At one of the large work desks in the MAGI library, an Arab in a black suit sat, reading through the latest update from their spies in the field. The man would have given his age as 49 but in truth it was a lot more than that plus the cares of many years had etched deep lines into the dark skin of his face that made him look much older. He read out of boredom, the brief report of hundreds of Wailer demons rampaging through the Isles after being kicked out of their nest the only thing that piqued his interest.
He was more interested in the traveller. Having spent a long time crossing dimensional barriers and manipulating the dark energies of the nether, he had been a sound pick by MAGI to interview the revenant hero. Dante Carver wondered just how much he might have changed. He knew only too well the coiling energies of the dark realm and how they could try to manipulate their user. All too often he had fought with them and that was just the power of the place. Its denizens, with their hunger for the warmth of humans were another matter. The few times he had dared to venture into the nether, it had been under the protection of the most powerful protective spells. How a mortal, without that resistance would far when left to the mercies of the Netherworld he dreaded to think.
He turned the page of the report and waited for Britanic to arrive.
@Dante EU - Union Roleplayer and Altisis Victim
The Militia: Union RP Supergroup - www.themilitia.org.uk
A MAGI library, Atlas Park. September 12, 2008. Night
Sebille Riley was used to being mistaken for a librarian. She spent most of her time in the various libraries and bookstores in the city. Her wide blue eyes devouring every word from behind her wire frame spectacles. And her sensible grey skirt and jacket did little to dispel the bookish image. The only hint that she was something more than she appeared was the outline of her elfin ears beneath her straw coloured hair.
And here she was all alone in one of MAGIs Atlas Park libraries. She had her own key, came and went as she pleased, and helped with any enquiries that people approached her with. She was just missing a nametag and a wage packet.
She was carrying out research into the netherworld on behalf of her MAGI superiors. She hadnt been told exactly why it was necessary but there were rumours. In a body as old and full of secrets at MAGI there were always rumours. Talk of subtle changes in the barriers between this world and the shadows. And of a heavy hitting hero being brought in in an effort to make sense of it. She has already been trying herself; ever since she was a child she had felt some connection to the shadows. To the darkness. As she got older she researched the world behind the shadows. The dark place. A world with countless names. Among them the Netherworld. And now she felt a shift. Something was different in the darkness.
There was a shuffling noise. A noise not unfamiliar in the library of the daytime. But at night, alone, it caused Sebilles heart to beat that little bit faster.
She looked down the dark corridors of leather, wood and paper. Hello? Hello, can I help you?
There was something in the shadows. Someone. The figure in the darkness ambled forward like a marionette missing several strings.
Sebille stood up. She had seen creatures who the stuff of nightmares to those not awake in these halls. Mr Vermillion isnt here. Everyone has gone home
but I could perhaps help you find what you are looking for.
The figure moved into the yellow half light cast by her desk lamp. Wide watery eyes stared out from a dead face. Skin like parchment stretched over bone.
She placed the book in her right hand on the desk. A dark energy began to swirl around her hands. Anticipating what Sebille Riley hoped against hope was not about to happen. She opened her mouth but there were no words. Just a gasp as she was yanked from the ground by the creature behind her.
Six minutes later. Sebille scrambled to her feet. Out of breath. Heart pounding. The cold night air moving like a spectre from the broken library window. The darkness swirled around her hands still. Two zombies lay lifeless on the floor. Any spark of life now returned to the netherworld.
There was a footstep behind her. She gasped. A powerfully built Native American in a black suit gave her a compassionate look with a hard edge.
Special
Special Agent Thunderhorse? she said, a tremble detectable in her voice.
Call me Michael, please, said the FBI Agent currently on secondment with MAGI to investigate ritualistic murders. What happened here, miss?
Sebille looked down at the zombies. I was attacked. Right here in the heart of MAGI. I
I dont know
I defended myself, Spec
Michael.
He nodded. I can see that. He looked at the broken window. One of them fled I see. He spoke into his radio. Badger, we have an escape route. East window of the second floor library. Be on the look out for one ZU male. He turned back to Sebille. Do you have any idea how they got inside?
Sebille shook her head. She took off her glasses with her left hand and sat down at the desk, scanning her handwritten notes. I have sensed things
.in the barriers in-between our dimension and
and the darkness.
The agent moved closer to her, respecting her boundaries as he looked at the notebook on her desk. Others have sensed disturbances and MAGI is taking this very seriously. A man who has recently broken free from the shadowlands after being trapped there for some time has been asked to attend a debriefing to help us fathom what is happening. Id like you to attend I think your insights could be of value.
Sebille looked down at the desk. I dont know, Im just a researcher. There will be a lot of important and experienced
Importance and experience isnt always whats required
sometimes a gut feeling can suddenly make the pieces of an investigation to fall into place, said Michael.
Sebille nodded, giving a brave smile. Ill do what I can.
@Romanov
Nadja Romanov, Lily Pink, Little Death - The Cadre
Estoque, Bastinado, Spidermonkey, Chic Doyle - The Militia
Miss Teen, Dead Reckoner, Dee Dee Diablo, Kaneko
{15/09/2008, 9.22am, The MAGI Library}
Britanic, wearing a tasteful grey business suit, stepped into the library. His glowing eyes, the most obvious thing marking him different from most people, scanned the room until he found a familiar face.
"Dante!" Britanic called out as he spotted his occasional Militia comrade across the room. As Britanic approached the mystic smiled, and extended his hand. After a few moments of pleasantries the two men entered one of the librarys side rooms for privacy.
So is this going to take long? Im hoping to spend some time with Suzi and the girls at Talos Island today.
Dante apologised, he couldnt tell how long theyd actually be, but assured Britanic the meeting might be very important. They just needed to wait for another MAGI researcher, Sebille Riley, before they could start. So avoiding the main issue, the pair continued to chat pleasantries while they waited.
The sound of books and charts falling on to the intricately tiled floor of the library announced Sebille Rileys arrival. She was having a bad hair day and her face suggested she had been awake reading the charts and books all night. The charts and books that she was now on her knees scrambling to pick up.
I
Im sorry, gentlemen. I was
up all night
preparing and I overslept. Im just a bag of nerves when
when I said Id help I didnt expect
I mean, youre Britanic!
@Romanov
Nadja Romanov, Lily Pink, Little Death - The Cadre
Estoque, Bastinado, Spidermonkey, Chic Doyle - The Militia
Miss Teen, Dead Reckoner, Dee Dee Diablo, Kaneko
Britanic wondered for a moment if the woman was star-struck or just plain clumsy. Either way it didn't really matter. Sebille scrabbling about the floor would only delay the meeting further so Britanic bent down to help her collect her papers.
"Let me help you with them."
Britanic carefully collected papers, and then without even looking at what they may be, handed them to Sebille. Once everything had been picked up he stood again.
"How about we all take a seat, and get down to business... I take it im here to discuss my recent entrapment in the Netherworld?"
Sebille smiled as Britanic handed her the last of her documents. She held them tight to her chest as she walked around the long wooden table. She put her load down on the table and took some effort to pull one of the heavy chairs back to sit on.
She looked down, avoiding meeting anyones gaze in case they expected her to answer Britanics question, and waited for someone to speak.
@Romanov
Nadja Romanov, Lily Pink, Little Death - The Cadre
Estoque, Bastinado, Spidermonkey, Chic Doyle - The Militia
Miss Teen, Dead Reckoner, Dee Dee Diablo, Kaneko
You would be correct, intoned the mage, and I intend to cover a few bases that I believe our counterparts in other areas of city hall have not investigated. Although I am glad to see you alive and well, traversing the Netherworld carries with it huge risk. I will need to establish whether you have been altered in any way by your time there, whether anything has returned with you and most importantly, whether any damage has been done to the balance of the dimensional planes.
Dantes face did not change as he read out his intentions, his brow furrowed in its customary veil of solemnity. He pulled out one of the chairs to take a seat, waiting for Sebille to be seated first.
Ms Riley here will be taking notes for us, he continued. Now, as I understand it, you always had the ability to sidestep into the Nether for limited periods of time. When were you aware of your incarceration?
@Dante EU - Union Roleplayer and Altisis Victim
The Militia: Union RP Supergroup - www.themilitia.org.uk
Incarceration
Its funny you should use that word, because its exactly what happened.
Sidestepping through the Netherworld has always been difficult. The entire realm is awash with negative energy, and malevolence. In the brief moments I drew upon its energies I could feel its insidious influence trying to get a hold on me. When I reached in or dared to pass through the darkness always tried to wrap itself around me like a glue or sticky tar. I had always feared that one day Id not make the jump through to the other side.
Back in February an attempt was made on my life and I was forced to make the sidestep. This time it was as if the realms full attention had been focused on me. The darkness quickly engulfed me, and I could not break through to the other side. I have no doubt my entrapment, and exile was deliberately engineered.
Dante nodded, his hands steepled in front of him.
The realm has always been troublesome, especially to casual travellers, he said. but although its denizens are no doubt malevolent, it would be unusual indeed for them to target you individually and not the numerous amateurs who access the dimension daily. Had you done anything recently to anger them? If your exile was indeed deliberate and accidental, we should consider what or even who conspired to keep you there. Did you notice anything that withheld you? A barrier perhaps? Or maybe it was that all the portals were closed to you or even that you somehow lost the ability to penetrate the walls between dimensions?
@Dante EU - Union Roleplayer and Altisis Victim
The Militia: Union RP Supergroup - www.themilitia.org.uk
Sebille Riley wrote Dante's words "No doubt malevolent" and added a question mark. She underlined it before carrying on making notes.
@Romanov
Nadja Romanov, Lily Pink, Little Death - The Cadre
Estoque, Bastinado, Spidermonkey, Chic Doyle - The Militia
Miss Teen, Dead Reckoner, Dee Dee Diablo, Kaneko
Britanic looked over to Sebille, then back to Dante before carrying on.
"Im pretty bloody certain somebody wanted me to risk a sidestep. Back in February it was a gift-wrapped explosive device that was planted in my office. When I opened it the device it scanned me, and then announced it had acquired it's target just before it was about to explode. I personally feel that the announcement was to give me enough time to try make my escape, however the only way I could of escaped is to make that jump."
"As I said earlier, I always found traversing the Netherworld and breaking back through was difficult under normal circumstances. This time it was much worse. Instead of making a desperate grab for me, or merely providing resistance to my transit, the darkness ensnared me in a coordinated and deliberate action. In the end I was so focused on fighting off the Netherworld's hold that I lost sight of my exit point, and ended up being trapped."
Britanic paused a moment wiping a bead of cold sweat from his forehead.The strange look on Britanic's face betrayed some small measure of the discomfort he felt as he remebered his ordeal.
"I guess I was damn lucky to find an area in the dimensional wall less substantial than everywhere else. It gave me a perfect chance to latch onto that roaming Paladin's psychic signature and pull myself through the barrier into Kings Row."
I would be curious to know the exact co-ordinates in Kings Row where you reappeared, stated Dante. The site could bear some further investigation. Although the bomb clearly was targeted at yourself, it would be supposition to believe that it was the same force that attempted to trap you in the Netherworld. However it remains a possibility.
He pressed on in his cold manner. What we need to establish now is what it was within that dimension that prevented your return and why. There are many other more susceptible people traversing the realms of the nether, why it would pick you remains a mystery. I suspect a deliberate manipulation of the realm to that end although I have nothing to prove this so far. From what you describe it seems as if you became disorientated and unable to maintain your trajectory. That would require some tampering I fear. I am also concerned over the effects that such a lengthy encarceration will have had on both yourself and the dimension itself. Although Im sure that G.I.F.T. will have performed a full medical on you, have you experienced any other side effects since you returned? Have you attempted to connect with the Netherworld since your return?
@Dante EU - Union Roleplayer and Altisis Victim
The Militia: Union RP Supergroup - www.themilitia.org.uk
At the mention of GIFT Britanic averted his gaze slightly. He'd been less than cooperative with the agency tasked with looking after mutant affairs due to his own issues with his mutant powers. Things that experience had taught him over the years was that he was occassionally suceptable to the insidious influence of dark energies over his psyche, and even his physical being. In the end GIFT decided to just be content with the facts that he wasn't psychotic, or just about to keel over dead.
"Well GIFT gave me a clean bill of health, but I have not yet returned to active duty with the Militia or anything so I have had no need to tap my powers lately. I have just been taking it easy and making up lost time with the family."
Britanic decided he wanted to steer the conversation away from himself, and his powers especially since he had no doubt Dante knew far more than he was actually letting on about.
"However if you want the exact location where I broke back through I'd be happy to show you. Although you could just as easily get that information from Portal Corps as they took all kinds of readings from the site"
Ive reviewed the recordings, sir, said Sebille, seemingly happy to be able to make a contribution. And Ive been studying the veil between our dimension and the netherworld.
There are
patterns. She looked down at her handwritten notes and spidery ink diagrams before looking up again. I believe
I mean I suspect that the conditions which allowed your return were not isolated
nor have they dissipated. The opposite in fact.
She took a deep breath. What Im trying to say
is that if the fabric between the two dimensions had a weakness
a little tear
that allowed you to pass through
then its not the only one.
And not everything that could find its way through these tears is a returning hero...
She traced her pen around the words No doubt malevolent and looked at the two men expectantly.
@Romanov
Nadja Romanov, Lily Pink, Little Death - The Cadre
Estoque, Bastinado, Spidermonkey, Chic Doyle - The Militia
Miss Teen, Dead Reckoner, Dee Dee Diablo, Kaneko
Dante glanced at the young lady, his expression darkening.
If that is the case then I am even more concerned, he stated glancing from Sebille to Britanic. For the scientists at Portal Corp, the crossing of dimensions is literal, the transfer of a body from one realm to another. But the power of the Netherworld is available to many people, including yourself, without the need for dimensional shifts. However, if the walls between our world and the Nether are thinning then it may be the case that more than just energy will cross between them. Having spent more than nine months in the realm, I do not need to describe to you the terrors that could be inflicted upon our world if its inhabitants broke through as you have.
He stood suddenly, gathering his things together, his lined face furrowed in concentration.
I must examine the site of your return in Kings Row immediately, he continued. Your forced entry into our world from the nether may indicate that we are on the brink of a cross dimensional catastrophe on an unimaginable scale. If I can confirm that there is such dimensional instability then we will need to escalate this further. For all of our sakes, I hope that your return does not herald such events.
@Dante EU - Union Roleplayer and Altisis Victim
The Militia: Union RP Supergroup - www.themilitia.org.uk
An hour later, Dante Carver stood in the north end of Kings Row, a metre away from the co-ordinates given to him for Britanics return to the world. He had hastily created a circle in plain white sand in the middle of which he stood, much to the bemusement of passers by. He held a photocopy of Portal Corps report into the event which discovered no significant impact on dimensional barriers in the area. But Dante knew only too well how insidious the Netherworld was, how it shifted constantly as if it was less of a dimension itself and more the space in between worlds. He respected it but feared it also knowing how its darkness could utterly consume a man from the inside out.
Tucking the report back into his coat pocket, he hefted the heavy sceptre that lay in his other hand. The ancient magus had little time for artefacts, considering them nothing more than trinkets wielded by modern magic users. But time was of the essence and he had no time to focus his concentration manually. The Staff of Rigel would be sufficient for his purposes, the majority of his travelling time being consumed by getting it from MAGIs vault. Focussing his magic into the bronze artefact, he began to extend his consciousness, allow it to reach out and expose the unseen within his radius.
The sand around him flared blue, a bright shield that kept his activities within the circle. As he poured his magic into the staff, it radiated the same blue light, illuminating the air. However there was one small spot about five feet from the ground that the light could not touch. Looking closer, he saw a dark crack suspended in mid air from which coiling tendrils of smoke emanated. Dante knew that energy like he knew his own face in the mirror. It was a breach, tiny for now but still present. It did not bode well.
Placing the sceptre on the ground, its job done, he mentally recalled some of his most powerful protection spells, wrapping their magic around his mind as was his custom when venturing into unknown realms. Closing his eyes, he placed his hands forward, allowing his conscious mind to radiate from him, slip through the crack and into the world beyond
Moments later, his consciousness took shape in the realm beyond, bounded by his strongest spells. It took him a moment for him to get his bearings, the Netherworld a disorientating place for even the most experienced of travellers. The realm was utter black, thin vapours of shadow barely enough to give shape to the buildings surrounding him. It looked like a copy of Kings Row but drawn by a nightmare child in black crayon. The realm, normally shapeless was beginning to take the appearance of the city beyond, a sure sign that the boundary was thin here. He took to the sky, floating over the buildings, searching for the gap. It was then that he saw it.
A block away, he caught a glimpse of the tear in between the worlds, its radiant light shining like a beacon. The tiny pinprick of light was everything the dark world was not, warmth, light, hope, all radiating into this realm of despair. And it was not alone.
Surrounding the tear were hundreds, no thousands of ghostly shapes, crowding around the gap in reality like vultures over a fresh corpse. Their twisted shapes fought to get close to the breach, struggling to feed on the abundant energy that poured through. As they battled, he saw that a number of them were scrabbling at the tear, attempting to enlarge it. They were desperate, but the sheer quantum of activity around the gap would only serve to thin the walls further. The breach was there, and it would not take them long before it became large enough for them to break through. Dante looked at the thousands of tortured twisted souls that were gathered there, their nightmare forms craving the living world beyond. It was only a matter of time.
Breaking contact with his mental anchors in the other realm, he allowed his consciousness to slide back through the breach undetected, returning him to where his physical form stood in Kings Row. In front of him the breach glimmered darkly, fading from view as he retracted his spell.
Very few things frightened Dante. In the two thousand years that he had walked the earth, little had the power to unnerve him. But the sight of the Netherworld spirits screaming to get through the gap between worlds, hungry to feed on the bright light of this realm sent shivers up his spine. Something had to be done and done fast. The spirits were indiscriminate, they would target civilian or warrior, hero or villain, friend or foe.
The darkness was coming for them. And it was coming soon.
@Dante EU - Union Roleplayer and Altisis Victim
The Militia: Union RP Supergroup - www.themilitia.org.uk
The Call of the Archmagi An Invitation
A finely tailored invitation is delivered to a number of high profile contacts known to MAGI and the Midnighters. Both Hero and Villain receive the invitation, the subject at hand of dire consequence to all who would practice the magic arts. It reads:
If you have a concern for the dimensional walls, the realms beyond and the threat that currently stalks us all, please attend the Midnighter club when the moon is in the third house of Mercury. There is much to be discussed and action to be taken.
Please leave your differences at the door as the danger threatens to engulf us all.
Please do not be tardy.
@Dante EU - Union Roleplayer and Altisis Victim
The Militia: Union RP Supergroup - www.themilitia.org.uk
The Midnighter Club 2 days after the discovery ((Open RP))
The Grand Hall of the Midnighters was an impressive sight. Thirty feet tall and circular in design, it was shaped as an amphitheatre, seating curving around the walls to allow everyone to see every angle of the debating floor. There was seating enough for thousands and following the emergency request from MAGI, many had attended. The breaches in the dimensional walls was getting worse, Dante had received reports of several more opening over the city and he had done his best to attend to every one of them. Behind each rip, thousands of angry spirits swarmed, desperate to feed on the abundant life force within this world.
Sat near the debating floor, Dante watched as many of his contemporaries came in and took their seats. He knew of most of them, just as they knew of him. Some chose to take their seats near to him, curious to know what the stern faced Arab would say. Others, those with long memories, chose to sit as far away as possible, remembering past grievances. Beside him sat a woman dressed in purple, her face veiled, only her glittering eyes visible. Lady Lilith, representative of the Sisterhood of Ishtar, a cult known for its interference in world politics and upholding of womens rights, sat to Dantes right, silent but curious to know what fate would be decided this night. The visions were murky and it was unclear what the future held for them all.
@Dante EU - Union Roleplayer and Altisis Victim
The Militia: Union RP Supergroup - www.themilitia.org.uk
Slowly but emitting huge confidence Selwyn Strange entered the Midnight Hall. He was obviously not the first to arrive. Some of the mages he recognized from reputation alone. Especially the representatives like the one from the Sisterhood... as they where easily recognizable. He himself was a representative for the ancient Celtic magic once used by Merlynn himself.
Selwyn stroked his small beard while picking a chair directly opposite of the man who had called in the gathering. He had heard of Dante Carver ofcourse... but never met him. But then again he was often operating from the British Isles as those where directly linked to the old magic.
It was highly likely all of the gathered mystics here had felt the same disturbing in the barriers separating the Nether realm from this reality... as he had done.
The disturbance had caused him to move to Paragon for a longer period of time. So he bought a house in the region of Croatoa feeling the place radiated the same energy as that Stonehenge had. And as such made a perfect Sanctum Sanctorum.
He waved his hand and a glass of wine was lifted... and floated to wards his hand. It was now a matter of patience until the gathering was complete.
- The Italian Job: The Godfather Returns #1151
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Average - A new race of aliens arrives on Earth. And Vanguard has you investigate them!
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Not far behind, ostentatiously clad as usual in his dark blue robes, Sebastian Wolfram made his entrance. He glanced around the hall before moving forward to take his seat, choosing one at a neutral distance from any yet taken.
He sat a little uneasily, though doing his best to hide it. It was not his habit to seek out the company of other practitioners of the Art, but long years of experience told him that a mage who did not stand with the others when a crisis of this sort loomed would sooner or later face questions as to why.
Knights Exemplar: Wolfram, Autumnfox, Starlit Spirit.
Militia: The Portent, Wavekite, Mr. Sandman.
The Cadre: WarpLocke, Zajin.
Numerous others.
Selene entered the room looking slightly out of place in a pale blue dress. She glanced around the room and started to feel totally out of her depth.
She made her way to an empty seat and sat down waiting for whatever would happen next. As she waited she played with the hem of her dress.
@Wild Red
"In the Rogue Isles, loyalty goes to the highest bidder." Wild Red
The infamous mercenary criminal turned monster hunter, Big Game, brazenly strolled into the ornately decorated council chambers. As well as his trademark grey hunters hat and iconic tiger-striped pants he wore a tiger-striped armoured vest adorned with various religious tokens, and a number of dubious mystical symbols inscribed into the armour. Strapped to his back was a large custom modified Vanguard Redding rifle as well as his trusty baseball bat Monster Mash! Finishing off his ensemble was various bits of monster hunting paraphernalia including stakes, garlic, holy water etc. As he walked into the room it was readily apparent that he was drawing much attention from the rooms occupants, and he couldnt help but smile to himself.
Oh yeah. These guys may be a bunch of strokey beard, bath robe wearing, Harry Potter wannabes but even they recognise true talent! If I hand out a bunch of the cards I had printed im bound to drum up some business
Who says crime dont pay? If I didnt pocket that invite during that last job Id never of found out about this little get together. Time to capitalise!
While he waited for the meeting to begin Big Game started to work the crowd handing out printed business cards while waffling on about Professional Paranormal Investigations and Obliterations!
Alexander Romanov walked into the great hall. He was wearing an immaculately tailored black Brioni suit and, as he scanned the room, he made a mental note that wealth and taste seemed to be the spoils of those on his side of the ancient battle lines.
He felt those assembled observing him. Most of them saw beyond the handsome, if slightly predatory in appearance, businessman. Guard dogs protecting the sheep from a wolf. There was fear. Resentment. And with good reason as the last time he had seen several of the people in the hall he had been dangling one of their loved ones over a volcano or vat of acid. Memories.
He nodded to Dante. A sign of respect to another great mage as well as a signal that he was not here to usher in chaos. No, that was taking care of itself very well outside these walls.
He took his seat and waited.
Meanwhile, Sebille Riley was almost anonymous as she sat in silence to Dantes left.
@Romanov
Nadja Romanov, Lily Pink, Little Death - The Cadre
Estoque, Bastinado, Spidermonkey, Chic Doyle - The Militia
Miss Teen, Dead Reckoner, Dee Dee Diablo, Kaneko
Dante stood to address the crowd. He despised public appearances at the best of times but needs must in the current situation.
Fellow luminaries, he began. Many of you may have sensed what has already transpired. For those who are unaware, you have been called here to address a situation that threatens all of us, be you conjurer, mage or seer.
He lowered his hands, his voice cutting through the idle chatter.
The walls that hold our dimensions clear and separate are failing. The chatter started again, people exchanging worried glances at each other. Most importantly, the wall that keeps our dimension free from the intrusion of the Netherworld is exceptionally thin. And has developed a number of breaches. The chatter returned, this time at a louder volume. We are here to discuss what may have precipitated such an event and more importantly, how we are to address this threat before the darkness consumes us all.
@Dante EU - Union Roleplayer and Altisis Victim
The Militia: Union RP Supergroup - www.themilitia.org.uk
{15/09/2008, 3.17 am, Britanics Penthouse, Sentinel Tower, Founders Falls}
A cool breeze swept over Britanics muscular chest as he stood on the bedroom balcony staring out over the cityscape. Like so many other nights since his escape from exile in the darkness he found he didnt want to sleep. For months he had been trapped in a dimension awash with negative energy, where reality was sculpted by torment, fear, and death. Though he had managed to escape what had become his personal hell, he was still not yet able to fully put his horrific experience behind him.
Britanic stepped back into the luxuriously decorated bedroom, sat himself down on a leather recliner, and watched as his wife slept in their bed. Suzi White-Mitchell, the Hyperion Watchmens White Vampyr, his loving wife, his source of strength during his long exile, and ironically his Achilles Heel that caused him to be there in the first place
{09/02/2008, 8.39pm, Sentinel Industries, Kings Row}
The offices were quiet, its workers having finished for the day hours earlier. Britanic, still clad in his iconic hero costume, weaved his way through the desks to his own office. As he stepped through the door he immediately spotted the red, white, and blue gift wrapped box Suzi had said would be there in her text to him earlier. Without even wasting time to switch on the office lighting he stepped over to the parcel, and lifted the gift tag so he could read it
To Eric., MY hero! Loving you more and more every single day, Suzi xx
Britanic smiled to himself, and then started to undo the red ribbon. As he lifted the box lid it was painfully apparent hed walked straight into a trap, one baited with his own love for Suzi. The lid was barely an inch open when a green beam of light appeared from within. As the light hit Britanic it split in several directions, racing up and down his body, and painting a grid-like pattern as it went. Britanic flipped up the lid and could see a silver device inside. The device was unmistakably part Rikti in origin, but it had been obviously been modified by human hands. Then as unexpectedly as it had started the green light faded back into the device, and words started to scroll across an LCD screen
Scan complete Target confirmed Commence detonation.
There was no time to do anything else. He had no over choice, but to make the jump. As the device exploded, and its fusion reaction started to spread outwards he slipped into the darkness
{7.00 am, Britanics Penthouse}
As the alarm went off, Britanic woke almost startled. Sweat poured from his head, and body. While his heart raced. Picking up his robe he mopped his brow then walked over to the alarm clock to switch it off. Suzi stirred, and groaned a little not ready to start her day.
Eric honey, come back to bed. Its way too early. She said with her face half buried in the pillow.
Sorry luv but I have a busy day ahead of me. Although G.I.F.T. have reluctantly given me a clean bill of health, and Portal Corps have extracted what data they want, it seems that they want me to attend some sort of debrief with M.A.G.I. One of the Portal Corps technicians reckon that incidents involving the Netherworld are more in M.A.G.I.s sphere of influence than their own, so they have had me referred to them. I thought Id best make some sort of effort to avoid any negative cooperation reports heading back to Freedom Corps before my next Hero License review.
Ok honey. Give me five more minutes and il make breakfast,. We cant have you facing the bureaucracy on an empty stomach