Boomtown Blues (( Open RP ))

{Boomtown}

In every disaster there are always those who refuse to leave so too is true of Boomtown. Among the rubble a lone figure walked dressed in rags his features hidden even his hands bound by strips of cloth. Once he was a normal young man just out of high school that was before the Rikti bombs transformed Baumton into the charred chaos that's now known as Boomtown.

One of the many homeless he struggled to survive when he was grabbed by the lost and experimented on. Mutated even more thanks to a toxic gas he free of the control but lost in his mind. "Home..." Dreg said as he looked at the skyscraper leaning to the left barely standing. He continued along the road he knew there were people here. Not everyone left or became one of the roaming gangs.

"DIE YOU FREAKS!" The scream was followed by the sound of gunfire somewhere to his left. For a moment he was afraid it was directed at him but with a quick shake of his head he cleared his mind of that thought. Dreg took off running for the sound once he was over the hill of soot he spotted a man dressed in a dirty brown trench coat holding an assault rifle facing a pack of Vahzilok. "Your not taking me alive!" a Mortificator smiled "That wouldn't be a problem we only want some of you." The man open fired sending one flying with a buck shot to the chest, however four other cadavers kept charging.

"Oh no you don't!" Dreg screamed as he sent Psy blast after psy blast at he hord. Following with a Psionic Tornado that sent the surviving group members running. "Thanks whoever you are." Dreg looked him over a memory of a guy similar flashed in his mind younger more cheerful and in a football uniform could it be the same Carl? "I used to be John Kingston but now I just go by Dreg of Boomtown."

Carl or the guy that looked like Carl spun around and aimed the Assault Rifle at Dreg's head. "You can't be John Kingston he was taken by the Lost years ago."

"I was taken and mutated..." He lowered the hoodie and the mask reveling his mutated twisted flesh. "Like I said I used to be. I'm no longer part of the Lost something happened to me to free me but it came with a very high price."

"Damn you look like meatloaf and I don't mean the singer... alright if you are John tell me something he would know."

"How about Sanctuary is in the Baumton shopping mall building. Or at least it was five years ago. If I was some kind of spy or plant I wouldn't look like this and Sanctuary would have been attacked long ago. Besides you don't look to good anymore yourself Carl what happened to the guy that bragged about dating two cheerleaders at the same time."

Carl lowered the gun "Alright you got me I thought you were dead or worst... well guess the worst part was right. And beside I never dated them at the same time me and Jane were broken up when I dated Rose. Yeah it was two days between the two but still! Getting the heads of Sanctuary to let you in now that be alot harder and if they disapprove ... well we don't let spies return to sender if you get my drift."
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{Talos Isle}

The lab wall exploded as the large armored plated figure ran out of the building Wreaking Ball's armor was black and in the steampunk style. "Hurry up before the capes show up! We got to get that Rikti detonator to the base pronto!" Behind him came two more figures one was a Cyborg looking very much like a Freakshow the other was more Human in appearance but holding his hands up waving in the air as he controlled the gravity around a container. "If you think this is easy you carry it!"

The three figures hurried for a waiting cargo truck at the street corner.
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(( OOC

Anyone is welcome to join EU and US servers! I'm going to be working on this even if I'm the only one so readers are welcome to sent messages to me for ideas. The story takes place in Boomtown the bad guys are going to very powerful fusion bomb frame the Rikti for it's use. There goal is to stop the peace talks going on between the Vanguard and the Rikti Traditionalists. There idea is if they make Rikti look like they built the fusion bomb and it goes off there be no more peace talks and Humanity will have no choice but to wipe out the Rikti for good.

So please join in give Boomtown the loving it deserves!))

(( Ok, I know I told you ingame I'd probably stay out of this, but.... Inspiration struck. ))

Quote:

The three figures hurried for a waiting cargo truck at the street corner.

People in silly costumes carrying stuff and bolting towards a truck, in Paragon. Yeah, that wasn't gonna attract a hero. Not at all. Except of course when it did, as a single precisely thrown spike of some strange material that might be a form of bone but was several times stronger and sharper than ordinary human bone would attest. Said spine shot most directly into the foot of one of the fleeing villains, pinning said appendage to the ground and effectively tripping the man up.

Simple tracing of its trajectory would reveal its source - a black-haired and orangeish-brown-skinned woman crouched on the edge of a rooftop, holding ready an arm from which sprouted two more of the bony spines. Obviously a hero, if the black spandex costume carrying a green tribal pattern and trimmed with banded leather boots, gloves, belt and shoulderpads that she wore was any indication at all. Behind her, a cape of the same colour and pattern fluttered gently in the light sea breeze that blew past, and the odd greenish light that seemed to emanate from many regenerators hung in the air around her. "Now, how about you just put that stuff back before I have to come down there and really ruin your day?", she called down to them, in a tone that suggested she was hoping more that they didn't and she would in fact have to come down there.

(( Meet my first 50 in CoH, and indeed the first character I ever made. She's a spines/regen scrapper, with body mastery epic. Hence the spines being unnaturally accurate - she has focused accuracy, alongside a heap of IO set bonuses. And is an interesting scrapper in that she has more ranged powers than melee ones. ))

(( Boy when your inspired you bring out your big guns))
{Talos}

The three looked up at the figure "You just had to Jinx us didn't you Wreaking ball? Well Ma'am I'm sorry we can't comply to that." He let the floating canister drift as he focused his power and lifted a car then sent it flying at Hero. "Catch!"

The Cyborg set his arms together and electrical sparks started arcing as he channeled the power and then let the Lightning Bolt as well. "Lets get this done I'm still low on juice from Zapping those Vanguards, Wrecking ball get the gear and load it up. The boss needs that Rikti tech!"

The brute grabbed the container and continued to run for the truck.
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{Boomtown}

Carl and Dreg started walking for what others would think was a pile of rubble but in truth it was a carefully constructed camouflage. Nether spoke as they traveled so they wouldn't get anymore unwanted attention.

As they approached other figures came out of hidden spots taking aim. Carl rose his hand and waved the hand signals of a friendly with that the guards returned to there holes but still kept watch. Only then did Dreg spoke "There a lot more guards then I remember."

Carl glanced over "There's more then just the standard foes now about two years ago a splinter group formed and left. Thought we aren't fighting with them things have heated up." The two entered the hidden passage way to the former Mall.

The Mall was not mostly living quarters thought there was also shops selling salvaged items found and traded. Somewhere in the complex music was being played and someone was cooking. "Welcome home John" Carl said with a slight smile. "Once a dweller always a dweller" replied Dreg.

Boomtown.

This is where the Truth would happen.

A man sat atop the wreckage of a sky-scraper, looking down into the streets below. White robes covered black combat fatigues, white hair with the ends dyed black, and three porcelain plates covering different parts of his face. He Who Lies was, for now, a happy man. Just looking at the smoldering, crumbling ruins of civilization before him brought a small smile to his lips. It reminded him of how close he was to accomplishing his goal. It reminded him of the obsticals he had overcome to be here. It reminded him of his birthplace, Astoria.

That thought wiped the smile off his face. He looked down darkly. It was time to look at the situation realistically. Boomtown was the second-largest zone in Paragon City. Every area looked exactly the same as the last - blasted nothing. Anything of value had already been picked clean from the ruins. Anything of interest had either been blown up or inhabited, occupied, stormed, and THEN blown up. Nobody ever came to Boomtown. Not even the heroes. Villains came to Boomtown more often than the City's finest. That was just how utterly worthless the place was.

But the catalyst was down there somewhere. Even if it took him the rest of his life...

'I will find it.' He Who Lies thought grimly, getting to his feet and lightly leaping off the sky-scraper to land noiselessly on his feet more than 300 yards down. 'First thing's first. I need to "encounter" some of the local wildlife. If anyone knows what's going on around here, it'll be the people who spend their time in this dump.' He Who Lies set forward through the wasteland that was Boomtown.

"Right, hard way it is then", the unknown hero laughed, obviously not as displeased at this turn of events as one might think she probably should be. A spray of those same bony spikes shot ahead of her as she rolled forward and sprang off the side of the building at not either of the ones that were attacking, but rather at the one who continued to flee. Behind her, the thrown car pulverised the roof edge where she'd been crouched only moments before. The lightning-wielder had more luck in that his attack at least hit her. For all the good it did. She all but ignored him, his lightning bolt burning a hole in the side of her costume and scorching the skin beneath. However, almost as soon as the energy discharge dissipated the injury was already healing. And at a more than respectable pace, too.

"And where are you off to in such a hurry?", she asked as she landed behind the fleeing brute, lunging at him with one of the razor-sharp spines that were now sprouting from both arms. "Party's back this way."

{Talos}

As the spikes hit Wreaking Ball the armor did it's job. Kinetic Shield generators channeled the energy from the impact into power boosters. Wreaking Ball wasn't the brightest Brute so he stopped and spun around. "The boss needs this Rikti thingy or I give you the party you ask for."

The gravity detonator put his hand to his face "Wrecking Ball never ever stop to talk to a Hero that's trying to STOP you!" Wrecking ball grunted "Don't tell me what to do Gravitatron!" He put down the canister and charged the hero the armor sending large amounts of energy into his fists building up the force then he deliver a Bone Smasher punch.

"Hotwire see if you can Mess with that cape now that Wrecking ball be distracting her I take care of the detonator." Said Gravitatron. He ran past Wreaking ball and lifted the canister with anti-gravity waves.

(Okay the villains here are Wrecking Ball an Energy/Energy Brute, Hotwire Electrical/Kinetics (mainly because Corruptors don't get Electrical secondary) and Gravitatron Gravity/Energy Dom.)
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{Boomtown}

A hidden lookout spotted the figure landing about 60 yards away. She shifted a bit to get a better view and to adjust her Camouflage. Bringing an old tech Walkie-talkie up she spoke "Look out Blackdraft here Unknown figure given that he landed here from who knows he's a clear super of some kind."

(Blackdraft is a Fire/Dark Corruptor Truth I think she's a Baddie turned good so she be a Dweller.)

"Now that just won't do at all", the heroine commented, a little irritated as her spine deflected ineffectively off the man's shield. "Fine then, I can do the energy thing too", she commented before proceeding to do exactly that, unleashing some inner store of energy in a very loud and very bright fashion. Fortunately she didn't do it anime style, so rather than taking several hours it took a mere couple of seconds.

Glaring at the brute with eyes now aglow with a strange red energy, she raised one arm. Bracing it with the other, it sprouted a single spine wreathed in that same energy which then launched at near supersonic speeds at the brute's chest, leaving a glowing trail in the air as it passed. She could and in the past, had punched straight through the armor on a Rikti Heavy Assault Suit with this. So no pissy little energy shield was going to stop it, she thought.

The remaining energy, she gathered up into a ball in her hand before flinging it at the apparent gravity manipulator who was going for the canister. It formed into an almost blade-like arc as it flew, and should he attempt to dodge it could and would home in on him, up to a point. That done, she leapt again at the brute, both arms growing a full array of spines with which to turn his face and upper body into mince with.

(( That's Build Up, Impale and Energy Torrent, respectively. After which she's going for a Ripper. ))

He Who Lies paused about a dozen feet from his starting location. He raised his head, and sniffed the air. His ears twitched.

'Somebody is watching me...'

He reached into his robes, and to the belt of his combat fatigues, drawing a throwing knife. He held it up to the wind, and closed his eyes. The wind made a ringing, echoing noise, like a tuning fork. He Who Lies opened his eyes. And then he turned to look straight at Blackdraft, his eyes boring into hers like rods being fired from a railgun. The hand holding the throwing knife made a blurred gesture...

*Thunk*

The throwing knife had been buried to its hilt in a rock right next to Blackdraft's head.

"Come out where I can see you properly." He Who Lies spoke, not shouting but somehow conveying his words perfectly and clearly over the distance between them.

{Talos}

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pious "Far as I know, proper'e damage is an arrestable offense. Na' we can do this easy or 'ard, but you my friend, are coming down, right?"

Hotwire looks at the new hero "Maybe you haven't notice but were already a bit past that part. Two on two that's a bit fair time to make things a bit uneven again!" With that he channel force and released some energy waves. The Heroes will feel weakened wile the baddies gained an increase in power (Fulcrum Shift).

Wrecking ball staggered back and gripped the spike now in his chest for a moment he looked as if he would drop but the nanites in his system kicked into high gear healing him enough so he could yank the spike out and toss it to the ground. He grunted and looked at the newcomer "This is a private party!" With that he charged and at the last moment delivered a Whirling Hands attack that shook the very ground.

As the Heroes battled Wreaking Ball and Hotwire Gravitatron loaded the crate into the waiting truck. Then he slapped the side hard to get the drivers attention. "All loaded we stay behind and provide a distraction."

With that he turned and ran back to the battle summoning a Singularity as he did.
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{Boomtown}

Blackdraft picked up the old Rikti style blaster and left her hiding spot. She didn't need the thing but she learned long ago if people see a gun they don't expect powers and in a fight the unexpected could save your life. "Throwing knifes isn't a polite way of knocking on someone's door."

In the hidden Sanctuary a group started running for the main exit. Carl seeing them yelled out "What's going on?" One of the men stopped "One of our lookouts spotted a Super thought it might be some badge hunting hero were going to high alert just in case." Then the guard went to catch up with the rest.

Dreg looked at Carl "Why all the fuss like he said it might be some badge seeker." Carl shook his head "remember that other group I told you about. Well they been gearing up recruiting superpowered thugs. It's better safe then sorry so..." motioned to the guards.

Dreg shook his head "Just what Dwellers need more reason to hide. Come on if the Sanctuary heads approve of me I can lend a hand I got some powerful tricks up my sleeve."

Silver keys dangled casually between the short, beige claws that played with them, jingling with each stroke of the sharp keratin nails atip the long, skinny fingers wrapped in leathery, deep-green hide. Their owner gave a sigh, the tip of his tongue tracing along a row of many razor-sharp, predatory teeth. How disappointing.

Facilitating his view of the fight was the truck's left rear-view mirror, which if seen from the right angle of course reflected his face - an inhuman visage, deep-green and somewhat reminiscent of a raptor, yet at the same time just as far from the reptilian as from the human. Acid Zero he called himself, an invented name for an invented being. Still, he identified with this persona, felt that he was as much a Khelari as any other - which weighed heavily on his feelings of the present situation. Was it really so much to ask for to not draw the attention of heroes?

He reached into an interior pocket of his black leather 'biker' jacket with his other hand, fishing out a silvery marble with a pair of fingers, then tugged on the fabric of the white T-shirt he wore underneath, straightening out a fold in the garment. He didn't like folds, and thus inspected his black cargo pants for the same as he confirmed the presence of the folded kodachi in one of his work boots with the tip of his long tail, the black footwear fit snugly about large, but plantigrade feet. Almost time...almost time...

Great. So much for knocking the guy getting away with the stuff off his feet. ******* unreliable energy attacks.... "You take him, I'll get these other two idiots", she said, looking to Pious and gesturing at Wrecking Ball, who seemed effectively distracted by him already. She didn't bother with any more chatter, as the longer she took talking the more chance that truck would be gone. Which would be bad, so she decided it should stay here. To that end, she launched a series of spines at the back two wheels of the vehicle, hoping to puncture the tires so it wouldn't be able to drive off.

"Pssh, you think that's gonna be enough to tip the odds in your favor? Well I got news for you, mate", she scoffed, turning to Hotwire with a murderous look in her eyes before leaping at the unfortunate corruptor with intent to remove the villain's head from their body with one of the lethal-looking spikes adorning her lower arms. As she went, one arm swung in a wide arc in the general direction of Gravitatron, peppering him with a spray of sharp spines.

Meanwhile, Wrecking Ball would notice his reactions and movements seemed a little sluggish. As he pulled the spine out, he would likely find out why. The end of the spine, now stained red with his blood, was dripping what looked to be venom of some kind. The same venom that was now in his system, causing a feeling of numbness in his chest and slowing his movements.

(( Spines attacks do -speed/-recharge, remember? ))

{Talos}

Hotwire leaped aside with a scream that should have came from a horror movie vixen. Then as she connected with him slashing wires along his shoulder blade his system over loaded and blast of electrical force released as he Short Circuited.

Gravitatron wasn't as cowardly he did scream when the rain of spikes hit him but it was in anger and so he opened a warm hole to send her as far away as he could send. "Be a man you reject Freakshow!"

Wreaking Ball staggered feeling the effects of the toxin within his body. "HEY Hotwire hit me with a speed boost that wench poisoned me!"
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{Boomtown}

Blackdraft eyed him "What a person can't look at a clear super powered person? Boy the fans in the other city zones are going to be in so much trouble. You landed out of nowhere just a few yards from me nope your right I see no reason why I wouldn't want to check you out." her voice was clearly tinted with sarcasm as she bluffed a bit.

"Besides this is a Hazard zone it's best to keep an eye out for oddities. There more to world then Heroes and Villains you know." She looked around as memories came of the burning wasteland of the future Atlas park she saw in Operation DESTINY.

Thought she did try to change that future if it does come to pass it be the hardened survivor types that will rebuild, people like the ones living in the already hellish Boomtown.

"Your right I'm no Hero or Villain I'm just a woman with a gun. If you like you can call me Blackdraft. Now mind telling me who you are and why your here? Heroes don't even come here much."

In Sanctuary Dreg and Carl came to what used to be the Mall's business office now it was used as the dwellers leadership headquarters. The three leaders sat at a desk as the two men walked in. "Carl who's that with you?"

"Sir you wouldn't believe it but we have heard talk some Lost brake away from the control. Kurse been reported to have some of his old memories, and there that FBI guy in Founder's Falls Angus McQueen. Well seems one of ours have returned. John Kingston has come home."

"Look I know fear of the lost is high but I am free and willing to prove it."

The three figures whisper among eachother. "We have to talk about this among ourselves so for now Carl stay with him."

knowing a dismiss when they hear one both Dreg and Carl left the office. "What happen to Frank?" Carl looked over and then shook his head "He got grabbed by one of those exploding Vahzilok. We didn't even know what parts were his or the zombie. It was just a crater with body parts all over."

"At least I know two of the heads hopefully I be able to talk my case."

"I tell you straight man were desperate if you can be of any use I'm sure you be accepted heck we allowed that Villain from the Rogue isle in."

"Villain? What Villain?"

"We don't know her real name or even if she using the same name she had as a villain but she calls herself Blackdraft now."

"you mean the lookout?"

"Yup and if she can't handle something we really be in trouble."

{Talos}
The blast of spines did hit someone Hotwire didn't hear Wrecking Ball's request because he was now out cold and bleeding. Having been quite near the Heroine and already low thanks to there fight with the Vanguard Hotwire didn't stand a chance.

Gravitatron however was lucky enough to have a Wormhole blocking him from the spines. But there was no such protection from the lung. "AGH!" bleeding from the fresh cut the poison of her spines took hold almost instantly his vision was blurry but he still could focus enough to channel his energy into a Power Push at her direction. He glanced back to see if Acid was on his way with the goods.

"DON'T YA TALK ABOUT MY MAMMA THAT WAY!" Wrecking Ball screamed as he channeled the energy for a building up of power. However Pious was faster then the already shaky Brute. Power generators overheated and Wrecking ball fell to the ground by the force of Pious attack.
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{Boomtown}

"If you seen those Zombies for a few years you get used to them. The creepy ones are those with faces from people you used to know." She didn't comment about his guess she wasn't a hero or villain not because she wasn't but she no longer sure what side she was on. Thought Villain was still a good guess.

"Well He who lies I don't know any Amatus but then we boomtowners aren't social folk anymore. But if you want there a group in the north west who been hiring thugs and such. Perhaps you have better luck there."

That's it girl get the odd super to bug them. Was this guy a hero something told her he wasn't the here to save the day type. It didn't matter her job was to keep the curious away from Sanctuary and so she shall.

In Sanctuary a man came up to Dreg and Carl. "I got good news we decided to give you a chance John go out and offer Blackdraft some backup if she needs it."

"Alright sure backup" Dreg and Carl started for the main exit. "Not you Carl just John alone."

The two stopped and looked. Dreg nodded and replayed "Alright but stop calling me John that who I was I'm now Dreg.. Dreg of Boomtown." With that he turned and headed out. "Tom why you send him out alone if he can't get Blackdraft to believe him she blow him away." Tom nodded "That's the point Carl it's the test."

Carl grunted and walked away "Your all a bunch of Jerks."

Acid was indeed on his way with the goods. Though a certain collection of spines had penetrated and locked up both tires of the left rear wheel, it wasn't enough to stop this sort of driver. The Khelari popped the truck into six-wheel, then shifted into reverse, using the increased torque of the drive train along with the sheer weight of the vehicle to crush the spines underwheel. While this of course did little to the partitions within the tires, the run-flats didn't mind too much.

Backing the truck out into the main streets, he gave the command for the license plate number to change with a tap to the 'watch' on his left wrist. Then he returned to driving rather normally, seeing how the only way off Talos Island proper was the ferry, and traffic violations on the way there would somewhat inhibit smooth passage via that.

Still, a big truck like this wasn't exactly inconspicuous even on Paragon's roads, for though not a tractor trailer, the dirt-brown military vehicle somewhat stood out. It had been a necessity, however, for only with such a vehicle and properly faked papers did Rikti technology stand a chance of makings its way off the island without being confiscated at the ferry...

{Boomtown}
"I did say there was that group to the north west. Thought I don't approve of them there still Boomtowners. With Boomtown, Hollows, Faultline, and Dark Astoria there are a lot of homeless about in this city and here there is no Rent you just have to pack a big gun." She lifted the blaster and aimed at him "careful with that hand as you can guess Trust isn't around here either. I doubt there is anything more to say but fair well."

Perhaps it was bad timing or just bad luck but that was when Dreg came over the hill and into view.
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{Talos}

Gravitatron looked at his two fallen allies. It was clear if he didn't do something drastic he will be next. So he Screamed as he tapped his reserves (Domination) and generated a Gravity Distortion Field around him then focused on Pious and tried to push him into a Dimension Shift.