Independence port 7AM
Dammit Varrick you will pay for this, I muter to myself, as waves hit me full on, I was flying low, had to to avoid the radars systems as I approached the USA. Paragon city to be precise, behind me I could feel them getting closer, mechanical monsters seeking my death, each one eight foot tall and close to two tonnes in weight, they'd been pursuing me for days now, I am almost out of devices to fight them with, I haven't had chance to eat, to sleep, to restock my weapons and three broken ribs are lighting up the right side of my body, like a Christmas tree of pain!
Reaching for my communicator I modify it slightly and count down, five, four, three, two... one!
Ignoring the screaming protest from my ribs I air break hard and ascend into radar range, my communicator screams out various Longbow alert signals, SOS and the like, I accelerate as fast as I can, the beasts tracking me rising as well to match me ascent, Idiots.
Three minutes pass, Longbow chasers arrive to intercept us, fearsome aircraft manned by ace pilots, they tell us to stand down, speakers blaring over the noise of their engines. I don't stand down, I lash out with my power, destroy one of the craft, the others respond as expected with missile fire, my own energy bursts the misses before impact I allow myself to fall ,catching my self on the surface of the water, accelerating along while both sets of my pursuers meeting battle above me.
I escape limping on slightly into the sewers beneath the city, a lesser man would hide, live out their life in secret, but I am not a lesser man I am Baron Eternity and I will not let Varrick win.
Kings Row 9AM
I hate sewers, but they provide a handy way to get around, as long as you aren't particularly wanted, by the various caped heroes leading crusades into the dank underbelly, of the city. Whats more it shielded me from the tracking devices of the machine, but I'm not one to run and hide, no its time to fight back.
My next port of call was a Steel Foundry in Kings Row, nervous workers watched me as I walked looking for the factory foreman, its the cape you see, carry your self with one well and they give you respect.
I need everyone out for the next three hours! I demanded of him
He gave me a belligerent look, the kind of guy who won't do nothing for no one out of the good of his heart.
I chucked down a wad of bills Twenty thousand dollars, more than a place like this would earn in an entire day, he looked down at the cash weighing things up.
I'll even pay for their lunch break what do you say? I asked
He agreed, asking if I was a hero, and asking me to promise not to let the smelters cool.
Yeah something like that I told him
The foundry was perfect, for hunting robots, the heat was high enough for me to let my own body temperature cool, thus I was invisible to the machines thermal optics, the tiny iron particles in the air, that forced the workers to wear breath masks and goggles, would confuse its targeting sensors.
But I needed bait, I reworked my com-system, making it a pulsing beacon like the thumper from Dune, nice films though a bit weird for my taste. While I waited I stripped down my repair kit, rebuilding it for offence, my machines were gone, the last destroyed a few days ago, in its current form the kit was just dead weight but it could be so much more.
Their heavy footsteps announced their arrival, my com-system pulsed in warning, three close and six more closing in on this place, time to work fast.
I moved through the foundry like a puma ((Hide)), a puma with a ray gun.
Dropping behind them I gave a loud cough.
Statement: Brave: To Announce: Presence: Brave: Yet: Stupid they said in union
My own reply was to shoot two of them, with the freeze ray, gallons of super heated steam became ice in an instant, forming a beautiful statue of water and metal. The ray gun whirred, its energy gone.
The remained charged me, but I was ready, focusing all my will into my hands I struck the machine with intense focus ((Assassins Shock)), cleaving through it's armour like a blade through paper, the burst of steam scalded me, but my mind was on the task at hand, ripping the machines head from its shoulders I cracked it's casing like a nut, inside was my goal, the machines data core, from this I would fight back.
My communicator, buzzed more frequently warning of the arrival of the machines, but I was ready for them as they approached I threw a sparkling dust at them, modified nanites, the remainder of my repair kit, each one a focus drawing logic problem waiting to be solved, drives robots mad, it's catnip for AI.
I took to my heels again, dropped into the sewer and made new tracks, I had part of what I needed, but I needed more for my weapon, food too would be a good idea, sleep I could go without but I get cranky when I'm hungry.
Steel Canyon 10AM
Gods bless the mall, no where else would you get all the parts I needed under one roof, as well as food.
I stop off at a 'Blaster Fried Chicken', not particularly for taste but they do have some things I need, I order food and the woman behind the counter gives me a shy smile, I tip her a hundred dollars, she lets me have extra condiments, she deserved the money, those places pay terribly and she has nice eyes.
The foods not great, but it's hot and it fills a hole, besides it was the condiments I needed any way, there are oh so many things you can do with a collection of salts, acids and secret herbs and spices, if your smart enough.
I sit down and try to enjoy the fried chicken, slowly it dawns on me, around me are capes. People dressed like super heroes, even a few villains from the look of it here and there, I feel myself tense up, a few of these guys and gals, there costumes are showing stuff like, micro weave fibres, advanced polymers stuff that they didn't make at home.
A woman fairly attractive in a botoxed kinda way, sticks a microphone in my face, I stare confused at her for a moment.
Welcome to the fifth annual Marvellous Mega mall costume contest, who are you dressed as! she smarmed
The glass roof above us caved in, metallic death came crashing down towards us, four of the machine warriors had tracked me down.
Statement: Target: Dressed: As Soon: To Be Dead: Humanoid they said in union
Damn they can make an entrance!
A Group costume team with hey! she starts to announce, before I drag her out of the way of the blasts, my chair melts, I return fire with the condiments, a cloud of mixed materials hitting the lead machine, it melts, alchemy, metal to water.
I throw a magnesium device, into the air, I'm three floors down before the light dies out, the sickness hits me, I loose the fast food, performing a transmutation without appropriate power sources, has side effects.
Id dive through a glass window, steal clothes as I run, a couple of corners gives me chance to change, baggy T-shirt and jeans, a second window provides trainers, my armour fades into my skin, I escape into the screaming crowds, there is some where I need to be, the heroes can deal with the machines.
Steel Canyon 10.30AM.
I enter the PC store, cape trailing behind me, the greeter is smarmy, his cheerfulness born of a desperation, must be a bonus system in effect, it's irritating. I lay him out with a single punch, the rest of the staff and customers fall soon after, not nice or elegant, but effective.
Hacking the computers, is as easy as breathing, a virus makes them all wireless slaves to my computer, thirty thousand dollars of processing power and I need every bit.
The data core, provides the means, desperation provides the inspiration, something virulent, effective. It takes ten minutes to compile, I play the waiting game, also play mine sweeper while waiting for the machines to catch up with me.
They wait out side, I walk out and face them, smiling I release the virus into them and vanish, blanked from their processors, I laugh as they stand around, they can't see me.
In human terms the virus, beats the AI into such a state of fear, that it simply can't process me, beaten child syndrome, or something close to that, to them I am invisible the idea of my presence can't be processed by them
I watch the milling robots, they know they are here for something, but what escapes them.
Inside a quick movie program allows me to edit the CCTV footage from the store removing my self from the equation, making it appear the robots had attacked the store, a change of clothes and I allow myself to fall unconscious.
A policeman helps me to stand up, the groan is play acting my ribs feel like blazing spikes in sides, Varrick I swear, you will see how hard it is to kill me.
Brawling Cactus from a distant planet.
Dark Astoria 10amish.
Twilighter gasped as the machine spoke, spaghetti-ohs dropped from her mouth, the bowl spilled unnoticed, she gave a terrified shriek and scrambled from the room. Cowering under her bed, it was several hours before promises off hugs and belly rubs settled her down.
Brawling Cactus from a distant planet.
((OOC
Okay Duskies this happens after the TLF attack, like a week or so after actually, well today actually.
Idea of this is to respond to one or more the incidents, IP 7am, KR 9am, SC 10 and 10.30am.
If you wish to fight one of the BUO robots just say so, we can do so, Baron Eternity ends up disguised as a normal civilian around 11.20am.
If you want to join in, just respond to one of the events.))
Brawling Cactus from a distant planet.