Now time for an advert break...

((OOC: This is just some background/providing a plot hook for those interested, it's for Union RP since Dr Mechano is considered a 'hero' on Virtue due to landing in the wrong place during a dimension jump, he also doesn't have his company set up there.))

It's around 4am, you know the time when all the adverts are either for 'chat' lines or infomercials for incredibly awful products that nobody would really buy. The cheapest time for people to get some TV advertising. However one advert is clearly different from the rest.

"Hello there," Doctor Edward Johnson aka Doctor Mechano appeared on screen, dressed in a fluffy sweater and blue jeans, obviously trying to appear as 'non-threatening as he can manage. He's sat at a nicely polished, large wooden desk his doctorate hanging behind him (even if it is in Robotics) and a picture of his robotic family in a fancy frame set on the top.

"Now some of you know me from my past exploits, rest assured I haven't just hacked into your TV signal to announce a new reign of humanity improving chaos...oh no...this time it's a paid for commercial for my new service," he paused and offered a smile.

"Tell me, are you tired of having your purse, wallet or laptop stolen by gang members or being threatened by body harvesting zombie criminals?"

"Well now the people behind the 'Dream Partner' plan are offering a tailored service to give you, the unpowered public, super powers without the danger of falling into toxic waste, having cruel experiments done on you or otherwise hoping the lottery of life says it is your turn to have superpowers."

"The New You program is tailored to your desires, you have a personal consultation with myself and we go through what you would like to change...perhaps you want to be more muscular, perhaps you want to be taller, perhaps you want to change gender, all those things can be done using our secret genetic manipulation and nanite treatment," the scene changes to sweeping across a large room filled with various glass tanks, a grey goo filling the inside of each, above them hovers breathing apperatus and a group of scientists on the catwalks over each one.

Cutting back to Edward now in what looks like a brightly lit hosptial ward with friendly nurses and doctors behind him going about their business, talking to the patients in bed, "Not only can we completely change what you look like, through the same treatment we can grant you the power you've always wanted, whether that be super strength and an iron hard skin or the ability to sculpt fire to your whim..."

"Why go to Icon or the Facemaker, who offer a substandard pay for upfront service, no money back offers if you dislike the new you and shoddy customer care. Here at the Necrotech toasty dreams factory and private hospital we offer a service which is second to none, a wide range of payment plans including paying in low cost monthly installments and are dedicated to making our customers the happiest they can be with our service."

Now Edward is one again back behind the desk, "This is the future of humankind, wouldn't you want to be a part of it?"

"So go to the website www.toastydreamsfactory.com/newyou and check out our Frequently asked Questions, payment schemes or have a look at our other service, after all a new you is going to need a new partner, why not one you've designed yourself?"

"Here's a happy customers testimonial incase you think I'm just making it up..."

The scene cuts to a beautiful and amazonianly scuplted woman with green eyes and blonde hair. Dressed in a tight t-shirt showing off her generous 'assetts' as well as the muscles along with tight fitting blue jeans.

"I use to be a skinny office worker, I was never happy with the way I looked and could never find the time to both work and bulk up," the scene shows a before and after picture, the key thing to note in the picture is that the skinny office worker was male before the change, "now thanks to Necrotech's new you program not only have I got the sculpted body I've always wanted, I'm now the woman I always wanted to be and I can bench press a truck!"

The scene once again cuts back to Edward, "So you can be as happy as Terry there...spelt with an I now of course...for low monthly installments, be the you you've always wanted..."

The image fades out to white background, the symbol of a cog with a skull over it in pink appears with the words, 'Necrotech, where anything is possible'...followed by a generic male voice over going, "This was a paid for advertisment by the Necrotech corporation."

((I know this will get a rise out of atleast two characters, plus I'm sure there would be people interested in this service...feel free to post your IC reactions below..the advert is broadcast in both the Isles and Paragon City.))

..The overlarge , and somewhat bent TV screen went on to display a new advert , but the eyes on one of its watchers stayed focused to the spot where Doctor Edward Johnson face had been shown ..long missing fingers tried to be flexed , merely resulting in a scarping of metal as a set of cybergears tried to achieve an impossible movement ..

…some wounds never heal , and those carried by this individual lay the blame for them squarely at the Doctors feet …sliding from the sofa the Freak then slid from the TV’s room and navigating a series of neon lighted corridors made his way to his personal space .. the back of an old store room .

From a battered crate Smeg – Face pulled out a medium sized blade arm , the metal was oddly dark and dull ..” Dok-ter ferrkin’ Mechano ..time to revisit old times “ ….with a solid click the blade arm locked into place …

The Arlington Building, Founders Falls

The place was meant to be a luxury apartment, but the sheer volume of electrical goods, alcohol, designer clothes, and so on made the place look like some sort of storeroom. In amongst the clutter, and sat upon a huge Lazy-Boy chair, was Humanity First's master scrounger Loot chomping down on a Cuban cigar as he watched an obscenely huge television. Just then the game he was watching cut to commercial...

Later that morning, the Printworks, Steel Canyon.

There was a moment of silence as Loot switched off Doctor Mechano's TV Advert he'd recorded for Humanity First leader Partisan. Loot then looked over to his comrade Catwalk seemingly seeking approval before he broke the silence...

"...um Boss? ...You ok in there?" Loot asked referring to the lack of sound coming from Partisan's metal mask.

"Thoroughly disgusted Loot but otherwise well... You was right to bring this to my attention. For far to long Doctor Mechano has been a plague on humanity. His willingness to subject himself to constant genetic experiment is reprehensible enough, not to mention his other antics such as that Chonodyne Incident. However intentionally churning out more freaks is something I will not stand for."

"We could always just leave him for the capes? Y'know save our own resources."

"No! The heroes may usually stop him in his tracks, but he always surfaces again. Worse still they actually allowed him to join their ranks at one point. They have proven time and again that they are either unable or unwilling to deal with this problem Permanently. In the past I was content not to interfere with Mechano as he was a prime example of everything that is wrong with Metas, but not now. We will make an example of Mechano, show that we will not stand for the creation of more super powered vermin, as well as deal with a menace the heroes couldn't handle."

"Probably best to start with Mechano's company then. If we st..."

"Way ahead of you Loot." Catwalk piped up interrupting Loot mid-sentence. "Here's some information about Necrotech, including a location of their main factory in Sharkhead." She said as she handed Partisan a PDA displaying the Necrotech web site.

"Hmm the Cage Consortium no doubted patrol the area, but they are no match for our Blackshirts. However the factory itself is unlikely to rely on the Consortium. It's very likely to be patrolled by combat droids and protected by elaborate security systems. I think it's time we fielded our Technical Warfare troops. Loot recall Spanners from the RWZ and ensure she has sufficient Gadgeteers and Battle-Drones in her entourage."

"You got it Boss. Right away." Loot snapped back, giving a lazy salute as he turned and left the room.

"What about Mechano?" Asked Catwalk.

"He will keep for now. However I think that his employees, and any takers on his services should also be made example of. Find out what you can; contact Warden McLane at Longbow if necessary, and then let loose the Blackshirts..."

The Green Mansion, countryside near Paragon City, 2:36 AM

Buck the Troll leaned back against the upholstered leather of his armchair. The flickering glow of the screen was the only light source in the room, illuminating Buck's emerald face with a pale luminescence. He thoughtfully chewed on the end of a cigar, which he had quite forgotten to light.

A cheerful metallic voice echoed through the room, causing the green hero to start in his chair. "Sir, are you alright?"

"Quite fine, Jenkins... play it back again, would you?"

The chair creaked as Buck leaned forward, watching the advert again with a strange look on his face. As the last words of the advert died away, he sat deep in thought for a long time.

Then, slowly and seemingly reluctantly, he starting typing at the brass keyboard laid out in front of him.

The Following Monday morning

Edward was, as usual, at the office, he had made it his goal to oversee every New You participant personally, first to make sure the customer was satisfied with the service and second of all to make sure the person undergoing the change was 'suitable' for it. Although he operated in the Isles, business was business and you didn't make business by killing people. Pregnant women or young children were kept strictly off the list and he would make sure on a case by case basis that each one fully understood what they were going though.

Having done his rounds, overseeing the patients both coming in and going out, so far, so good, nobody had died and everyone had been happy with their choice, Edward retired to his office.

His friend, assistant and business partner Steve the Shivan was in his office, a cup of freshly brewed coffee awaiting Edward on the desk, "Ah thank you Steve...who knew being legitimate was such hard work, making people happy takes a lot out of you let me tell you and to think those 'heroes' in Paragon City would baulk at this idea...I mean, making people happy for a decent fee is hardly a crime..."

Edward sighed, "still I do miss the old ways, I shall have to go about causing some trouble again, I think old Spruky boy was right I have gone soft...which reminds me...how is he doing recovering?"

Steve pushed the chart infront of Edward, "ah...doing well, he'll be out by this afternoon...I did have to tell his boys to keep it down but they're good lads when you're helping them out after all..."

"Still, causing trouble, well I suppose I could unleash some genetic monstrosity on Paragon but that would reflect badly on the business...atleast all the other bigshot villains seem to be leaving me to my own devices...mind you that's because they will probably end up using my services if the need was dire enough..."

Edward sipped his coffee as he begun looking over the R&D reports for the latest experiments.

((ok, just for you Brit this is a map of building's first floor, the second is a huge R&D department, there's another building opposite which produces all of Edward's mechanical goods. The place is covered in cameras in both the exterior and interior and the guard drones are all tier 1 mastermind pets.
))

((Sorry not been around much. More coming soon!))

Necrotech Industries Toasty Dreams Factory, Sharkhead Isle.

"Jelly Bean?"... "Jelly Bean?"... "CATHY, JELLY BEAN?!"

"Wha... Oh no thanks. Sorry Mike I was miles away." Replied a startled incognito Catwalk.

"Don't worry Cathy. we're all a little on edge at the moment with all the attacks and stuff. I guess it's probably worse for you being new and all." He said as he took a hand full of Jelly Beans from one of the factory's many candy dispensers.

Catwalk paused a moment to consider the unusualness of her current assignment. Her job was to infiltrate Doctor Mechano's Sharkhead base of operations so she could gather intelligence on Mechano's security arrangements. She was fully expecting some sort of nightmarish industrial warren with a host of imposing weapons and defences. However on getting inside she discovered her preconception of Necrotech's main production and research facility was way of track. Instead of a cold steel fortress it was a warm inviting almost Wonka-esque wonderland of invention, production, and normally happy smiley employees. The only visable hint to the facility's formidable defences was the brightly painted battle-bots that patrolled the factory.

"I see you're admiring 'Smiler' there... That is one thing you got to say about the good Doctor, he takes the safety of his employees very seriously. It's just a pity he ain't allowed to have the bots patrolling the streets. It might put off them Humanity First creeps who have been targeting the staff."

Catwalk turned away from the patrolling battle-bot with the crudely painted smiley face designated SM1-LR. In the short time she'd been working undercover at the factory she'd discovered Mechano had a number of battle-bots patrolling the site. Interestingly enough each one's unit designation was based on some real life associate of the mad scientist. Before SM1-LR she'd also come across an ECH-0, G8TR, PRF-TRRR, BG-LNK, HL1OS, and a real runt of a battle-bot sporting a tiger striped paint job designated TON-E.

Making a mental note of Smiler, she turned back to face Mike...

"Yeah it's pretty scary knowing we got them jerks attacking people who work here. I hear it's all because of Doctor Mechano's 'New You' program."

"I heard that too. Seems these Humanity First goons got real beef with everything that isn't average 'Joe Public'. Bunch of cranks if you ask me. If the Doc want's to help people change the way they are im right behind him. coming to work here at the Toasty Dreams Factory is the best thing I ever did. No way im going to let a bunch of losers with inadequacy issues scare me off. I'l stick with the Doc through thick and thin."

"You not worried at all?" Catwalk asked hiding her annoyance at Mike's assessment of Humanity First.

"Naah! The Doc won't stand for all this. I hear he's already arranged a meeting with Kirk Cage to get his guys to step up their patrols. As for the factory itself the Doc has dozens of bots roaming the place. Sure things might be a bit scary now but it will soon blow over."

"I hope you're right Mike. This seems like such a great place to work."

"It sure is." Mike said with a smile as he popped another Jelly Bean in his mouth.

...Was! Catwalk sarcastically thought to herself.

((Bah completely missed this! Mental note to self, keep an eye on things! Also nice work on the naming of the bots, I shall provide a little more background myself for them in a moment, feel free to place them wherever you need them for dramatic purposes.))

Passing by Catwalk was the Doc himself, dressed in a lap coat with the arms cut away, exposing one fully cybernetic arm on one side and a cybernetic hand on the other, he moved like any old man did, with a slight shuffle. However this was merely a diguise, he was still a powerful man.

Beside him followed his Shivan bodyguard who, whilst in the factory, never seemed to leave his side, from what Catwalk could make out the two were having a dicussion, it was like listening to a phonecall, only one side of it could be understood, the other was a mix of growls, gurgles and gargles that Edward seemed to understand perfectly.

"Hmm time to check the bots, the last thing I want is any of them malfunctioning...good thing these ones are particularly adverse to tampering...though I cannot say the same about the more mundane ones..."

Unlike most of the other guardbots the named guardbots were tailored to the personalities he had named them after, BG-LNK, ECH-0 and SM1-LR were large assault bots, tailored to close combat with energy generating gauntlets and more heavily armoured than normal.

PRF-TRRR and HL10S were Support drones outfitted with whatever R&D had come up with recently, PRF-TRRR was equipped with a a strange glowing weapon that seemed to continually heat and cool plasma, HL10S was equipped with dual gatling lasers instead of an additional manipulator claw and a stronger forcefield generator.

T0N-E may have been small but he seemed to be packing more firepower than the rest of them, all standard issue but on the tiny frame was fitted two gatling lasers with underslung flamethrowers on each arm, shoulder mounted single shot rocket launchers and a loud vocal speak which occasionally played 'The lion sleeps tonight' by Tight Fit seemingly at complete random intervals.

With his checks complete he smiled and nodded, "Morning Mike, Morning Cathy...nice day isn't it?"

Before they could answer he continued, "Anyway just like to say that I'm liking the work your team is producing Mike, some of the best to come out of R&D in the last couple of years, so you're being awarded team of the month and getting your pay increased, keep up the good work...just don't let Dave try and convince you to test the black hole gun he's working on...the last time that thing fired up it took out all the undergraduate students he had working for him...not to mention everything else in the room."

With a smile and nod he continued his walk, the Shivan looming over Cathy for a moment, cybernetics whirring as it seemed to be looking her over, before moving with powerful strides after the Doctor, as he walked off a small snippet could be heard.

"Tell Jonathon he's off project Chimera, Cathy and Mike are on that project now, I want my best team working on it..."

((will PM you with the details of Project Chimera))

Several days later...

The longer Catwalk worked under cover for Mechano the more dangerous the demented old man seemed to her. The Dream Partner program was suppose to create vat grown life forms genetically engineered to a buyer's specifications. It was touted as a way of creating your perfect life partner, and while the Chimera Project was related to that program it was readily apparent this creation would have more sinister applications.

Muscular 'Cat Girl' frame, hyper enhanced regeneration, cybernetic electric shock dampeners capable of projecting electricity, super strength, energy claws, enhanced reflexes, and a myriad of other less spectacular enhancements were being incorporated into the genetic construct Mechano affectionally called 'Chimmey'. Chimera, a composite being seemingly designed purely for offensive power seemed a major corruption of Mechano's Dream Partner program. However considering the in-built offensive arsenal as well as the total lack of education compared to other Dream Partner constructs, Catwalk could come to no other conclusion than that of Chimera being some sort of walking weapon. The very fact Mechano himself was overseeing the project seemed to add further credibility to that theory.

The prospect of Mechano developing super enhanced bio-weapons on top of the other freaks his New You program was churning out was something Humanity First leader Partisan would never stand for. Yet despite a number of attacks by Humanity First Blackshirts against Necrotech employees and patrons Mechano's workforce were proving to be annoyingly resistant to being scared away from the Toasty Dreams factory. It seemed inevitable to Catwalk that Partisan would soon order a direct assault on the facility.

"Cathy... Cathy.... CATHY!"

Catwalk shook out of her daze and turned to face Doctor Mechano.

"Cathy be a dear and pass me sample 291"

"Oh.. Um, of course. Here you go Doctor."

Mechano took the sample from Catwalk and gave her a warm smile.

"Let me guess, you're worrying about all these attacks by those Humanity First bigots? Try not to worry dear. I have already spoke with Kirk Cage about increasing security presence in the neighbourhood. Besides that you are at work now. A second rate outfit like Humanity First lacks both the courage and resources to risk attacking my employees when they are directly under my protection. You are quite safe my dear."

Catwalk forced a smile.

"Thank you Doctor I feel much better now. I was just being silly that's all."

Doctor Mechano gave another warm smile.

"That's quite alright. Now let's put all this behind us and get on with some work. I really can't wait to get my latest creation up and running."

Catwalk went back to her duties killing time before she made another report to Partisan...

((Updated the Necrotech inc entry on the wiki, also fleshed out the part of 'Dave' mentioned in my post a little bit since he seemed like a nifty backstory character))

A couple of days later...

BAWOOMPH!!!

"What the... D'you think one of the Doc's experiments went wrong again?" A slightly panicked Mike asked as a slight shockwave relative to the distant explosion they just heard rippled from the room.

The incognito Catwalk had to suppress a smile. Having used them often enough herself she instantly recognised the sound of a satchel charge detonated at the base of on exterior wall. She figured if someone was lobbing satchel charges at the Toasty Dreams Factory that meant Partisan had finally ordered a direct assault. Meaning she would soon be able drop her cover and get out of here.

Shortly after the explosion the distinct sounds of automatic gun fire, and the pitched whine of energy weapons could be heard.

"Oh no! We're under attack!! We better get out of here."

"Way ahead of you Mike." Catwalk said as she darted out of the room. Mike quickly hurried after her, unaware her intention wasn't to escape, but instead rendezvous with her Blackshirt comrades...

Outside, a short distance away from the gaping hole in the cafeteria wall...

"Damn it Gearhead get that heap of junk into that hole before Mechano's bots can mount an effective defence."

"Bzzzt... Crackle... Cough! I'm trying! The stupid control panel just caught fire again, and Cough! the filtration system Cough! can't cope. Bzzzt... Crackle..." replied a synthesised voice broadcast from a battered and heavily patched Rikti Heavy Assault Suit emblazoned with the Humanity First insignia.

"I knew we should of left him behind." A frustrated Spanners said to nobody in particular. "SEND IN THE CANNON FODDER!" She then barked.

On cue a couple of Humanity First tech scroungers known as Kitbashers tapped furiously on hand held control pads. In response to their frantic key tapping half a dozen machines cobbled together from various sources such as outdated industrial robots to Council Mekmen lumbered towards the smoking hole in the wall.

After a seemingly laboriously slow march the Humanity first bots finally made it to the gaping hole and was immediately swallowed by the billowing smoke pouring out from inside. Spanner was about to order her troops inside when the shrouded bots in the building opened fire on an as yet unseen target. After a few moments of weapon fire and the sound of twisting metal there was a short silence followed by an ominous clank, clank, clank of walking metal.

"Make Ready!" Spanners ordered. The assembled Blackshirts obeyed without hesitation.

Clank, clank, clank! came the metal footsteps before the billowing smoke was parted by the hulking metal form of an imposing war droid with a horrific smiling face painted on it.

"It's Smiler!" Shouted one of the Blackshirts who'd recognised SM1-LR close combat bot from the intelligence provided by Catwalk.

SM1-LR broadcast a bloodcurdling metallic laugh before launching itself at the Blackshirts. A few Blackshirts immediately panicked letting out random sprays of ineffectual automatic fire as they turned and bolted. The majority though held their ground firing controlled bursts probing for a weakness in SM1-LR's armour. As bullets bounced off the almost beserk battle-bot, several Blackshirt Gadgeteers manoeuvred into position before unleashing a furious electrical assault against SM1-LR. Despite being heavily shielded SM1-LR still struggled with the Gadgeteer assault.

Meanwhile Spanners, relieved that the Gadgeteers were occupying SM1-LR's attention, turned behind her and started to bark more orders...

"Send in the DOG!"

From behind a group of Blackshirts came a loud metallic growl. Seemingly in response to that growl the Blackshirts parted revealing a battered but intimidating looking assault bot painted in Humanity First livery. After letting out another growl the salvaged assault bot affectionately known as Junkyard Dog marched towards SM1-LR...

((GAH! Sorry Brit...next time send me a PM or give me a slap or something!))

Sirens begun to blare as the facility came under attack, Mechano stood up in his office, "so they finally got brave enough...Steve, time to put our little pet project to the test...first it needs some finishing touches...go slow them down..."

The hulking Shivan nodded and begun lumbering towards the site of the breach.

Edward leaned down and spoke into the microphone, a message blaring out over the tannoy.

"This is Doctor Edward Johnson, this facility is under attack, all patients are to be evacuated, all guard bots report to the sight of the breach, R&D boys and girls, you are now officially weapons free...time to put that research to the test."

Edward paused for a second and then facepalmed, "except you Dave...I do NOT want that blackhole gun used under any circumstance...use some other project you've got going..."

Edward swore he could hear cursing from the R&D department from here which led to him giving a chuckle.

The Medical staff begun their evacuation of any patients, a few scientists who had been using the cafeteria at the time of the attack were either caught in the explosion or killed by the random sprays of gunfire.

Edward calmly walked down to the genetics testing lab, pressed a few buttons on a keypad as Chimmey was released from her tank. He unhooked the wires and feeding tubes.

"Welcome to the real world my dear...take a moment to gather your breath...it's time you went into your first test..."

Edward offered the naked hulking catgirl a towel. To the side was a black t-shirt with the Skull and Cog logo on it and a pair of trousers painting in urban camo. Chimmey begun to spark and sizzle as her cybernetics kicked in...

...meanwhile at the breach the lower grade guard bots had flooded in, almost all of them were quickly downed by gunfire, being little more than a deterant to the street punks of Sharkshead Isle than an effective fighting force.

Then a noise came through the smoke, the clanking of heavy ladden mechanical feet and....

"...Ah-wee-ooh-wee-ooo, wee--ee-ee-ee-oo, we-um-um-a-way..."

Meanwhile amongst the genetic growth tanks in Mechano's factory...

BAWOOMPH!!!

"Another explosion. Sounds like it came from R & D's direction."

"I think you might be right Mike."

Mike stopped in his tracks and gave a confused look.

"If that's the case shouldn't we run in another direction?"

Yes, if you are planning to avoid the Blackshirts. Catwalk thought to herself.

"The way I see it nowhere in the factory is safe. Perhaps the attackers will be tied up with the factory's defenses and won't notice us slip by."

Mike looked dubious at first and then decided against his better judgement to accept Catwalk's twisted logic. "Ok, but we better be extra careful."

Damn it Mike, be a man and stick to your guns. last thing I need is you tagging along. Catwalk thought to herself as she continued to pick her way through the genetic growth tanks...

Outside by the cafeteria wall...

The Blackshirt's let out a hearty cheer as SM1-LR crashed to the ground in a mess of sparking circuit boards, and twisted metal.

"GROOOWWWWLLL!!!", broadcasted Junkyard Dog to announce it's victory over the other metal goliath.

"WOOT! Oh yeah now that was a Polaroid moment." Shouted one of the Blackshirts.

"Polaroid? Get out of the 80's. It's gone all digital now." Replied another.

"Shut up will'ya. That was a 'Digital moment' just soun..."

The Blackshirt's banter was interrupted by a swift cuff around the back of the head from Spanners.

"Both of you shut it, and GET INTO THAT FACTORY!!!"

The Blackshirts scampered off into the hole in the cafeteria wall almost trampling one of the Kitbashers who was furiously removing salvageble weaponry, and componants from the downed SM1-LR.

Meanwhile the explosion around the east side of the building signalled that Brickhouse's squad was making their entry. Spanner's mission now was to occupy whatever forces Mechano had dispacted to deal with their entry through the cafeteria. If things went to plan Brickhouse's team could get to the more sensitive areas of the factory and hook up with Catwalk with a minimum of resistance.

Edward smiled, "ah...sounded like it came from R&D side of things.."

He positively beamed with the fact there was someone a little closer, he looked to Chimmey who was now fully dressed, electricity sparking all around her from her cybernetic implants, she simply nodded her head and moved in the direction Edward indicated.

Meanwhile...
The cheers would have been short lived, the sound of 'Lion sleeps tonight' by Tight fit continued to blare out of the smoke and above the din of battle. Through it stepped the somewhat less intimiating sight of a runt bot painted in Tiger stripes. However the gadgeteers and fixers could see this little runt was very heavily armed.

A rather more intimidating presence could be made out through the smoke, an unearthly green glow illuminating the area followed by a low gurgling growl. Steve stepping through the smoke and staring straight at Junkyard Dog, the Shivan a clearly imposing figure, standing taller than any of the assault bots.

Steve lumbered towards the crowd, the only saving grace the Blackshirts had was that all the other specifically tailored robots had taken to guard the patients being evacuated, thus there was only T0N-E and Steve to stop them.

Back in the labs...

Edward pressed a button, a secret compartment in the wall appeared, holding what was an ordinary looking sledgehammer.

"Ah Foehammer, it's been a while but if they want anything they're going to have to get past me...and that's a tougher task then they have been led to believe..."

He stood guard in the lab, waiting...

Shortly after in one of the R & D labs...

"You two tear down that racking. You, torch that corner. You, grab that equipment..."

"Jawohl mein Capitan!" Snapped the last Blackshirt who'd had orders barked at him by Brickhouse.

Something inside Brickhouse snapped and he found himself thrusting the end of his nightstick under the very shocked Blackshirt's chin.

"You trying to be funny?"

"N.. N... No. Sorry... I didn't me.. mean anything by it." Stammered the Blackshirt now standing on tip-toes to avoid the nightstick putting anymore pressure under his chin.

Brickhouse realised he'd made an idiot of himself, the Blackshirt was just making banter with his leader, and not specifically referring to the word 'Captain' at all. Ever since he wore that stupid Statesman outfit during the Capecon mission he'd been getting a lot of stick from his comrades. Things only got worse when Partisan decided he'd be the best person to masquerade as Captain Hollywood in order to help foster some resentment against heroes back in Paragon. Normally he wasn't so easily wound up, but after Capecon Brickhouse found himself questioning his conscience. This inner conflict was the real reason he was angry.

"Sarge, Sergeant, or Brickhouse. NEVER CAPTAIN! I work for a living."

"Uh yeah sure... I mean Sarge!"

The Blackshirt scampered off, and Brickhouse hoped the others would just put the scene down to being one of those NCO rants about not being an officer or something.

"Oooh somebody got out of the wrong side of the bed this morning."

Brickhouse spun to face the direction of Catwalk's voice.

"Catwalk! About time you got here. Who is your friend?" Brickhouse asked referring to a very confused and terrified Mike who was standing behind her.

"Oh him..."

She walked over to Brickhouse taking an automatic pistol from his holster. Then in a swift fluid motion spun back around and shot Mike dead centre in the forehead.

"... Just somebody I used to work with."

Brickhouse tried to show no emotion, but inwardly felt sick to his stomach at Catwalk's unflinching cold brutality. Despite having committing more than his own share of atrocities he'd never managed to become so detached that murder was as uneventful as swatting a fly.

"Uh... Look Catwalk... The boys have done more than enough damage to the factory, and we've nabbed all kinds of gear. Can I give the order to withdraw?"

"Not yet... Viral get over here." Catwalk snapped as she gestured towards a geeky looking young woman whose Blackshirt uniform was covered in pouches bulging with electrical equipment."

"Well hurry up. The last radio message I got from Spanners said some tiger-striped bot was ripping her boys apart while Junkyard Dog was duking it out with Mechano's pet Shivan. She want's to pull out before her casualties get too heavy."

Catwalk and Viral sat at a computer terminal plugging in various bits of equipment and furiously tapping keys. A minute or two later Brickhouse heard a victorious cheer from the two girls. As he looked over he saw something called Project Chimera flash up on screen...

Steve was more than a match for the Junkyard dog, lifting the massive robot above it's gelatinous head and hurling it's broken body back through the breach with a gutteral roar, taking some of the Blackshirts with it.

T0N-E was impassive as a robot could be, the whirring whine of gattling lasers and the whooshing roar of flamethrowers sweeping in arcs of death and destruction, the music still coming from his loudhailer...it seemed to be increasing in volume the more kills the robot got, as if it was showing off.

Meanwhile in the R&D section...
There wouldn't have been much time to celebrate, the hulking, seething mass of the creation of Project Chimera was now in the doorway. Electricity seemed to arc off the walls and doorframe, muscles could be seen to contort underneath the skin. Chimmey looked down to see the body of Mike laying lifeless.

She hunched over to gently shake it before looking up at the assembled group with a look of sheer fury and anger. The hatred etched into her face was immense, it was a burning, seething rage that seemed to cause the electricity to become more of an electrical storm focused around the behemoth of a construct.

She slowly, purposeful, filled with all the malice, spite and hatred in the world, begun her advance on the group.

"It's CHIMERA!!!" Catwalk screamed.

Viral looked up from the computer terminal and gulped before getting her head back down, and launching herself into a key tapping frenzy. Meanwhile two of the Blackshirts went to engage Mechano's killing machine, but were quickly incapacitated by Chimera's electric aura before being eviscerated. Brickhouse, not stupid enough to engage Chimera armed only with a nightstick, started to launch various bits of equipment and tooling at it in some vain effort to slow it's advance.

"Hurry up Viral. We're bugging out." Brickhouse shouted as he threw a prototype 'Walkie Waffler'.

Viral's fingers danced across the keyboard in a blur of motion. A moment later she yanked her portable hard drive free from the computer, and bolted out of her chair.

"Got it!"...

Back at the cafeteria...

Mechano's bots and pet Shivan had been a much harder fight than originally anticipated. The Junkyard Dog continued to broadcast growls as Blackshirts behind a wall of riot shields dragged the battered droid away. Meanwhile Spanners winced as another of her Blackshirts was cut to ribbons by T0N-E.

"Screw this. Brickhouse has had more than enough time to accomplish his mission. EVERYBODY FALLBACK!!!"

The Blackshirts didn't need to be told twice. Laying down a rain of covering fire they started to withdraw from the factory dragging wounded men, damaged machinery, and looted equipment behind them.

Now splattered from head to toe in the gore of the two unfortunate blackshirts, Chimera was barely slowed by the onslaught of equipment, she stalked forward.

"Hu-Fir..." was the only word to come from her snarling mouth as she crushed the remains of the blackshirts underfoot, a horrible crunching, popping sound followed as geysers of blood sprayed from what was left of the remains but appeared to be exceedingly careful to step around the body of Mike.

Thankfully the building is only two stories high and there were many windows with which to make an evacuation from, there was also a fire escape door in the next room, yes the building was 'up to code' fortunately for those members of the Humanity First.

Meanwhile in the Cafeteria
Steve and T0N-E seemed to pause.

"This is Edward, do not purse, I repeat do not purse, secure the perimeter is out first and foremost conscern, that means you too Chimmey, any of these oafs left in the building are fair game...capture the wounded if you can, I have experiments I need to run..." an ominous and very evil chuckle echoed across the tannoy.

T0N-E went back into guard mode, the gatling lasers whirring down and the pilot lights of the flamerthrowers blinking out.

Steve dusted off a neaby clipboard and searched for a pen, turning over the bodies of the dead scientists until he found one, he begun the task of noting down the names of those who had died, the standard payout for death at work would be sent to their families along with Edward paying for any funeral costs the family would incure.

Steve picked up a rather funky looking tie of the ground, not sure who it belonged to, putting it on he adjusted it, it was time for the Shivan to put on his business brain and leave behind the raging smashing beast he had needed to be while defending Edwards complex.

Edward's office
Edward let one final broadcast to any blackshirts left on the premise, "You broke into my house, stole my property, murdered my servants, and my PETS! And that is what grieves me the most! You destroyed my robots. Infidel Defilers. You shall all drown in lakes of blood. I shall personally see to it that I crucify you upon the tree of woe...know this Humanity First...the sword of Damocles now hangs over you, Project Chimera will be your undoing..."

The next day, A Humanity First safe house, Sharkhead.

"Brickhouse,... Brickhouse,... BRICKHOUSE!!!"

A heavily bandaged and bruised Brickhouse shuffled on the bed before opening the one eye that had not swollen shut.

"Damn it Catwalk can't I just die in peace?"

"Oh you ain't going to die. Saw bones reckons you'll be back in the field in less than a week. Lucky you're such a big beefy boy."

"Didn't stop that Chimera monster of Mechano's throwing me about like a rag doll though. We were damn lucky to escape."

"You'll soon get over it. Besides you ought to be pleased. Partisan considers the mission a success. Not only did we bloody Mechano's nose we managed to grab all kinds of gear that will help the war effort. More importantly though Viral managed to steal all kinds of info on Mechano's Chimera project. Once she's had a play and broadcast it on the net it's likely to bring all kinds of grief down on Mechano's head."

"Maybe, but we lost some good men during that attack."

"That's why you got to hurry up and get better hun. Partisan wants Soapbox to do another recruiting drive. We need you back in the Captain's costume tearing up those streets so more people see things how we do."

On mentioning the Captain Hollywood masquerade Brickhouse looked uncomfortable. however Catwalk didn't think anything of it putting it all down to the pain of his injuries. Wanting to get away from the whole Captain Hollywood thing Brickhouse pointed to the newspaper in Catwalk's hand.

"What's that?"

"Today's Informer. Loot picked it up. Here, have a look."

Brickhouse took the paper and started to read...