Identical features stared back at him; angry, accusing eyes that promised unconventional pain in manners that would befuddle conventional interrogators. Most likely, he’d include pickles and high voltage transfers… because, after all, that is what he’d do, too. A perfect voice match of his own, one that would be able to fool his sophisticated security systems, bit angrily back. “Use a phone.”
“This had to be said in person.”
“What’s wrong with you?”
“Quite a lot, I’d imagine.”
From his stasis field, Dr. Michael Scotts glared at Dr. Michael Scotts, two twins of different Earth’s locking eyes; but something was different, the roles reversed. The Praetorian version, normally a deranged psychopath that was hell bent on destroying Statesman, the Phalanx, and Longbow, and, ultimately, Emperor Cole, looked… tired. And the heroic paragon of science, Primal Earth’s version, was seeing nothing but red.
“You know that’s not what I meant.” Primal Scotts hissed. “What, is the famous Geiger Killer feeling remorseful? Go burn another bridge, madman.”
Praetorian Scotts sagged his shoulders. “Or is the pleasant Radiant Beam yearning for blood? Don’t play semantics with me.”
Radiant Beam beat his bare hand against the energy barrier. “Let me out, damn you!”
“I said I wanted to talk.”
Sulking angrily, Primal Scotts waved him off. “I don’t want to hear anything you have to say, murderer.”
“Calling the kettle black, aren’t you, pot?”
Radiant Beam shivered and struck the field again. “YOU *******!”
“Everybody has death in their hands, Michael. I wanted to talk.”
“It’s not the same! You are… you are… everything wrong.”
“Something is happening to me, and I suspect it is happening to you, too.”
“…. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Geiger Killer waved his hand and the surround equipment whirred to life. “I’ve been monitoring Scotts Robotics. Your power output has been through the roof lately, nearly quadruple what you were using a month ago.”
“So what? I’ve been busy. You know, helping people.”
“I know you feel it, Michael. Something inside of us. You met him, didn’t you?” Primal Scotts’ eyebrows gave him away, arching ever so slightly. “I was there, too. Trapdoor, Hero-1, The Lady.” With another wave of his hand, the containment field collapsed, leaving his Primal twin free. “My mind… something… whatever snapped when I crossed dimensions, whatever burned my brain… it has corrected it. You hear his name, don’t you?”
Radiant Beam was on one knee, grimacing. “I only have three words for you.”
“Please, wait, I-“
“RADIANT ARMOR, ACTIVATE!”
And Primal was on top of Praetorian in a heartbeat, barely enough time for the other to manifest his powered armor and let it absorb the radioactive blow to the head. His vision cleared just in time to see a massive green wave impact his chest, tossing him backwards and cracking the metallic wall. Dazed, he dropped to the floor.
“You’re lying!” Another shot, this time burning a hole in the Praetorian’s armor and scalding the skin. “They wouldn’t choose you! YOU’RE NOTHING, a pitiful excuse for a human that can’t grasp their own deeds!”
Weakly, Geiger Killer raised his hands as if surrendering. “They brought me clarity, healed my mind.”
“NO!” A fist, surging with power, shattered his chest piece and practically collapsed his sternum. “I WON’T ALLOW IT!” The final metallic lining gave way. “YOU AREN’T WORTHY, A COWARD PRETENDING TO BE A MAN!”
Coughing, Praetorian Scotts managed a hush reply. “This is how I felt… when they killed him. Broke Yuuki in half, tossed him aside like garbage. Please, I wanted to talk.”
Trembling with rage, Dr. Scotts held fast. “It’s not right, why would they choose you, why us? We hate magic, the gods, curse them on every occasion. WHY YOU?!”
“Because… we can change things with our power.” Standing tall, Geiger Killer placed a hand on his other’s shoulder. “They see something. You hear his name, don’t you? Driving your intellect, your craftsmanship.”
Radiant Beam was silent.
“You do. Say his name, and we can end this conversation.”
“I hate him.”
“So do I.”
“I hate them all.”
“As we should, meddling as they are.”
“His name… I hear it when I’m working…”
“Say it.”
“Hephaestus. We are Incarnates of the god of technology and invention. And I hate him.”
Terms
A City of Heroes Interlude
“I wanted to talk.”
Identical features stared back at him; angry, accusing eyes that promised unconventional pain in manners that would befuddle conventional interrogators. Most likely, he’d include pickles and high voltage transfers… because, after all, that is what he’d do, too. A perfect voice match of his own, one that would be able to fool his sophisticated security systems, bit angrily back. “Use a phone.”
“This had to be said in person.”
“What’s wrong with you?”
“Quite a lot, I’d imagine.”
From his stasis field, Dr. Michael Scotts glared at Dr. Michael Scotts, two twins of different Earth’s locking eyes; but something was different, the roles reversed. The Praetorian version, normally a deranged psychopath that was hell bent on destroying Statesman, the Phalanx, and Longbow, and, ultimately, Emperor Cole, looked… tired. And the heroic paragon of science, Primal Earth’s version, was seeing nothing but red.
“You know that’s not what I meant.” Primal Scotts hissed. “What, is the famous Geiger Killer feeling remorseful? Go burn another bridge, madman.”
Praetorian Scotts sagged his shoulders. “Or is the pleasant Radiant Beam yearning for blood? Don’t play semantics with me.”
Radiant Beam beat his bare hand against the energy barrier. “Let me out, damn you!”
“I said I wanted to talk.”
Sulking angrily, Primal Scotts waved him off. “I don’t want to hear anything you have to say, murderer.”
“Calling the kettle black, aren’t you, pot?”
Radiant Beam shivered and struck the field again. “YOU *******!”
“Everybody has death in their hands, Michael. I wanted to talk.”
“It’s not the same! You are… you are… everything wrong.”
“Something is happening to me, and I suspect it is happening to you, too.”
“…. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Geiger Killer waved his hand and the surround equipment whirred to life. “I’ve been monitoring Scotts Robotics. Your power output has been through the roof lately, nearly quadruple what you were using a month ago.”
“So what? I’ve been busy. You know, helping people.”
“I know you feel it, Michael. Something inside of us. You met him, didn’t you?” Primal Scotts’ eyebrows gave him away, arching ever so slightly. “I was there, too. Trapdoor, Hero-1, The Lady.” With another wave of his hand, the containment field collapsed, leaving his Primal twin free. “My mind… something… whatever snapped when I crossed dimensions, whatever burned my brain… it has corrected it. You hear his name, don’t you?”
Radiant Beam was on one knee, grimacing. “I only have three words for you.”
“Please, wait, I-“
“RADIANT ARMOR, ACTIVATE!”
And Primal was on top of Praetorian in a heartbeat, barely enough time for the other to manifest his powered armor and let it absorb the radioactive blow to the head. His vision cleared just in time to see a massive green wave impact his chest, tossing him backwards and cracking the metallic wall. Dazed, he dropped to the floor.
“You’re lying!” Another shot, this time burning a hole in the Praetorian’s armor and scalding the skin. “They wouldn’t choose you! YOU’RE NOTHING, a pitiful excuse for a human that can’t grasp their own deeds!”
Weakly, Geiger Killer raised his hands as if surrendering. “They brought me clarity, healed my mind.”
“NO!” A fist, surging with power, shattered his chest piece and practically collapsed his sternum. “I WON’T ALLOW IT!” The final metallic lining gave way. “YOU AREN’T WORTHY, A COWARD PRETENDING TO BE A MAN!”
Coughing, Praetorian Scotts managed a hush reply. “This is how I felt… when they killed him. Broke Yuuki in half, tossed him aside like garbage. Please, I wanted to talk.”
Trembling with rage, Dr. Scotts held fast. “It’s not right, why would they choose you, why us? We hate magic, the gods, curse them on every occasion. WHY YOU?!”
“Because… we can change things with our power.” Standing tall, Geiger Killer placed a hand on his other’s shoulder. “They see something. You hear his name, don’t you? Driving your intellect, your craftsmanship.”
Radiant Beam was silent.
“You do. Say his name, and we can end this conversation.”
“I hate him.”
“So do I.”
“I hate them all.”
“As we should, meddling as they are.”
“His name… I hear it when I’m working…”
“Say it.”
“Hephaestus. We are Incarnates of the god of technology and invention. And I hate him.”