"Protector: Day of Vigilance" July 9 2011 - Official Event Thread!
By
Beka_Cavish,
Posted on: 2011-05-20 10:35 in Protector
[Protector: Day of Vigilance (Official Storyline)]
Good Afternoon, Paragonners. Alexis Alexander here with my ongoing report.
At the request of EtherFalcon, I had accompanied a group of adventurers into the time/space anomaly known as Recluse's Victory. Our mission (which, in retrospect, was a bit poorly thought out) was to infiltrate a local 'fight club' and locate and question an Arachnos operative named Hidden Demise.
From one point of view, our mission was an absolute success. It was surprisingly easy to get into close proximity to the Fortunata in question. Unfortunately, that was accomplished by being captured with embarrassing ease. With my party scattered among the crowd trying to find her, Hidden Demise simply walked out of the crowd and made it very obvious that I was her prisoner.
I must admit, readers, that in more ways that one, I was taken by surprise by Hidden Demise. For someone reputed to be second only to Ghost Widow in lethality, she was quite friendly and polite. Also, (quite unlike myself) she managed to make a ridiculous outfit (in the interests of accuracy it was a black and pink Roman Centurion-esque look) astounding. I was even able to ask her a few questions about her past and her career. For the most part, she was very forthcoming; except when I tried to direct the conversation back to FREEM tech, then she would simply reply "In due time."
She guided me through the crowd swiftly. She must have realized that it wouldn't be too much longer before one of the people I came with would start wondering what had become of the innocent civilian, and then all of the play fighting would become painfully real.
We approached a section of hillside that had started sliding aside revealing a hidden doorway. She casually waved a hand indicating, very clearly, that I should go inside. She stood aside and waited calmly, neither posturing, nor making threats.
She didn't have to.
Usually, when situations like this come up in fiction, the hallway is dark, lit fitfully with torches or a sputtering, sparking, fluorescent light. This is supposed to convey menace to the reader, and build up suspense. Honestly readers, I was already suspended as much as I could be. It came as a small relief that the hallway was dimly but quite thoroughly lit by small, cold blue lights placed every 3 feet or so.
"We're in night mode," Hidden Demise explained as the doorway slid shut behind her and she casually waved me onward. "The blue lights help ease the transition between night vision and normal. It also helps with concealment. He doesn't need anyone finding us until the time is right."
"He?" I asked as we turned a corner and stopped in front of what appeared to be an elevator. I couldn't be certain but it looked like a car was rising to our floor. Whoever 'he' was, it was pretty certain that I would have to go down to meet him.
As the elevator descended, and I tried to shake off some Dante inspired imagery, I could see Hidden Demise begin to frown. I knew it couldn't have been anything I'd done to irritate her but something was obviously annoying her. Before I could work up the nerve to ask, she glared at me and pointed at the small speaker set in the ceiling.
'...Gonna find my baby, gonna hold her tight
gonna grab some afternoon delight....'
Elevator music. I was in the hands of a villain who actually played insipid pop music inside his own lair's elevators. I was pretty certain at that point that I was truly doomed. I expected speeches, or the sounds of inquisitors at work, or (more practically) nothing at all. Hearing one of the most reviled songs of the last 50 years, made me deeply worried about my future survival. If nothing else, I would probably be collateral damage when Hidden Demise ripped the speaker down and smashed it.
Fortunately, the elevator stopped and the door opened before the song could get to the third verse. Hidden Demise almost leapt from the car, showing for the the first time that evening, an impatience with how slow I was moving. It wasn't until the door closed again that she regained her composure.
We were standing on a wide balcony over an almost improbably large space. The room tiered down through a series of ramps to a large circular platform surrounding a large flooded area which flowed out through a hole in the wall below us. The room was dimly lit with most of the light coming from idle workstations spaced around the platform.
With another of her simple but, very definite, hand gestures, Hidden Demise indicated that we were heading deeper into the facility. As we walked she started pointing out features of the room, almost as though she were a tour guide.
"... and they had a mini sub stationed here at one time. The tunnels were supposed to extend all the way to the ocean but we haven't been able to trace exactly where they come out. That would be useful to know back in reality, don't you think?"
I nodded my head, a bit astounded by it all. It was pretty common knowledge that Longbow had hidden facilities all over Paragon City but that one of this size was buried directly below Atlas Park was a bit unbelievable.
I could see office spaces that looked like they saw daily use and others that looked like they were used more for storage. We passed large spaces that were set up for what might have been briefing rooms and others that looked like well equipped gymnasiums. There were break rooms and even what might have been a rough cafeteria. Overall I got the impression of the kind of bunkers built for government officials during the Cold War. This was a facility built to withstand a siege but why was it here?
Our path through the complex led, not to a giant, high tech, command room like I was expecting, but to a relatively plain oak door. A small polished plaque on the door read 'Chief Operating Officer.' At my puzzled expression, Hidden Demise simply shrugged and frowned slightly. She opened the door then stood back both clearing my path in and making it plain that backwards was not an option.
"Ah, Ms. Alexander, good evening. I do hope you've enjoyed your tour of the grounds. Tell me, what do you think? Please, be honest." The speaker stood up from behind a dark Mahogany desk and spread his arms in a sweeping gesture.
He was a tall, broad shouldered man, perhaps in his late 30's. He was dressed in gold tone Khakis, expensive running shoes, and polo shirt. He looked more like the president of an Internet startup company than a criminal mastermind but it was his way of moving that suggested otherwise.
"I suppose that it's time I introduce myself. I am Golden Ace and, thanks to that poor fool Stalemate, I will soon be master of the world."
You know as well as I do readers that there's usually a bit of maniacal laughter or maybe a clap of thunder or some dramatic music at this point. I was almost disappointed that there wasn't. Golden Ace looked as though somebody had missed their sound cue.
I'd heard the name Golden Ace before. He'd been a semi regular feature in the headlines during the 90's but he was always considered a second tier (perhaps third tier) villain, more notable for flashy crimes than for being a credible threat. He'd dropped off the radar the last three years or so and everyone had assumed that he'd finally gotten tired of it all and gone into retirement.
His frown lasted only for a moment but shifted back to the friendly, open smile of a salesman as he stepped out from behind the desk and placed a hand on my shoulder to guide me out of the room. He was obviously proud of his current scheme and he wanted to talk to someone about it. I calmly pulled my blackberry out of my pocket, smiled, and got ready to take notes.
"Now, Ms. Alexander, you're probably wondering how I can make such an outlandish statement like that with a straight face. After all, World Domination is the number one mental illness among folks like myself. But where they fail is in trying to take the world as it is and change it to what they want it to be.
My plan is much simpler. I intend to take this improbable bubble of theoretical time/space and use it as the core template for my new world. Stalemate's amusingly labeled FREEM technology is what's going to make it all possible. You see, not only is FREEM an energy source but it has an interesting effect on the barriers between dimensions. In large enough quantities, such as I now possess, it can actually warp reality.
My associates have been constructing catalyst devices which, when combined with the dimensional anchors that hold Recluse's Victory stable will turn this probable reality into actual reality. Once that happens, I will be able to extract concessions from both Lord Recluse and the United Nations, making me supreme ruler of the world. Then I will be able to guide events away from the future I have seen and lead the world in a different direction, a better direction, MY direction!"
Hidden Demise, who had quietly taken up position behind us as we walked, interrupted him, "Don't you think it would be a good idea NOT to tell the reporter who is holding a wireless device, everything?"
"Demise, " he laughingly replied, "What could she possibly do? She's all alone here and, not to be insulting Ms. Alexander, but she doesn't look like she could fight her way out of a wet paper sack. I doubt she could outfight you, and I know she cannot beat me. Also, you know full well that this complex is shielded so, even if she had the extra dimensional plan on her phone, she couldn't get a message out."
I must admit readers that he was correct on almost every count. While my Blackberry is not exactly factory standard, it was never intended for pandimensional phone calls. Also, I was even more certain than he was that I could not outfight Hidden Demise. Where I had to disagree was in his estimation of my fighting skills. I knew I could beat a wet paper bag and, if it came down to it, Golden Ace as well.
I was alone, and I didn't see any immediate hope of rescue. I figured that my best chance was to target his ego. It was so large that I could not possibly miss.
"Well, Mr. Ace," I began in the tone of voice all reporters learn to use in situations like this, "Can I call you Mr. Ace? Or would you prefer Golden? Since you're about to be ruler of the world, how about a little background for your new subjects. A human side to the Supreme Ruler kind of thing..."
Out of the corner of my eye I could see a mixed expression cross Hidden Demise's face. She almost seemed to be stifling a laugh while at the same time giving me a glare that clearly said 'don't push it.' I had no choice, I had to keep him talking. I wasn't sure why, but maybe I could buy time for Kult and the others to figure out where I was and come up with some kind of rescue plan.
"... And that's when I decided to become ruler of the world. Yes, I know, who'd have thought that a boy from such humble beginnings could ascend to the pinnacle of humanity and become a legend in his own lifetime..."
"And you'd have gotten away with it too," said a familiar, infuriating, and oh so welcome voice from the shadows, "If it weren't for those meddling kids."
Etherfalcon had arrived.
Writer of In-Game fiction: Just Completed: My Summer Vacation. My older things are now being archived at Fanfiction.net http://www.fanfiction.net/~jwbullfrog until I come up with a better solution.
NB: To pursue the storyline and participate in the rescue of Alexis Alexander, it is strongly suggested you play the AE Arc #504550: "Protector: Day of Vigilance"
Be aware that this arc contains custom AVs and heavy bosses, and can be a challenging arc for some archetypes or teams. This is intentional.
"Protector: Day of Vigilance" Official Event Thread
To Shine Brightly part 2
They make good tea in the Midnighter Club, Skyshard thought as he finished a mug and turned another page in a slim, frost-covered book. One of the librarians and a suit of armor were nearby, making sure he took care of the tome. His research on returning to his own realm was, as always, slow and vague. There was nothing vague about the smell that suddenly hit his nostrils, however. Turning around, hands sparking in defense, he caught sight of Clochard climbing the stairs. The sparks faded only to reemerge as he noticed Clochard was eating a sandwich. Here, in the Midnighter Club, he was eating some greasy, yellow, possibly found in a dumpster, sandwich. How that vagrant had managed to enter the Club posed a minor mystery until Skyshard remembered that Clochard maintained a soft spot for the Lost.
Stinking of THT while still masticating the last golden bits of his (shudder) meal, Clochard took a small scroll from a pocket of his cargo pants and handed it over, saying Trouble. Skyshard was about to ask more, but realized that would entail more talking with his fellow SG-mate, so just replied, Thank you, slowly and deliberately. Clochard nodded, picked a few bits of yolk out of his beard, then wandered further into the Club, mumbling to himself as Skyshard began reading the scroll.
It was from Gaslight, and it outlined an opportunity.
Surprisingly, it wasnt to address the rising trouble from the Rogue Isles, nor the serious action starting in Recluses Victory, but it was instead to face the opportunistic villains here in Paragon City. Skyshard kept reading, moving past the Paragon Sentinel articles to the notes taken from the typical local news. He also looked over the portents Gaslight had included, including one that referenced the winter realm, Skyshards home. There was a possibility that this undertaking would provide another clue to return, just what he needed. He paused and lowered the scroll, watching Midnighters move throughout the club while he considered the omens.
Just what he needed.
Skyshard knew that as an adrift elemental, drawing power from a single source, he was less powerful than those Incarnates hed seen, as well as the Portal Jockeys, the Phalanxers, the celebrities of the super-powered world. Despite their advantages, fate would be smiling on people like Skyshard throughout the course of this challenge. What other personal goals would be realized by his peers? To find out, he just needed to find some teammates.
Outcasts, loners, and misfits
like me, Skyshard said as he looked at the Suit of Armor collecting the book hed been reading just minutes before. Should be interesting, he declared to the Club at large before hovering towards the door leading into Steel Canyon to begin the process of gathering a team in the same vein as himself.
OOC: In plain English, Im running all the Task Forces needed for TF Commander Accolade. My wife has agreed to back me up, so well have room for 6 more for each TF. Ill be starting at 11AM EDT on July 9th. The plan is that each TF will have about 2 hours allocated, though well be attempting to take them out as fast as possible. I will announce on the Protector Vigilance channel whenever one TF completes and another begins. The theme of misfits & underdogs is so that less played toons may get some sunshine. My own Skyshard has been collecting dust for a while and is still only wearing SOs. So if youve got a misfit, a weakling, a concept or stalled toon who youd like to give some play, heres a chance of a guaranteed team that will not say no while gunning for an accolade. You dont need to be fully tricked out, you dont need to know the TFs beforehand, and you dont need to worry about basic mechanics. Weve got the basics covered, so bring your misfit and lets have some fun.
((Non RP Post))
The Player Event Resource Committee is very happy to support and be a part of "Day of Vigilance." To kick off the event, we will be hosting a Dress Your Badge Contest On July 8th at 9pm edt. We hope players will enjoy this event and the opportunity to win a custom handmade doll (of their character) generously donated by Laylarei or other inf/IO prizes. Other prizes will also be given out on behalf of PERC during the Costume and Bio contests on July 9th.
Thank you very much to Stalemate and the other fine folks of Protector for organizing such an awesome and difficult event! PERC truly supports the initiative and we are thankful to have a small part in Day of Vigilance.
~*~Madame Pistacio~*~
Guardian of CHRYSALIS
Victory Limitless- /chanjoin "Victory Limitless"
P.E.R.C. First Chair- P.E.R.C. Site, Victory Over Hamidon
Guardian of CHRYSALIS
Victory Limitless- /chanjoin "Victory Limitless"
P.E.R.C. First Chair- P.E.R.C. Site, Victory Over Hamidon
Newest event- The Great Makeover
[Protector: Day of Vigilance (Official Storyline)]
Good afternoon Paragonners, Alexis Alexander still here (for now) with my continuing report.
The lights had gone out.
It might have been a random power failure but I suspected that Etherfalcon was to blame. Personally readers, I didn't care. As soon as it went dark, I dropped to the floor and started scrambling for cover. I'd seen enough super human fights to know what was coming next, and I knew I was the snowflake in this particular blast furnace.
I had managed to find a set of filing cabinets when the first of the flashes started. Flash grenades have been used by the military and in Law Enforcement for decades. It's not uncommon to see PPD officers carrying three or four when responding to crisis calls.
It looked like Etherfalcon had brought a large sack of them.
"...The coms are out too. I can't get through to security. Demise, why can't you find him?..."
"He's got psi screamers running on those things. I can't...get...a ..."
"Fix?" growled Etherfalcon, his voice bouncing from shadow to shadow like a demented specter. "You think I'd make it that easy on you? Give up. Now." Whatever technology he was using made the last word thunder like the voice of God. If he was trying to unsettle Golden Ace, it was working.
"You can't stay in the shadows forever." shouted a slightly frantic Golden Ace. "I'll have a hundred soldiers here in moments and then there won't be anywhere you can hide."
"If they're your soldiers," mocked Etherfalcon's pinballing voice, "I could stand on top of the Atlas statue waving a big yellow flag and they would never find me. "
The lights flickered back to life. From my hiding spot (a server rack and not a filing cabinet as I first thought) I could see dozens of soldiers spreading out through the room in teams of twos and threes. Incompetent or not, even I knew that it would be impossible to hide from that many pairs of eyes. I was lucky that they hadn't seen me yet, but I couldn't count on that. Unfortunately, I had nowhere to go and no way to get there.
Hidden Demise shouted triumphantly and thrust her left arm toward a spot not far from where I waited. I heard a grunt and saw Etherfalcon fly backward from behind a monitor station. She had finally located him and, with a telekinetic push, sent him sprawling.
He rolled back to his feet quickly and flicked a pair of throwing knives back at Demise. With the barest of gestures, she sent them spinning away, but Etherfalcon had time to shift into a better fighting position. He circled slowly away from me, gesturing for her to bring the fight to him.
I could see her face and, readers, the change terrified me. Gone was the open, almost likable, woman from earlier in the evening. In her place was a predator. She had a slight smile on her face and eyes that were flat and calculating. She was working the fight out as a chess game in her head, a game where she already had declared checkmate and the only thing left was the tedium of actually making the moves.
"All those theatrics for nothing Falcon. How pathetic." A change had come over Golden Ace as well. Instead of civilian clothing, he was now covered from throat to toes in golden power armor. He now looked the part of a world conqueror.
" The FREEM units are already in place and my forces are simply awaiting my presence to begin fitting them to the dimensional stabilizers. Please forgive me for not finishing you personally, but I'm needed elsewhere. Demise, finish him quickly, then join us up above. You won't want to miss the beginning of my new world."
He swept out of the room with several soldiers in his wake. I had thought he would use the elevator to return to the surface, (and perhaps be careless enough to leave it active so I could use it myself) but there were obviously other exits that I had not been shown and my somewhat hopeful escape plan was flattened.
Etherfalcon and Hidden Demise circled each other, looking for an opening. The remaining soldiers in the room had taken up stations around the room while a few pulled back into a loose circle around them. Understand readers that I did not truly wish Etherfalcon harm, but I just couldn't understand why, if he was such a bit threat, they didn't just all shoot him at once and get it over with. This was obviously an important part of the 'Big Book of Superhuman Fights' that I had not read.
Hidden Demise broke the silence first. Her voice was more the leopard's promise of death than a human's offer of mercy.
"You always have to do things yourself, don't you Falcon. You have this unhealthy obsession with being some kind of solitary avenger. Well this time it will cost you. I'm certain you realize that this base is well off the grid for the mediport system. You fall here, I'll make sure you don't come back."
Her last words were punctuated by a silent howl that made my head ache and made Etherfalcon flinch. A little too late I remembered that she was a Fortunata and she could kill with a thought. All of Etherfalcon's combat skills would be worthless if she never came within his reach.
Etherfalcon took two quick steps forward then leapt forward turning his third step into a high, spinning kick which would have connected with the side of her head if Hidden Demise hadn't dropped into a low roll and passed under him. A sweeping motion of her arms threw Etherfalcon high into the air and into an uncontrolled spin. She calmly regained her feet while watching him tumble. She was an artist examining her own work, and she seemed satisfied with that she was seeing.
"You were a fool Falcon, coming here alone. What were you thinking?" He voice was calm, and dispassionate. "We're you expecting her to help you?" She glanced over her shoulder. "No offense Ms. Alexander but you are not worth my time right now. Please, don't do anything to change that."
Etherfalcon dropped to the floor like a sandbag. He was moving within moments but I could tell that he was shaken. He went on the attack with a flurry of short, fast punches that succeeded in forcing Hidden Demise back a few steps and giving himself some breathing room. He was smiling as he shifted his feet into a better stance. I could see Hidden Demise brushing something off of her cheek.
Something red. Blood.
I'm not sure I can describe the next few minutes of the fight since my limited knowledge of martial arts gave out somewhere in the first 10 seconds. Punches and counter punches, knives, blades and hits that could only have been the result of psychic attack. Etherfalcon was overmatched but, like a hero, he never stopped fighting until he simply could not stand any longer.
Hidden Demise stood over him. She had taken more than a few hits and would be a mass of bruises in the morning but, judging by the expression on her face, she intended to make sure that waking up in the morning would not be an option for Etherfalcon.
"It's time to end this farce," she growled. "You'll die a useless death here, and for what? You should have brought help."
The room shook as a section of wall cracked and crumbled open into the mouth of a cave. Red-Orange lights glowed from within as a tall, broad shouldered figure stepped into the opening.
Stalemate. But not in the Black and Gold armor that I had seen before. He was now wearing what looked like a newer, sleeker set in White and Silver. It seemed that he had decided to be a hero again.
Etherfalcon began to laugh.
"Yeah, I wish I'd thought of that..."
Stalemate wasn't alone, I could see at least ten figures step up on either side of him, silhouetted by the light. Honestly readers, I swear that they practice that 'group photo' pose in the mirror and use it every chance they get. But, I wasn't about to complain, the cavalry had arrived.
From my vantage point I could not see everyone clearly but I could identify the Blood Red and black armor of Keltarn contrasting with the cool blues and whites of Lady Cryostat; The bright red of Sooner Spirit complimenting the signature orange and black of Stone Daemon, and the eerie purple and blue aura of a warshade surrounding NightVyxen. Major T stood off to one side, claws glinting dully in the red orange light, and next to him was an armored figure that was probably Electric Torch (at least, it matched the latest pictures). Closest to me was the most familiar and welcome face of the group. Madam Masada. Despite declaring that she wanted nothing more to do with this affair, there she was, knives out and ready.
I could see Stalemate's knees flex slightly before his suit's artificial muscles propelled him out of the opening and across the room toward Hidden Demise. His leap acted as the signal for a charge as heroes leaped into the air, soared out into open space or simply sprinted into the groups of soldiers.
Stalemate's first punch landed before his feet hit the ground. Hidden Demise was taken completely off guard and landed flat on her back, several feet away.
"Need anything?" he said to the still prone Etherfalcon.
"A day off and a couple of aspirin," Etherfalcon groaned as he slowly climbed back to his feet. He wasn't in any shape to fight, but he wouldn't admit it.
"Here she comes..." was all Stalemate had time for as Hidden Demise launched her counterattack. Again readers, I can't give you a detailed play by play of the fight since I didn't understand it myself. I'll describe it as best as I can.
Stalemate was slowly shifting his position keeping himself squarely in Hidden Demise's line of sight. It appeared that he was relying on his armor to absorb her strikes while using his own FREEM enhanced strength to deliver punishing blows. Etherfalcon was in constant motion, delivering disorienting strikes and keeping Hidden Demise off balance. Even with this teamwork, they were barely managing (forgive the unintentional pun) a Stalemate.
At this point readers, a question from earlier came back into my head.
Why don't the soldiers just shoot them?
The answer was simple. They were busy.
The heroes that arrived with Stalemate were sweeping through the room in twos and threes, taking apart groups of soldiers. I will give full credit to the soldiers, they were (despite Falcon's taunts earlier) a very professional and well trained group. They just weren't equipped or trained for close quarters combat with a dozen super powered individuals.
Short, controlled bursts of gunfire melted into walls of flame or flattened harmlessly on forcefields. Coordinated strikes were blasted apart by energy beams or buried under the concrete of the floor. Some soldiers stood in unnatural terror while others lay unconscious on the floor. A few had tried to bring up heavier weapons but it didn't look like they had any real effect.
Hidden Demise's support troops were quickly taken out of the picture, still leaving the Fortunata in a circle in the center of the room, but the circle had changed. Now the odds were 12 to 1 against her and, as good as she was, even Hidden Demise couldn't win. But something still wasn't making sense readers. She didn't look defeated or even intimidated, she looked....satisfied. Slowly, she raised her right hand into the air.
"Mr. Etherfalcon, sir. May I ask a question before you arrest me?" She slowly turned and looked at each of the surrounding heroes before facing Etherfalcon again.
"How stupid do you all think I am?"
There is no single word, other than pain, to describe what happened next. Hidden Demise threw her head back and unleashed a hellhound's wail which lashed every one of the heroes around her (and one innocent reporter who, for some still unexplained reason, hadn't run away yet) with massive psychic feedback. The effects were devastating. I saw the already overextended Etherfalcon collapse bonelessly to the ground. The others staggered back, stunned. I must not have been close enough to get the full effect but, I was still blinded and nauseated for a few moments.
Hidden Demise strode calmly out of the circle. She was still in bad shape, but she was the only person still moving. If she had really wanted anyone dead, they would have been.
"Golden Ace needs me on the surface if he's going to have any chance of success," she said slowly and painfully but clearly. "But, don't worry, I've invited a few friends to keep you busy. Feel free to join us on the surface. If you still can."
As the elevator door opened for her, I could see several figures step out, led by Evil Chiller X. I recognized some of them, and realized what her endgame had been all along. The heroes were weak and wounded and exhausted while the villains that had just arrived were all fresh and ready for a fight. Some of them, I knew, were looking to settle old grudges. Her fight club has just turned lethal.
Stalemate was the first to recover. Perhaps his armor had shielded him from the worst of the effects, perhaps it was something else but he was rallying the heroes still standing. They formed a loose semi circle around their fallen teammate ready to sell themselves to give him time to either recover, or...
Readers, I wasn't certain that there were any other options.
There was something I could do to even the odds though. I sprinted out of my hiding place and over to the fallen Etherfalcon. His breathing was shallow and irregular but he was still alive. I could use that, but the fight was going to begin again soon. I didn't have much time.
If you recall, I carry a Blackberry that was given to me by a past associate. That man was something of a technical genius and, noting the inherent danger in my chosen journalistic field, he added a few special features. Most notably, my Blackberry can provide a short burst of energy which was supposed to be able to revive an unconscious person. It can only do this a few times before it eats the battery but, if this worked, I'd bill Etherfalcon for a new one.
Either Stalemate and the other heroes guessed what I was trying to do, or they were just trying to keep me out of the line of fire, but, as a group, they started forward. A few walking steps became a slow jog, then that jog became a charge that hit the still ragged villain line. I had the time I needed.
I laid the Blackberry over his heart and keyed in the trigger sequence. His body convulsed upward and his eyes shot open. He took a deep gasping breath before his hand reached for his chest. Reacting quickly (and not wanting to see my property smashed against the floor) I grabbed my Blackberry and dropped it back into my pocket.
He was still blinking as he sat up. It was hard to tell through his mask, but it almost looked like one eye was dilated and one wasn't. Neither one seemed to be focusing on anything in particular. His lips were moving but, he couldn't quite form words. He coughed lightly once before he found his voice.
"If I apologize for being rude, will you never do that to me again?" I had to laugh, readers. For the first time since this all began, Etherfalcon didn't sound like a know-it-all. He groaned as he levered himself on to his knees and, slowly, to his feet. He was headed back into the fight.
"Get her out of here," shouted Stalemate from his part of the melee. "They need you to coordinate the surface teams. We can handle this."
Etherfalcon nodded weakly and we headed for the tunnel. As we slowly made our way to the surface, I could hear the sounds of the fight fading behind us. We were out of the fire but every step took us closer to climbing back into the frying pan. Etherfalcon seemed to gain confidence with each step forward. He was back in his element and he was already making plans. I could only hope he'd find a safe place to put me first.
As we stepped out under the open sky, Etherfalcon pulled out a small communicator and spoke rapidly into it. "PSF base, code red, port two," was all I understood before the sickeningly, unnatural process of matter transference grabbed me once again.
We reappeared in, well, kind of what I expected to see in a superhero base. High tech monitors, super computers, machines that beeped and flashed with no identifiable purpose. Etherfalcon motioned me to follow him and moved quickly through halls and rooms until we reached a room dominated by a floor to ceiling wallscreen and a single computer workstation.
Falcon moved to the workstation and typed a series of commands. The wallscreen came to life in a triptych of images. In the left panel was the familiar sight of City Hall in Atlas Park, in the right was a towering mass of cables, steel and concrete that could only be Lord Recluse's tower in Grandville. Between them was the image of some sort of satellite and a numerical display.
"Ms. Alexander, I deeply regret this but I am out of options." He indicated the numbers in the display. "This will show you the relative strength of the FREEM units reality warping ability. If we fail and this number gets above 95 percent then you will have to destroy the gates under Atlas Park and Grandville in order to cut his reality off from our own."
"Wait, Destroy?" I stammered. I was hoping I had heard him wrong.
"Yes," he said flatly as he pressed two final buttons. "You now have sole control of a particle beam satellite in geosynchronous orbit over the North Atlantic. Pressing that button, (a large red one, I noted) will fire a single beam to each of those locations, cauterizing the gateways."
"And what about the people near them?" I asked horrified.
"Everything within a quarter mile will be vaporized."
Before I could reply, or even make a sound in protest, Etherfalcon had teleported back to the battle.
Readers, this might be my last report. As I type this, I'm sitting at a computer console somewhere in Paragon City watching the numbers on a computer screen slowly climb, and hoping (more like praying) that someone out there will be able to stop Golden Ace's plan before I have to do the unthinkable...
For Annie...
Writer of In-Game fiction: Just Completed: My Summer Vacation. My older things are now being archived at Fanfiction.net http://www.fanfiction.net/~jwbullfrog until I come up with a better solution.
Also listing the schedule and prizes here in this thread, for those following the URLS, but please ask questions, if any, over here.
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Schedule & Prizes
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All times listed are in the Eastern time zone.
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Friday, July 8
09:00 PM - Dress your Badge (P.E.R.C. / Madame Pistacio, ToxicStriker and Layla Rei)
- PRIZES: Doll from Layla Rei and approx. 1B inf
All day Saturday, July 9
Participation Prizes in Protector Vigilance Global Channel (Stalemate)
- PRIZE: 1 Costume code from the following list (winner’s choice):
- Praetorian Clockwork
- Rikti Mentalist
- Carnie Harlequin or Ringmistress
- Praetorian Ghoul
- Meatdoctor
- Freakshow boss
- PPD Hardsuit
- PRIZE: Manticore Hero Clix figurine (unopened bag)
- PRIZES: approx. 400M inf
RV Duel sessions - primarily in Pocket D (Shining Magic, et al.)
- PRIZES: To be determined, from a 2B pool
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Saturday, July 9
09:00-09:30 AM - Hide and Seek in Atlas Park (Stalemate)
- PRIZES: 100M inf
- PRIZES: 500M inf
- PRIZES: 200M inf
- PRIZES: 200M inf and Costume recipes
10:30 AM-11:30 PM - Solo Ouroboros Mender Silos TF race (Stalemate)
- PRIZES: 500M inf
- Prizes: 500M inf, and TF Commander accolade
- PRIZES: 500M inf
- More about Storm Angyl (7pm event in thread): http://goo.gl/ERbO4
- PRIZES: 1B inf
03:30-03:45 PM - Now, That’s Clever - most creative use of costume parts (Stalemate and Layla Rei)
- PRIZES: 200M inf and Custom Layla Rei doll if 40 players are in Pocket D
05:00-06:00 PM - Rush the Rikti - Bombing Run (Drake Crator)
- Outcome: Badges (Demolitionist, perhaps Master at Arms)
- Prizes: 3B inf total
- Also - From P.E.R.C. / Madame Pistacio to be randomly awarded:
- 30 day temporary Jetpack Code
- Mac Special Edition Item Pack (Mission Teleporter and Valkyrie costume set)
- 1 PPD costume code
- 1 Freakshow costume code
- 1 Harlequin (Carnival of Shadows) costume code
- 8min per category, rapid fire: 4min judging, 4min alting.
09:00-10:00 PM - Warburg Bounty Hunt (Rastafari-Man)
- True Patriot – Patriotic themed heroes, incorporating Red/White/Blue
- World’s Finest – Best Hero costume - Costumes should reflect the types worn during the golden age of comics
- Avenging Angel – best Vigilante theme costume
- Dark Lord – Best Supervillain costume - Costumes should reflect the types worn during the golden age of comics
- Heart of Gold – Best Rogue theme costume
- Mild-Mannered – best hero alter ego costume
- Seemed so Normal – best villain alter ego costume
- Boy Wonder/Girl Wonder – Best hero sidekick themed costume
- Second Fiddle – Best villain sidekick themed costume
- Dynamic Duo – Best Hero Team costume(2+)
- Unholy Alliance – Best Villain Team costume(2+)
- Chosen One – best Hero themed bio
- Fall from Grace – best Vigilante themed bio
- Born of Darkness – best Villain theme bio
- Road to Redemption – best Rogue themed bio
- PRIZES: Bounty per target (exact amount to be determined)
- PRIZES: 3B inf from Protector Players Event Team
- 2B pool shared among winners
- 1B pool shared among losers
- PRIZES: 2B inf from Shining Magic / Innocent Wrath
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- To be determined, 2B pool to be split
Small Print
Prizes may not be given immediately upon winning, since they are coming from multiple sources. Expect to leave your global name with event organizers, and mailing addresses if something needs to be mailed out to you. All costume and bio contests will be held in Pocket D, and prize breakdown for these will be as follows unless otherwise stated:
- First - 100M inf
- Second - 60M inf
- Third - 40M inf
Please note that there will be a list posted soon, detailing who donated to this event. Currently, we are planning on distributing 13.5 billion inf, as well as the miscellaneous costume codes, IOs, recipes, and the custom doll(s).
This list may change before the actual event on July 9 (most likely by adding even more prizes). Feel free to ask any questions here, whether on event details or specifics about prizes, and we will answer them.
█ Players Guide to the Cities
Update to the Misfits TF Commander run.
I have had an unexpected obligation crop up on Saturday. I will only be able to run the Misfits TF Commander run until 5PM Saturday, July 9th. At that point, I will have to drop off. Good news though, Layla Rei has volunteered to take care of the rest of the run. Given the time, I am expecteding to make it through Positron 1 & 2, Synapse, & Sister Psyche. Sorry for the adjustment so close to zero hour. If anyone has any questions, PM me. Thanks everyone.
The schedule above has been updated, as has been the calendar.
Those already following on Twitter will receive updates 2 hours prior to the event's occurrence.
Don't forget: to keep track of the day's activity your options are, in order of most efficiency:
- The Protector Vigilance global channel
- The Protector Ventrilo server (even if only to listen in)
- Server URL: gold.typefrag.com, port 30899
- Server password: 65mustang
- Default channel: Protector Vigilance
- Listen to KJSR.net throughout the day
- Protector Calendar / Twitter feed (@COHProtector)
Looking forward to seeing everyone on Saturday, and handing out gobs of prizes!
█ Players Guide to the Cities
[Protector Day of Vigilance: Official Storyline]
Final Entreatment
This message comes across the PPD scanner...
Heroes of Protector... this is a dire time for our world. Forces of darkness have aligned themselves against us, covertly marshalling their armies and weapons with the intent to destroy the reality that we know today.
We have amassed a substantial roster of activities and prizes for a purpose. We hope that everyone will enjoy the activities of the day, have some fun with familiar and new friends and teammates, but do not forget that July 9 2011 will be a day of war, with Heroes drawing battle lines against Villains. We will need every possible hand to crush Golden Ace and Hidden Demise and their sinister plan.
So enjoy the day, participate, win some prizes, but do not forget that the final battle starts at 9pm EDT with Rasta's Warburg Bounty Hunt and culminates at 10pm EDT in Recluse's Victory for the Finale as the forces of good fight to keep the forces of villainy from taking over our world. Everyone who comes to fight will be rewarded handsomely.
Arm yourselves to the teeth and come ready to fight.
-EtherFalcon-
What the? I can't believe it.
People of Protector! Don't listen to him. Your world, your very way of life is in jeopardy. EtherFalcon and his lackeys intend to enslave you all. They intend bog you down with paperwork and regulations. Force you to stop using lethal means in stopping petty criminals. You will be forced to actually make citizens arrests, and then walk your arrested criminal to the police station where you will have to fill out the booking paperwork prior to turning them over to the police. If that wasnt bad enough, weeks after you made your arrest you will be subpoenaed to appear in court to testify before a jury that you made the arrest based on what you perceived to be criminal actions. It would be best if you got the name of a nearby witness to corroborate your actions. Or the criminal could be set free and be allowed to sue you for false arrest. And even worse, should you fail to heed a call for help, or stop a mugging in the streets EtherFalcon will have you barred from the hero business. You will be held accountable for everything even should you fail to stop a simple purse-snatching he will have you up on charges of being negligent.
Protector, My people, dont let this happen. Dont fall for his tricks. Join me in my struggle against EtherFalcon and his lackeys. Dont fall for their vague bribes of substantial activities or prizes The only prize youll get will be a one way ticket to jail if you let him win.
Join me and Hidden Demise and our Golden Freedom Fighters. Prevent EtherFalcon from winning. Help me make this into a better world.
~Golden Ace
[color=gold][b][size=5]♪ Sometimes you feel like a Tank, Sometimes you don't! ♪[/size][/color][/b]
[url=http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=114726][color=black][b][size=5]Moon [color=red]Hazard [color=black]Zone![/size][/color][/color][/color][/b][/url]
Protector Day of Vigilance Official Storyline
Epilogue
Victory. Defeat. Such arbitrary words used to describe a complex outcome. This most recent skirmish in the war between heroes and villains and everything in-between was not that simple, despite what they would print in the papers. In truth, the war was never that simple. Most often, it simply was what it was.
It was a victory, in the sense that Atlas and Grandville are still standing. In the end, despite the massive number of FREEM catalysts put in play by Golden Ace, the heroes managed to destroy enough of them to restrain their full desired effect. Golden Aces scheme was not without some victory, though. The cumulative Fracas Effect was significant enough to have a major impact on our true reality. As control of the pillboxes shifted throughout the battle, the zone vacillated between hero and villain control like the rising and setting of a thousand suns. As some of the more recognized heroes and villains of the alternate-future entered the fray, they became targets of opportunity, and their defeats registered with impact felt by their earth-prime counterparts. Lord Recluse and Ghost Widow in particular became instant targets and were overwhelmed with the number of heroes that answered the call to battle. With the real-world Recluse and Widow weakened from the defeats of their alternate-future counterparts, it would open the opportunity for further destabilization of Recluses power base and further improve Aces chances of one day usurping or wiping out the only significant villain force standing in the way of a new super-villain rising to power. This was undoubtedly one of their secret objectives from the beginning, and answered the question of why Hidden Demise would get involved. Being number two to Ghost Widow, whether working for Ace or Recluse, was never going to be enough for her.
It was a defeat, in the sense that there were new dark forces rising against Paragon which, even when their plans failed, threatened to destabilize the balance of power between the traditional hero and villain structures. The fact that Ace and Demise were able to fund and control such a massive operation, nearly completely clandestinely, and came so close to what would have been unhindered global dominion, was a terrible harbinger of things to come. Even though their plan failed, it was successful enough to inspire them to bolder and more insidious future plots, and it would be a catalyst for armies of accomplices and copycats trying to get in on the action. Ace and Demise had elevated themselves to a level of infamy previously reserved for the truly evil overlords of the world, and that would inspire other villains to rise to the occasion or join their ranks to ride their coattails on the next scheme.
And what it was for me was a massive headache that radiated down my spine and throughout my beaten body, a throbbing reminder that despite all my training, the hours spent honing myself into a weapon, the billions of dollars spent on enhancements for what was already unattainable levels of skill and ability for 99.9% of mortal humans, it would never be enough. I was a man walking among gods. That fact alone justified the cultivation of what had become a vast network of informants, snitches, double agents and usurpers. I could never be faster or stronger, so there was no other choice but to be smarter, more well-informed, and better prepared. As I trudged wearily into the PSF War Room, my eyes relaxing under the rooms red lighting, I was about to do just that with my last few remaining chess pieces
War Room, open all data logs for previous 24 hours. Not only did the integrated superprocessor in my cowl provide a linked stream of information with the War Room, it also recorded every observation and aspect of the environment, including the entire map of Golden Aces underground RV bunker, the fight with Demise, and the battle for Recluses Victory. These were the building blocks of the plan.
I want combat analytics saved to file Hidden Demise. Build predictive modeling and upload to PSF Danger Room simulator. I would run through that one later, recreating the fight with Demise in both real-time and sped-time. I could learn something from the beating Id taken, and hopefully be better for the next encounter.
HUD playback, timestamp 2050 to 2150. I watched the playback of Golden Aces monologue with Alexis Alexander, and clipped the part where he spelled out his plan to blackmail and topple Lord Recluse. Save as file For Your Viewing Enjoyment. Encrypt and send to Spider Bite. Spider Bite was the codename of one of my mid level informants in Arachnos. He would ensure that his bosss boss saw exactly what had been hatched against him by Golden Ace, and probably get a handy promotion in the process. With that little email gift, I would ensure a very difficult road for Golden Ace in the coming days as Recluse was sure to put out a bounty on his head. To further complicate it, I would use one of Golden Aces own encryption models, and start a few rumors in the Isles that it came from within his own organization. With any luck he would think Hidden Demise had sold him out herself since I had removed anything related to her out of the clip. Those questions eating at his mind, added to being chased by Arachnos agents, would create enough paranoia about who he could trust that he would have to fully rebuild his organization from scratch.
War Room, update map Recluses Victory with most recent HUD environmental scan. I hadnt been through Golden Aces entire base, but Id been deep enough for the War Room to build a near complete schematic of the layout from the areas I had been through. After the dust settled a bit, I would make a more thorough expedition through the hideout. Ultimately what I needed to do was sweep through it, seal up the old entrances and build some new ones and set it up for my own use as a secondary forward operating post in RV. One never knew when something like that could come in handy.
Walking over to the workstation area, I glanced over to one of the high tech worktables scattered throughout the War Room, my eyes locked on the last intact FREEM catalyst device that sat atop the scanner. The hero teams had taken great care to be sure all of the surface units from Recluses Victory had been destroyed; this one I had removed directly from the underground bunker prior to the start of the battle. The worktables scanners cycled through their algorithms, still analyzing and attempting to decode both the device and the physics behind how it worked. The technology may only be a weapon in the hands of a few for now, but better to begin the process of discovering an anti-FREEM technology before it became a mass-marketed weapon.
Turning my gaze to a different workstation, I saw the still semi-unassembled present I was preparing. A smile involuntarily crept across my lips as I thought about the gift and its soon-to-be recipient. Ah, but thats a story for someone else to finish.
Contemplating the circumstances and outcomes of the past few weeks, it was apparent that the words victory and defeat had very little meaning. This would not be the last plot that had to be put down, it wouldnt be the worst threat we would face in defending Paragon.
In truth, there was no victory; there was no defeat.
There was only vigilance.
I dont like failure. My plan to take that idiot Stalemate's amusingly labeled FREEM technology to remake the world using the improbable bubble of theoretical time/space as the core template for a new better world might have failed. But Im not out of the game just yet.
Despite the low chance of success Oracle gave me when she brought this plan to my attention, I admit I got just a bit overconfident as things got further along and the probability of success climbed. Especially after Oracle suggested I bring in Hidden Demise. Demise brought the plans chance of success up from being merely possible to nearly probable.
*sigh* all that hard work. Perhaps I should have tried one of Oracles other plans? But no, despite the low chance of success in the beginning, this plan was the quickest plan to fruition, and I have to admit, just as she predicted, failure actually put me in a better financial position than when I started. So I won either way. Still I so had my heart set on my own world.
I think I will need to ask Oracle some pointed questions this time around, and Ill up the voltage just a tad when I talk with her to give her more of an incentive to come up with better answers. I also need to ask her about Hidden Demise. Beginning with should I attempt to have Hidden Demise killed? And I wont accept the Fog of probabilities crap from her this time. I dislike that the prevailing probability conditions surrounding Hidden Demise, they alter the probabilities on all of Oracles plans, both for and against them. I do not like wild cards, and I do so hate having to rely on a lynch pin not of my own making.
*Sigh* Time to take a step away from the limelight again and back into the shadows.
[color=gold][b][size=5]♪ Sometimes you feel like a Tank, Sometimes you don't! ♪[/size][/color][/b]
[url=http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=114726][color=black][b][size=5]Moon [color=red]Hazard [color=black]Zone![/size][/color][/color][/color][/b][/url]
Good Afternoon Paragonners, Alexis Alexander here with what may be my final report.
I haven't had a good night's sleep in three days. I simply haven't been able to close my eyes without seeing slowly rising numbers on a computer screen and my own hand pressing a button, killing hundreds...
My dreams are irrational, playing over and over in a loop made up of what might have been. In my dreams, I condemned hundreds to death. In my dreams, I am a murderer.
In reality, I'm being called a hero.
I've recieved phone calls from city officials and a letter of Commendation from the Mayor. I've had invitations to appear on the morning talk shows and several lucrative book offers. There have been hints of several major Journalistic awards and even rumors of movie rights. For the next Fifteen minutes or so, I have become the Queen of Paragon City.
So why don't I feel like it?
As I write this, readers, I'm sitting outside a small cafe in Atlas Park that would have been within the blast radius. All around me are normal people talking, reading the paper, and doing the million and one things that make up a normal day. In the park just across the street, I can see people jogging and playing frisbee and, yes, even a few Hellions contemplating casual mischief. None of them know how close they came to death and who's hand was on the switch...
"Ms. Alexander?" My thoughts are interrupted by a tall brunette. At first I think she's another autograph seeker or an agent for yet another company wanting to film the story of my life but, before I can think of a polite way of declining her offer, she places three plainly wrapped boxes on the table and stands slightly to my right.
My first thought is to ask her to leave but, before I do, some facts start seeping back into my sleep deprived brain. She's wearing a gold tone, tailored blazer over a pale bronze blouse, and a pleated skirt that is even shorter than the one I had worn just a few days before.
She nods slightly before I can speak. "My name is Caridad. I have been asked to deliver those boxes to you and to make sure you are not interrupted while you open them. Please, take your time. I'll be nearby."
As she steps a short distance away, I pick up the first of the boxes. It feels like it weighs about two pounds or so with most of the weight focused on one end. The wrapping comes off easy reveling a simple, white cardboard box similar to something used for jewelry. Inside the box is a double edged knife about 18 inches long, a small golden dove lapel pin, and a note reading "Because you didn't have to, but did anyway."
Madam Masada. Who always claimed she had better things to do than to be a hero, yet was always there when it was important.
The knife is one of hers. The dove pin will mark me as one of her employees, and will provide no small measure of protection if I should ever need to travel to the Rogue Islands again.
The second box is about the same length as the first but a bit more square. It's a bit lighter though and, after the surprise of the first, I'm not sure what to expect. Inside is a matte black rectangle with gold highlights. Along one edge is a series of small lights. The first one glows green and the others, for now, are inactive. Along with this is another note reading "For Second Chances."
Stalemate. Who's finding his own way back.
A short technical sheet tells me that this box is tied into the medi-port system and, because its FREEM powered, will be able to bring me safely home from anywhere on the globe.
Honestly readers, I'm afraid to open the third box. I half expect Statesman's mask or Hero One's cape but the box is too small for that. In fact, given its size. I'm almost certain I know what it is.
Inside the box is a Blackberry. The outer shell is done up in a blue-silver pattern and the casing is a bit thicker than standard. The keypad is normal except for the addition of a key with a silver bird icon on it. Displayed on the screen is a single sentence. "For never giving up."
Etherfalcon. Who had every reason to stay down, but stood back up again.
A simple readme file tells me that this Blackberry, like my own, is far more than factory issue. Etherfalcon has packed it with a taser and rescusitator, 'Falcon Hotline' and as many other ideas as he could fit in. The file also tells me that he has opened a bank account in my name containing a sizable sum of money. "For Journalistic Excellence," is all the comment he makes on that.
I'm not sure I know what to say about this readers. I don't think of myself as a hero, but these people see me as one of their own. Maybe thats more important than the talk shows and book deals and movies.
My name is Alexis Alexander and I may not be a hero, but I know a few.
If you'll excuse me readers, I'm heading home for a good night's sleep.
After all, who knows what will need investigating tomorrow.
Writer of In-Game fiction: Just Completed: My Summer Vacation. My older things are now being archived at Fanfiction.net http://www.fanfiction.net/~jwbullfrog until I come up with a better solution.
Protector Day of Vigilance Official Storyline
Epilogue: Switching Sides
The circle was complete.
As I oversaw the progress on the next iteration of the Stalemate armor, it underwent the last phases of semi-automated testing. Hardware and software meshed together in responding to the challenges put to it before it was officially deemed operational.
My mind wandered, as it is wont to do, meandering among the events of the past few hours. The faint glow of OLED screens reflected off my face.
Golden Ace's declarations, his intentions so true in his mind that he still considered himself a "hero". We were not so different, he and I. The notion of the ends justifying the means was one I could understand. After all, just a few days ago I was still persona non grata in Paragon City, bent on avenging my personal loss at the cost of betraying its trust.
I acknowledged the end of the AI and software burn-in testing, and absentmindedly keyed in the sequence to launch the last exoshell resistance tests. Various types of energies assaulted the updated carbon nanofiber-laced plasteel armor. Self-replicating bioceramics regenerated whatever damage that could not be avoided, redirected, or absorbed. Numbers appeared, all within the expected specs. This version could easily withstand the onslaught of electrical, blunt-force, piercing, and other exotic energies thrown at it. It was indeed more resilient than a tank. I dialed up the intensity past what the virtual models had predicted was the safe threshold and returned to my introspection.
There were various interpretations of what exactly was the outcome of the Day of Vigilance, as the thwarting of Golden Ace's plans was named. Hidden Demise and her crew were not even phased by all this. The Fight Nights had already resumed. Neither good nor evil could truly be said to have overcome.
The altercations in Recluse's Victory had been fierce. Each side had been thoroughly convinced that they were fighting for what was best.
Whatever this proliferation was that theoretically linked all super-powered beings together, it apparently operated on a system of balance. Yin-yang. Night and day. But what I saw that day was mostly a gamut of greys.
Was there even a rationale to all this fighting when no clear winner emerged? The questions I had when I set off onto the dark road of villainy still existed. They still drew at my subconscious. I still needed answers as to why things were the way they were where metahumans were concerned.
Another behavior to analyze further was EtherFalcon's. He had used some dubious methods to get me involved into this, and I still wasn't sure if I trusted him completely. Noble motives, sure. But did the methods used to accomplish the desired goals truly differ from Golden Ace's own? Even as an ally, there remained a distance between him and his peers. That was the cost of taking the stance he did, and I was not only convinced he was aware of it. I knew such people were necessary. Nevertheless, I felt satisfaction that at least this particular lab I was working in had escaped his orbital scans.
From my vantage point there was one thing I could assuredly agree with: I was no longer confused about who *I* was, what I was capable of, what ripples my actions had provoked, and what I now needed to do.
The first steps along the slow road to regain the trust of the city lay ahead of me. I wasn't deluding myself into thinking that Paragon City was thrilled about switching the chessboard around. I would have to prove my intentions and accept the fact that not everyone's trust was going to be regained.
Perhaps others could deal with the grey areas in dealing with the complexities of life. As for me, that option was no longer valid. Grey was simply too dark now.
It was time to start seeing life within the absolutes it needed for it to have any lasting meaning.
It was time to sacrifice the black rook, and introduce the white knight.
The robotic arms placed the new armor onto the displacement platform, where it replaced its predecessor. I picked up the cortex interface module from the workbench and initiated the armor phasing process as soon as it came online, powered by my own body's electrical field.
I needed to make up for lost time. Months of wrong deeds to atone for.
The white construct shifted from view on the platform. At the speed of thought it materialized around me. Black highlights contrasted the primarily white - a visual reminder. The helmet's neural net hooked into the cortex interface and the armor came online.
I jumped out of the lab immediately after the launch diagnostics completed. The ceiling here was a one-way force field, rendered to any who would look at it from outside to appear just like any other rooftop.
A few hops later I reached the first mission on the list obtained from the PPD scanner. The warehouse conveniently happened to host a mixed congregation of Crey and Arachnos operatives. The targeting system chirped. It was time for some payback - no, not payback anymore - justice.
The fight continues.
"Target acquired - PROCEEDING."
█ Players Guide to the Cities
[Protector: Day of Vigilance (Official Storyline)]
Gambit
Those two words. Hidden Demise. They were a foreshadowing as much as they were a name.
Hidden Demise, one of the deadliest fortunatas in the history of the Arachnos organization. No one really knows where she came from, only that she was a protégé of Ghost Widow, groomed to replace her one day.
She has been a plague to Paragon over the years, leading increasingly ruthless assassinations and bold harassment operations in the free fire zones. Longbows file on her eventually went classified because reports began surfacing claiming she was singularly responsible for killing off entire detachments sent to capture her.
Mention of her name alone invoked such utter humiliation and demoralization for the Corps that eventually Longbow just stopped sending troops after her. At least a dozen major SuperGroups have a kill order out on her but nobody whos ever gone up against her in open battle has ever brought her down.
In fact, none of the hired assassins sent to take her out, even Wyverns best operatives, had ever been seen again.
I myself had a few run-ins with her over the years. It was only by the grace of paranoid preparedness, the ELUDE technology Id built into the bio-weave of my armor, and not a small amount of luck that Id come away from the encounters alive. It was necessary, in all dealings with this red-head assassin, for one to control the environment at all times. A straight fight was not only unadvisable; it was suicide.
And I just sent a civilian reporter to scout her operation.
Over the years of studying her, I had tested a number of hypotheses about her demeanor, her motivations, her psyche. She was first and foremost, above all else, a warrior. And warriors operate under a code.
Hers was particularly difficult to assess, given her penchant for some of the most brutal acts of horror imaginable committed against her foes. Yet in every assassination, every harassment operation, every black op she ran was clean as a whistle. She did unspeakable things to her marks, to the soldiers sent to interdict her operations, and yet she went out of her way to avoid civilian casualties.
If my highest paid informants were right, there were even a few cases where operations had been completely scrapped on her orders because a civilian had entered the equation. This was more than just keeping an operation black. This was the art of war against other warrior combatants, flawlessly engaged, with no exceptions.
At least, that was the theory I was gambling heavily on tonight.
Perched atop the Freedom Corps building in Recluses Victory, prone and in full stealth mode, I monitored the situation through the long range scanner in my HUD.
I checked the tracking devices signal to make sure they were still online. Nanotech, what a wonderful invention. Highly reliable, undetectable, and they could make them into any delivery package. Even a breath mint.
I watched as my biker-jacket-clad bait, that juicy morsel I had been marinating since the first article appeared in the Sentinel, had finally brought the wolf out of her lair.
I watched as the wolf snatched up that precious little lamb, and carried it off into the night.
Thats a good little wolfie. Lead me to that den of yours.