pyjamas, obviously Sean’s father, appeared at the bottom of the stairs.

”What in blazes is going on Sean?” He then noticed Oblivion. ”Who the hell are you, what are you doing in my home?”

Oblivion turned to the man, and then noticed Sean’s mother clutching his little sister at the top of the stairs, he then gave a disarming smile. ”I’m a friend, here to help Sean.”

Another stone came through the window, and the crowd started chanting “Flashfyre, Flashfyre, Flashfyre...” Sean clutched his head, and let out a scream, before running to the front door, and throwing it open.

”Go away! Leave me alone!” the crowd replied with a chorus of boos.

A short distance away in the next street...

Teen archer heroine Pin Pointer was just about to sneak back in through her bedroom window just as she heard the roar of boos.

Huh, what the heck was that? This neighbourhood is usually deader than a nerd’s birthday party. I better go check it out.

Back at the Bickley home..

Outside the Bickley house stood Sean with his father, and Oblivion just behind, and either side of him. Sean’s father had called the PPD, but a Rikti raid in neighbouring Galaxy City had drawn away most of Atlas Park’s officers to help out there. The PPD were coming, problem was they wasn’t exactly sure when.

The leader of the mob, Charles Porter, had discovered the whereabouts of the Bickley family home from a concerned mother who lived in the neighbourhood. She had been terrified that if the boy Flashfyre didn’t go on a rampage himself, that perhaps some of his Outcast friends might start appearing. She had been with the group but now they had reached the Bickley she seemed to have disappeared. No doubt fearing any reprisals from the Bickley family. It boiled Porter’s blood to think people should be made to feel intimidated in their own neighbourhoods. People like Flashfyre needed driving out.

Charles Porter stepped forward from the crowd to address Flashfyre. ”The good normal people don’t want you around here. You’re a dangerous unrepentant criminal who should be rotting in a cell, not lounging around at home until your next outburst. The law may consider you a minor, but that doesn’t mean you should have no accountability. The good people here want you out, away from their children, and their homes.”

Sweat started to stream down Sean’s reddening face, he was desperately trying to maintain control. ”Look I don’t want to hurt anyone. I just want to be left alone. It wasn’t my fault...I..I didn’t mean it!”

”Tell that to all those who needed skin grafts thanks to you’re so called little accidents!”

”I said it wasn’t my...nnnnng...aggggh!!!” Sean buckled himself over clutching at his head, but it was too late his body burst into flames. His father leapt back startled, Oblivion calmly stepped aside, the flames not fazing him in the slightest. The crowd meanwhile started to panic. ”Oh my God he’s going to burn us...the freak is gonna kill us....get him before he gets us”


A few of the braver members of the mob cautiously moved forward on Sean brandishing various improvised weapons of sticks, and the like. Oblivion took a step forward and spoke up “Begone, fools, before you force me to hurt you!” Not that he didn’t want to let loose, of course, but he was on show here, after all. To emphasise the point, he raised his arm and clenched his fist, where the crowd could see him clearly. Moments later, the crowds makeshift weapons shattered to slivers, and a number of closer rioters doubled up vomiting.

Just as the mob starts to back off the sky is lit with an almost blinding white light, and a thunderous clap. Everybody stopped, and while shading their eyes looked up into the night sky where the light started to fade. From behind everybody a girl shouted. ”OK EVERYBODY THAT’S ENOUGH!!!”

Everybody turned to face the shouting girl. Standing behind them dressed in a deep almost maroon red costume, was a masked blond teenager sporting a black star like tattoo over the eye, and holding a compound bow with an unusual looking arrow at the ready.

”I think it’s time everybody went home, and chilled out.”

A few of the mob stepped away from Sean, and gathered up near their leader Charles Porter. Sean meanwhile, obviously feeling less threatened now Pin Pointer was here, relaxed enough that he could once again control his abilities, and managed to extinguish his flames.

Oblivion placed a hand on Sean’s shoulder. “You see what awaits you if you stay?”

Sean’s father was about to protest, but Sean beat him too it. ”Bu..but Am...I mean Pin Pointer just stopped them.”

Oblivion glanced towards Pin Pointer, and almost scowled. ”For now maybe, but what about the future. You know she won’t always be around. However, people like them will.” he said as he gestured towards the mob. Sean lowered his head, and then nodded, before Oblivion started to lead him away through the centre of the crowd.

”Whoah there bucko! You ain’t taking Sean any where!”

Oblivion looked over towards Pin Pointer who’d moved into his path. Her arrow aimed directly at him.

”Don’t interfere child. Sean needs my help, and the fellowship of his own kind. Those who won’t judge him, who will respect his wondrous gifts, and help protect him from harm.”

”Sean is with his own kind...his family! You ain’t got no right to take him away from that, and im not going to let you!”

Oblivion glared at Pin Pointer, furious at her petulance. His tone became disapproving. ”You cannot stop me.”

Pin Pointer had no idea who this man was but she was convinced he was no good, taking a deep breath she replied with her usual cocky teenage manner. ”Bring it!!!”

Oblivion merely smiled, and pushed Sean behind him, just as Pin Pointer let her arrow fly...

A short time later...

Pin Pointer sat on the ground crying in Mr Bickley’s arms. His wife was hastily applying bandages from a first aid kit she had got from the house to her wounds. Her bow was shattered into several pieces and littering the immediate area. Mob of the mob scattered as soon as the fight between Pin Pointer, and Oblivion broke out, however Charles Porter was still there watching the aftermath of the short battle.

”I..I..Im sorry Mr. Bickley....I tried..I really did. He was too strong...I couldn’t stop him taking Sean.”

”It’s ok Amy” He said as he wiped a tear away from her eye with the starlike tattoo that had immediately given her identity away to her neighbour. ”I think Sean, would of went no matter what.” Sean’s father looked over to Charles Porter. ”People like him has seen to that!”

Charles Porter looked uncomfortable for a moment., but a look from a couple of his followers who still remained seemed to boost his courage. ”Your Son is a monster, no doubt much like the one who did this to the girl. You’re better off without him.”

Sean’s mother started to cry, and Mr Bickley went to stand up, with a look of fury on his face. Pin Pointer grabbed him by the shoulder pulling him back, wincing as she did, thanks to the soreness of her own shoulder.

”Don’t Mr. Bickley, he ain’t worth it. Don’t get yourself in trouble because of a jerk like him.”

The sound of a Police siren heading towards them could be heard in the distance. Charles Porter, and his remaining followers started to disperse. Mr. Bickley watched them run.

”Yeah, you’re right Amy, they are not worth it...none of them.”

Moments later less than a block away...

An attractive woman with long brown hair dressed casually in jean’s and a t-shirt was talking into a communicator.

”...not exactly the result you planned Partisan, but still a successful operation I’d say. The unidentified mutant who humiliated the cape, and took Flashfyre could very well be an agent of Ebon Sun. I had Sea Four pursue. He might get lucky, and maybe get us a location of their hideout. Im just abo...”

”Mrs. Rothman. I wondered where you disappeared to?”

The woman stopped talking, and hid the communicator behind her back, and placed a hand on her chest, although was genuinely surprised.

”Oh...Mr. Porter, you startled me. I...I coudn’t go to the Bickley house. Im sorry, but I have to think of my children.”

Mr Porter smiled. ”That’s ok Mrs. Rothman, I understand. Flashfyre has fled the neighbourhood with a mutant cohort. I don’t think you need worry about him living around here anymore.”

”Oh thank you Mr. Porter, you’re a real hero.” The woman pulled the communicator from behind her back, and pretending it was a mobile phone started to speak into it. Did you hear that Danielle? Mr Porter has got rid of Flashfyre from the neighbourhood.”

”My sister, who’s looking after the kids.” she whispered to Porter. He smiled. ”I will leave you to it then, stay safe Mrs. Rothman.” he whispered as he walked off.

Her eyes still following Porter as he walked off into the distance, she continued to speak into the communicator. ”...no he doesn’t suspect a thing. Little weasel practically took the credit for himself too. Still he might prove useful again soon, and im sure James Ward can write an article about tonight’s events too. I will go fill him in on the details now. Quick Fix out...”

{29/11/07, Mid morning, Atlas Park}

Amy Pointer, and her Father sat opposite each other in total silence. The teenage girl refused to look up, seething that her Father had grounded her, after discovering she’d once again defied him in taking up her heroic identity of Pin Pointer. Even if she had managed to talk Mr. Bickley out of bringing her home last night, and avoided him from telling her father about what had happened, she would of still been caught out. Her father had also managed to get to the morning newspaper before she had a chance to hide it. There on the front page was a fairly recent picture of herself, as well as a somewhat twisted account of last night’s events. Still refusing to look at her father she instead read the front page of the Paragon City Post again...

[ QUOTE ]

Story by James Ward.


There was drama in a residential area of Atlas Park last night when concerned citizens marched upon the home of Sean Bickley also known as the mutant Flashfyre. The group led by popular street speaker Charles Porter had planned to protest at the controversial decision by Paragon authorities to allow the young criminal to remain in his parent’s custody rather than be detained in Juvenile Hall, or some other secure facility.


Charles Porter had organised the protest after being contacted by several of the Bickley neighbours, worried about the possible danger Flashfyre was to those around him, or possible unsavoury elements he might attract into the neighbourhood. It seems their fears may have been justified, as the protest was set upon by a mutant cohort of Flashfyre’s.


It is speculated that the unidentified mutant would of very likely inflicted serious injuries on the protest group had it not been for the timely arrival of teen heroine Pin Pointer. After quickly establishing control over the now panicking crowd the young Pin Pointer then moved in to neutralise the threat posed by the unidentified mutant. However despite her awesome skill with a compound bow gained intense training, she was unable to take down the super powered mutant. After a brief but brutal battle, Flashfyre and his unknown ally escaped, leaving neighbours, and protesters to attend to the valiant young girl’s injuries
.

Paragon Police Department Officers, delayed by a Rikti attack in nearby Galaxy City, appeared on the scene shortly after. Despite a sweep of the neighbourhood by Officers, the two mutants were nowhere to be found, and made a clean getaway.


Local residents are said to be pleased just to have got rid of the troublemaker. They are also happy that their children at the local Atlas Park High School will no longer have be exposed to the dangerous young mutant, or his criminal associates.

As for Pin Pointer, her injuries are said to not be serious, and the young archer is expected to be back on the streets battling... Cont. pg2.

[/ QUOTE ]

As if her grounding by her father hadn’t already fouled her mood, the way the story had been written had also angered her. She figured the Paragon City Post had probably been given the story Charles Porter, or one of his cronies, and hoped to call the paper to put them right on a few details. However her Father, furious at her disobedience, didn’t want her further involved, and removed all her telephone privileges too.

Still, as mad as she was at both her Father, and the newspaper, there was one thing that she was even angrier at, and that was herself! She couldn’t help but feel that she had failed her friend Sean, despite her best effort’s against the stranger that had taken him. She swore to herself that just as soon as she gave her Father the slip, she’d get out there, and start searching for Sean again. However she was fully aware that she’d require more than good intentions alone to track him down, and she would need professional help. The first name that popped into her head was of the bow wielding tracker she had ran into in Skyway City. .The man who she had fought alongside with in order to bring Sean home in the first place, the archer known as Trace...

{01/12/2007} The Corporation Base

Antipode sat in the bar, rereading the paper with a fierce glare, as if it were the one that had betrayed her. She had no idea how Mr Sebastain would react to this news. Admittedly, he had promised that he 'took care of his own', but she had barely been accepted as a member, and now this...
She cursed Tony under her breath from blowing up the old base. Demonic invasion or no, he was far too trigger happy when it came to that old temple, and she suspected it hadn't taken much provocation to collapse it.
It and the rest of the base, with all the group funds, their database, even most of their personal items.

She sighed to herself. It wasn't exactly the first time this had happened, of course. And she had far more pressing concerns right now. Her eyes drifted back to the page.

"Martial law declared!"
That meant nothing - the Isles were in a permenant state of near-martial law anyhow. More worrying however was -

"Newly raised Arbiter Bishop vows to put an end to the mutant menace!"

Following the murder of Coles, it seemed that his replacement wanted to secure his position, by wiping out the 'subversive element' that had led to his predecessors demise. Even as she read the article, she knew it must be happeneing again, as it had years ago. All mutants rounded up off the streets, the ones with 'useful' mutations sent to the twisted geneticists, the others either imprisoned or executed.

"All meta-class mutants to swear an oath of allegiance, or be considered enemies of the state."

Well, would you look at that. That had been an unexpected turn. She supposed that since aquiring Mako, Recluse had seen the wisdom of keeping a few loyal mutants on staff. She knew though, that the majority of mutants would never bow to Recluse.

And the final twisting stab to the gut.
"A substantial reward for information leading to the recapture of any member of the group Ebon Sun. As well as this, a bounty of two million has been placed on the head of the head of this group, known as Antipode."

And that was it. There was a fairly bad photo, but a good description too. Next time she showed her face outside, she would be mobbed by both bounty hunters eager for an easy score, and fellow mutants who would blame her for their predicament.

It was then she made her decision. If Ovblivion wanted to back her into a corner, so be it. This had gone on long enough. It was time for action.


-------------------

{elsewhere...}

"This had gone on long enough."
Oblivion spoke to an elite group of his most loyal followers, as the entire Ebon Sun turned out to hear his words.

"We have allowed the humans too much. Humanity First were useful for a time, as they spread dissent, doing our job for us, but no more. We must strike back at the humans at last, show them we are not to be treated as we are!"

He looked out over the sea of heads, smiling. He caught a glimpse of the new kid, Flashfyre, looking a little hesitant. He would have to have Psychosis have a little word with him.

"The day of our supremacy is drawing ever closer! Soon, the whole world will acced to the might of the Ebon Sun!"

As the crowd cheered him and his chosen few, he was jubilant inside. After so long, it was time for action.

{01/12/07, Early morning, the Chapel, Mercy Island}

Partisan sat in a chair, in the computer room set up for the use of hacker extraordinaire Cyberspace reading today’s copy of the Informer...

[ QUOTE ]

Story by the “Snitch”

Once again things are hotting up in the Isles, especially if you are a mutant. An official source from the Arachnos Ministry of Information has stated that a state of Martial Law has been declared in order to deal in a sharp rise of subversive activity by dissident mutants. Thing is we at the Informer thought the Isles were already in a state of Martial Law. Guess that shows what we know. Looks like the Spiders are going to be even less friendly than usual.


Also from the Ministry is the news that Arbiter Bishop has been appointed to the post of “Director of Mutant Affairs”, replacing Arbiter Coles who was kidnapped, and murdered by mutant terrorists.


Arbiter Bishop, no doubt looking to secure his new position, has sworn to “put an end to the mutant menace.” As well as pushing for the Martial Law declaration, he has been quoted as saying “All meta-class mutants to swear an oath of allegiance, or be considered enemies of the state." What he is basically saying is if you are a mutant with some sort of power exploitable by Arachnos, you best start kissing Recluses rear end. Should you be one of them freaky looking, but pointless mutants, prepare for more bullying than usual.


It would also seem that Arbiter Bishop has made up his mind concerning who recently raided the Ministry of the Interior, and is offering hard cash for information leading to, or the capture of members of the mutant front “Ebon Sun.” Chief amongst these bounties is the sum of two million for the unusually tall, blue skinned mutant Antipode.


We at the informer did a little digging on Antipode, and found a few things out ourselves. As well as her obvious mutant looks, Antipode has mastery over both fire, and ice which she uses to further her chosen profession of mercenary. Although not particularly notorious, she does have a reasonably solid record with both the now defunct Immorality League, and more recently the Pact.


However while we didn’t find anything specifically naming her as the leader of the mysterious Ebon Sun, there was plenty of evidence linking her to recent mutant escape activities in the Isles. The Spiders are obviously convinced in order to have offered such a grand bounty in the first place. Whatever the truth she is going to be a popular mark for the bounty hunter community... Cont Pg2

[/ QUOTE ]

”Hmm, interesting. Cyberspace what do we have on this Antipode?”

”One second Big P!” The young man said as he worked his fingers into a blur, tapping away at a keyboard. Within seconds text, and images started to scroll up one of the many screens.

”Obviously it’s not a complete file, but it’s pretty damn accurate what we do have. I originally started researching her due to her association with our old friend Big Game, also she’s a bit of a player in our current schemes, as it was her who brokered the deal with the Corporation to ship mutant refugees out of the Isles.”

Partisan threw the paper down onto the desk, and started to read the information on the screen. At the same time Cyberspace glanced over, and quickly read the paper.

”Y’dont actually think she is the leader of Ebon Sun do ya boss?”

Without looking away from the screen Partisan answered him. ”No I don’t but I do think she is, or has been highly connected with them in the past, and a possible avenue to getting to their leadership.”

”So y’reckon the Spiders found out about her organising that mutant exodus with the Corp?”

Partsan lifted his head up from the screen, and paused as if in deep thought. ”Hmm, no. I think if Arachnos was aware they would of made a move onto Corpmunitions. I think it is more likely somebody dropped her name into Arbiter Bishop’s lap. My guess is the current Ebon Sun leadership are indulging into a little subterfuge of their own. It looks like they might want her removed.”

”Surely it would be easier to rely on their own people to take her out.”

”True, but it does save their own resources, as well as redirect the attention, of Arachnos. Of course another explanation is Ebon Sun is not yet desperate enough to openly betray one of their own, or someone who potentially holds some form of influence within their ranks.”

Partisan started to pace the room, thinking. Cyberspace watched him with a questioning look on his face. ”So Big P, what’s the plan dude?”

Partisan stopped, and turned to face Cyberspace, his piercing green eyes staring through his mask. "Have Quick Fix and her boys put onto bodyguard detail for Antipode.”

”WHAAAT!!!”

Partisan smiled under his mask, pleased with his ability to still surprise his men. ”If Ebon Sun wants Antipode dealt with then I feel it is in OUR interests to watch her back. At some point Ebon Sun will get frustrated, and impatient and send their own people to do the job, it might then provide us with a lead to follow up, and destroy them at their core.”

”Ahhh gotcha boss, smart thinking, but wouldn’t Street be better for this sorta operation?”

”No. Considering how he feels about Big Game, and knowing of his close association with Antipode, there is a potential for trouble Im not willing to risk that Street might someway use Antipode to exact some sort of vengeance against our wayward hunter friend. Big Game will be dealt with, but this operation has priority... You have your orders Cyberspace, get to work.”

”Yes boss.” Cyberspace replied as he left the computer room.

Partisan looked towards the image of Antipode on the Screen. To think, to me the good of this one out weighs the good of the many. I wonder how she would feel to know her continued survival might spell devastation for many of her own kind?...

{15/12/07.Central shopping mall, Founders Falls. 2pm}

It was a scene common at this time of year. Busy shoppers ran to and fro, gathering gifts for loved ones, preparing for that one day so beloved by the world, while a brass band competed with the crowd to be heard. Twilight looked on with barely restrained boredom. The Christmas season couldn’t mean less to him. But it served a purpose.
He glanced over at his companions, Psychosis and Daymare, and nodded imperceptibly, receiving a small gesture in return. That meant the others were now in position. He turned away and headed for a corner strangely untouched by the rushing throng, and leaned casually against the wall.
“Illucid. Did you find any capes?”
A voice drifted back, barely audible above the roar of the crowd
“Just the one. I am in place to intercept”
Nodding to himself, Twilight strode toward the raised dais the band was using, forcing his way through the crowd. Angry complaints followed his progress – he cared not. They would soon have more to worry about. He leaped up onto the dais, and threw aside the music stands. The brass band ground to a halt, some flinching back at his appearance. With black, desiccated skin, he could be nothing but one of the mutants they had learned to hate and fear.
Using a voice amplifier, he addressed the crowd
“If I may have your attention, please?”
And he watched, as one by one they stopped, and turned toward him, eagerly expectant. He savoured the moment. Then he reached into his pocket and activated the detonator.
Screams erupted as huge sections of the ceiling came crashing down, covering the exits. A number of people had already been crushed underneath, others were alive, but trapped. And now as Taurus and Aegis moved out into the crowd to contain them, Psychosis and Daymare began their part.
He didn’t understand how they did it, but he did see the effects. Psychosis would strip away the minds defenses, their sanity. Then Daymare would be free to inflict his terrifying visions upon them, bringing them to their knees.
Twilight smiled. That just left….
“Monster!” An obviously superpowered individual leapt up above the crowd, heading straight for the dais. Twilight grinned. Right on schedule. How predictable of the capes. And as if to answer his cry, he merely laughed as Illucid gathered his form behind him, and struck him down with a single blow.
“Mutant?” He asked Illucid casually.
“No. Magic wielder.”
“Then kill him.”

He turned back to the now mindless crowd. He didn’t expect it to serve a purpose, yet he felt compelled to speak.
“The city has received our demands. If they are met, you will be released, unharmed” Physically. “If not, or if they send heroes after us, you will all be executed summarily. Pray your city values your lives.”

He sat back and hummed to himself. It had begun.

-------------------------------------------------

Her task over, Psychosis was about to drop her mental guard and relax, when she spotted something. A mind…a truly powerful mind, trying to hide itself from her power. Maybe even a hero, trying to stay covert. She smiled viciously. Let the boys have their fun with the civilians. She was going hunting…

This was... annoying.

Sarah set down her bags carefully and moved out of sight, into one of the corridors that led to the toilets. It was a sign of who she was that she hadn't immediately moved to stop the mutants, or leapt to the aid of the other hero. Instead she had waited and watched, shielding her mind from detection. She was obviously dealing with at least one accomplished psychic here. Otherwise this could have been ended by now.

No, instead of changing into her costume and rushing out to save the day she stood quietly and thought. Illusions were useless if they had another psychic to dispell them. Calling for help was futile until this psychic was out of the way. Manipulating the minds of the criminals served no purpose until their psychic was unable to protect them.

That was it came down to, this other psychic. Sarah could feel her presence, sense the power of her mind. She was strong. But if there was one thing Sarah had, it was confidence. Leaning against the wall she shut her eyes and began to work, in the manner she was best suited.

It was not a rush of energy, or a sudden attack upon the mind. A slow, gentle seeking. Insidious mental creeping with the intent to get her hooks into her targets mind before they were aware. It was time to show these activists that she knew just who they were, and what she could do to them.

Besides. She always had her trump card...

Strange. Every time Sarah thought she had found a gap in this other psychics mental defences - and there were quite a few - it almost seemed to cover itself up. Either her opponent was extremely skilled or something else was going on here. She furrowed her brow and renewed her attempts to find a way to work her hooks into the mind. She could tell it was a woman. And powerful. It was impossible that anyone could be as powerful or skilled in the mental realm as herself, of course… but this one was strong. If she kept preventing Sarah’s attacks before she had time to launch them then she might have to take a more direct approach…

***

Psychosis stood on the escalator as it slowly travelled upwards, the simple music they played into the mall pinging in the background. Whoever this person was they were almost impossible to find. She could tell she was here somewhere, but pinpointing her was like trying to thread a needle. Every time she thought she had her she slipped away. And every now and then she would feel a whisper, the slightest of touches probing along her defences. Whoever this person was they were definitely skilled, Psychosis had never known another psychic to use their abilities in the ways this person was. But Psychosis had her ace up her sleeve. Her powers had been enhanced genetically and had developed a secondary mutation. Her mental defences were self-adaptive. They would react to threats without her having to divert her attention to them.

Wherever this person was hiding, she would find them. Even if she had to do it the old fashioned way. She stepped off of the escalator and looked around. She stepped forward and began to walk along the storefronts, glancing into each one as she continued her mental search as well. No one in the book store, the shoe store, the sporting go-

A baseball bat was levitating in the doorway of the sporting goods store and swung out, catching her around the side of the head and sending her sprawled across the floor with a pained grunt. The bat floated towards her and raised up to strike again but she glared up at it, stopping it where it was with her telekinesis. She could feel the power driving the bat push once experimentally, then it dissipated and the bat fell to the ground. Psychosis pushed herself to her feet and touched a finger to her lip where it was split open.

“Show yourself. I don’t have any interest in hide and seek.”

And surprisingly, they did. A woman stepped out from a corridor on the other side of the walkway. She was slim, and carried herself with an arrogance that implied either power or stupidity. She was wearing smart glasses and a white fedora. Black shoes, black trousers, a black t-shirt and a white trench coat that had obviously had the sleeves ripped off at the shoulder.

“Afternoon.” The woman nodded coldly.
“Afternoon… and you are?”
“Afterlight.”
“Oh, a hero. Cute.” Psychosis smirked.
“And you?”
“Psychosis.”
“How two dimensional of you… psychosis, you’re a psychic. If that’s as far as your wit extends this shouldn’t take very long at all.”
“Watch who you speak ill of - I am an advanced being.”
“I can only assume you mean a mutant.” Afterlight said, her disdain clear.
“Mutant is a term we have been branded with by-”
“Oppressive humans, yes, I know. I’m a mutant as well.”
“Then you should join us. We are part of a new age, the time of humans is past.”
“So are you of the all humans should die way of thinking, or do you believe we should use them as cattle? Because either way, you aren’t paying enough attention.”
“Attention? To what?”

All of the glass in the windows behind Psychosis cracked and shattered, the shards flying together to form splintered grenades with sharp edges on every side. A half dozen of the deadly missiles floated forward and began to orbit Psychosis.

“You spent so much time monitoring my telepathy that you forget about telekinesis. Someone hasn’t been practicing.”
“You arrogant [censored]. You don’t stand a chance.”
“I’ve dealt with worse than you. You’re just a bigot. I’m going to show you how a psychic handles themselves.”

The glass grenades all drew back in unison before rocketing inwards. Psychosis raised a force field around herself, the missiles exploding against it and glass flying everywhere around her. “Is that the best that you have?” She asked, but… Afterlight was gone. Invisibility of some kind, or perhaps… no. She could feel her mental defences re-forming themselves. Somehow she had slipped past them…

She blinked and Afterlight was there again, now on the same side of the walkway as her and walking confidently.

“I can see you.”
“I really don’t care.”

Psychosis frowned and launched a mental attack at Afterlight, the heroine shrugging it off. It was if she had somehow… sidestepped it. How could you dodge a psychic assault? She tried again and again, the air between the two women humming with invisible energy, and each time Afterlight somehow evaded or deflected the attacks.

“How are you doing that?”
“It’s called skill, dear. I suggest you learn some.”
“Skill won’t save you against my power!”
“Power? Well, alright then.”

Psychosis blacked out, and found herself staggering backwards a moment later. Whatever had just happened, Afterlight had just shown that she was a much greater threat than Psychosis had first thought. She had somehow overwhelmed her mental walls with one attack, and if not for her adaptive defences she probably would have been defeated right then. Steadying herself she sent out a telekinetic wave, and the fight really began.

***
“Daymare, have you seen Psychosis?”
“No. You’re distracting me.”
Twilight frowned. “She has to be somewhere.”

Just then a figure came crashing down from the walkways of the floors above and smashed through the wooden stage. They were followed quickly by a flying woman in a white coat who swooped down and landed gracefully on an undamaged part of the stage.

“Does this belong to anybody?” She asked the assembled crowd casually.
“Hero!” Twilight roared. “Taurus, Aegis, stop her!”

Afterlight uttered an arcane incantation and flung her hand out at the advancing mutants, a bolt of energy blasting them back.

“Some of us don’t just rely on our natural abilities. You should tell your pet psychic that if she ever decides to pick a fight with me again.” She said arrogantly.
“Tell her yourself.” Twilight leered.

Psychosis rose out of the splintered wreckage of the stage. Her hair was in disarray, blood poured freely from her scalp and a large splinter of wood was impaled in her right shoulder.

“I understand now. You’ve bastardised your gifts, your supremacy, with magic.”
“It’s called ‘diversifying’.”
“Twilight, Daymare, join me in stopping this witch.”
“Gladly,” the withered, charcoal skinned mutant nodded.
Psychosis grinned in triumph. “Any last words?”
Afterlight nodded. “What colour is the dawn?”
The grin on Psychosis’’ face vanished. “What did you say?”
“I asked you - what colour is the dawn?”
“Wh-… where did you hear that?”
“A mutual friend. Tell me, do you know what the word is for two diametrically opposed points?”
“What are you babbling about witch?”
“It’s ‘antipode’.”

Afterlight shouted an ancient command word, arcane energy flashing out from her hands and smashing into Twilight at the same time as she unleashed her mental reserves on Psychosis, hitting her with the full strength of her power. Psychosis screamed and flung out her arms, channelling her own enhanced power against Afterlights.

Sarah’s eyes widened as she fell backwards, toppling off the stage and collapsing on the ground. Psychosis fell from her levitation and gasped for air. She had almost lost. If not for her enhanced powers…

There was a crash from somewhere in the mall and the sound of an angry roar. Twilight picked himself up and looked around. “Illucid, what was that?”
“The one they call Headliner…”
“Damn this! Psychosis, we’re pulling out!”
“I… have to… finish her…”
“Leave her, we don’t have time and she’s too powerful to take prisoner! This mission has been compromised!”
“No, she-”
“No! I’ll carry all of you out of here if I have to, but we’re leaving! Illucid, gather the others before that brute makes a bigger mess of things! We’re done here!”