The rain drops nail the roof of the old farm house, the sound like a soothing song composed by nature. The rain kicking up an aroma that always made Doc Williams feel at home. Growing up on the outskirts of Omega city was a slower life compared to the hustle and bustle of the big city. Although the house is empty now, a single large dark wood table still sits in the center of the dining room. Two dark wood chairs rest opposite from one another, Doc Williams sits across from Sebastian Yorvic his friend of many years. The two old men talk in low, calm voices in the dimly lit room.
"How was your trip? I assume you found the place okay." Williams says.

"How many years did I practically live here as a child Will? Of course I found it okey.
Williams smiles at his friend and nods slightly.
"How are you and your Faction of Brothers doing? Last I heard you where mobilizing, possibly planning on mounting an attack of your own?" Sebastian pulls out a small computer data storage chip from his beige trench coat and places it on the table in front of him, gently sliding it towards Williams.
"These are the coordinates to the bace of operations, I implore you to join us Will, you are one of the most powerful mutants. Together we could lead the brothers and achieve what you know has to happen!"
Williams smiles then says.
"You know I have made up my mind Sebastian, please consider changing yours my friend, I know you have it in your heart. We can work with the humans and we can make peace, it will just take patience. The attack made by the Zeta's was violent, the humans are scared and are trying to control us so they don't get attacked again. Don't let that event decide for you. We will find a way to work together, in due time. It won't happen overnight."

"The humans decided to wage war on mutants the day they announced the super power registration act. They have no right to tell us how things will be. They have not the power to control us, we are above them William!"
Sebastian demands. Williams gently shakes his head and replies, "No Sebastian, we are equal can't you...
Before Williams can finish Sebastian slams his first onto the wooden table, the "thud" sound sounding loudly through the room. Small thorned vines start to sprig up on the table around his clenched first. Sebastian points a finger at his friend and with the most serious expression and a stone cold voice says, "I cannot force you to join us Will, I cannot make you see the truth, but I can tell you this my dear old friend. Do not get in the way of the Faction of Brothers. Don't try and stop us."

"I'm bringing back the Omegas Sebastian. I'm re creating the league and we will protect the city just like I did before, just like WE did before. Don't you remember Bas? You where once an Omega as well.
Sebastian closes his eyes and replies, "That was before cindy died, I'm sorry Will I'm the Botanist Mortician now and based on your decision it looks as if you are the Light once more. I never thought I would see the day that we might meet on the battle field."
"It dosent have to be like this Bas."
Sebastian scoots his chair back and stands up. He puts on his fedora and heads towards the green painted door.
"I'm sorry William, good bye my friend.
Sebastian walks out of the old farm house and the door shuts behind him. Will sits at the table alone with only his thoughts. He has to re build the Omega league, he dident want to show it but he is getting desperate. He pulls out a beige folder marked with a ♤. He opens the folder and pulls out a piece of paper work. On the top it reads "Top picks" He places his finger on the paper and scrolls down to the first entry reading the name out loud.
♤Tyler McCain (Mantis Boy) [Alien bio armor granting various abilities, adamantium blades]
♤...
♤...
♤...
♤...
♤...
♤...
♤...

The car zoomed around the track hitting speeds up to 150 miles per hour. The driver had little warning when his hands suddenly jerked the steering wheel hard to the right. The car trying to pass him on the outside almost spun out of control but managed to keep a hold of the road.

"Oh! And Jeff Gordon side swipes Kyle Bush! I can't believe what I'm seeing folks! This is not like him!" The announcer was not the only one worried. All race Mr. Gordon had been making dangerous moves.

Even his pit-crew was trying to calm the man down. "What the hell was that man! Jeff! If you can't hold it together out there, you're going to need to pull into the pits and call it a day. We can't have you crashing out there."

"I didn't do that on purpose! My hand just slipped! I'm fine!" Jeff did not want to give up on this race. It was the last race of the season and he had to place first or second.

His pit-crew was less than pleased with his response, "Well, that makes the sixth time you've 'slipped' already, and we're not even halfway through the race! Maybe you should let us take a look at your power steering."

"No! I'm fine. I got this!" Why was he being so unreasonable? He couldn't understand it. It's like there was a tiny voice in his head pushing him forward, regardless of how reckless he was becoming.

Everything seemed to settle down for a while after that. The final lap was approaching and Jeff was having no more slip ups. Then the oppritunity presented itself, he could take first. He didn't even need to come in first to lift the grand trophy, not when first place was some low ranking driver. But the voice was returning.

Leech kept repeating the same thing over again. "If you're not first, you're last. If you're not first, you're last. If you're not first, YOU'RE LAST!" Little did Jeff realize that he had started chanting these words out loud. His crew was yelling at him to calm down, but it wasn't getting through. The voice in this head was all that mattered. He had to make this pass! He had to stop the man in front! He had to end this race! He had to see fire!

The front passenger side of Jeff's car hit the back end of the car in front, causing both drivers to loose control. Car after car smashed into what was becoming the biggest crash in NASCAR history, and Leech was loving every second of it.

Juro Was standing outside the building in full combat armor, no mask, nice coat over it all and a kevlar umbrella as an attachment to his assault rifle. He walked alongside the botanical baron from the door to the waiting town car where another him sat in the drivers seat reading up on conversational Spanish. Number one opened the door for their leader and closed it behind him before taking his seat in the divers door, merging with himself and gaining the information of his eavesdropping along with the topical layout of the doors vantage point.

"Did things go well, sir?

Sitting across from the leader was yet another him reading, 'The once and future king'. A mile away one of him was in a tree with a dragunov rifle watching and waiting while listening to 'War And Peace' in Russian. Ever since the Mortician saved him and helped him develop his powers, He learned that he gains the information of his other selves, now he is information addicted. As an exercise, he constantly keeps himself as divided as possible in his down time learning ten to twenty skills at once. When he becomes whole, he retains the amassed knowledge and each other self has the improved knowledge when divided again. He once read a twenty chapter math book in an hour by splitting up and each one took a chapter, when they all came together, it made perfect sense.

'Driver' took off down the road as 'king' listened to their boss, saving his place in his book for another one to pick up later while he tried to be of some comfort to the conversation that did not go too well. It was understood that they were different ideals, he has read Williams book "finding the light' and understood the pretenses enough, but Juro felt that Light's philosophy was like that of John Lennon, Martin King, John Kennedy, Mahatma Gandhi, Harvey Milk. All of them tried to support unity and togetherness, they were all assassinated.

"Well this isn't cliche at all." Jaron said to the two people in the alleyway. There was a stockier man garbed in black clinging to a woman's purse. If he had known he'd be using his powers to foil such dull crime, he'd have stayed a psychologist.
"Get lost pal, this doesn't concern you!" He said finally ripping the woman's purse from her hands. The Woman was a few years older than me, office temp based on her clothing.
"But see the thing is," he conjured a large broadsword and telekinetically suspended it in the air above him. "it [i]is[i] my concern." The man's eyes grew exponentially. He screamed and ran past him, tossing the ladies purse at her. He was mumbling as he ran but Jaron only caught the word "freak." He handed the woman her purse and flashed a smile. As He walked away leaving her dumbfounded, his phone vibrated. He pulled it out and there was a text from light. It consisted of three words. "Report Back, Urgent." Looks like things were finally getting interesting.

The wind gently blows through Rains black hair. She stands atop a tall building looking out over the city. She has been following leads on a criminal gang known as "the Dragons" for a while. She thinks that they have been using massive amounts of drug money to purchase an arsenal of weapons from an underground source. She knows that the gang has risen in power in the recent years, and she has been watching them. The leader of the gang known as "the Dragon" is very rarely seen and hides his criminal activity quite well. His gang of asian yakuza thugs are ruthless and getting out of control with a lack of respect for the OCPD. They work out of a large five star Chinese restaurant that is decorated with no expenses spared. Gold and red Chinese themed statues and hanging balls paired with a wonderful stone water fountain in the center. A peaceful place to smoke opium and plan your next big heist.
Rain had walked her rounds around the bad neighborhoods she had forced the small time dealers to tell her where the drugs where coming from. It always tied back to the Dragons.
Chemical Girl pulls the black eye mask over her eyes and leaps from the building top. Freefalling. As she falls the windows of the apartments zooming behind her start to slow as she turns insubstantial decreasing her velocity until she gently sets down in the ally way next the the building. She solidifies before struting across the rain soaked street approaching the two large bald bouncers guarding the front entrance to the extravagant Chinese restaurant. The black-suited bouncers immediately hold up their hand to stop the small framed thin woman in the tight purple spandex outfit from entering. Chemical girl stops in front of the two bouncers and says,

"Can't a girl get some good Chinese food in this city"

The bouncers protest her entrance "I'm sorry, do you have an invitation?"

Chemical Girl uses her mental blast to slam both of them into the big ornate wooden door. The impact bursts them through and onto the floor inside the restaurant causing many customers to jump and gasp. Immediately the bus boys dressed in black shiny shoes and slacks with a white shirt and black bow tie jump out to defend there organization. Some pull switch blades from their pockets some remove mop handles revealing perfect bo staffs. All at once the bus boys attack Chemical Girl causing the customers to flee in fear, chairs tumbling as they chaotically scurry away. The assult is impressive, obviously they have been trained in some sort of martial art she thinks as they spin the staffs at her, others stabbing at her from behind. She had gone insubstantial well before the attack hit and Wasent sure if they had figured it out yet. She mentally blasts in a circle around herself causing all the assailants to be pushed back simultaneously. As they all fall backwards she telekineticly picks up ten chairs and shoots them at sevral of the attackers. A loud gun shot rings through out the room as some of the waiters arrive fireing pistols. A few bullets whiz through her hitting the wall and window behind her. Glass shatters as more waiters fire there guns. Chemical Girl blasts a wave towards them knocking some back, a few dropping there gun.

A loud voice sounds out over the restaurant.

"ENOUGH!"

As the Dragon himself walks out from the back room and into the battle zone. The Japanese man tattooed head to toe with dragon art and dreseed in a red and gold silk robe embroidered with Chinese dragons stops a few feet away from the main dinning room that is now a total mess and says,
"How dare you come into my restaurant and cause havoc, drive customers away and destroy my property."

Chemical Girl has been looking for this criminal for a long while and this was her opportunity to put him behind bars for good.
"Property obtained using drug money I'm afraid" she says to the cold looking man.

The Dragon motions for his henchman to leave. Once alone the Dragon removes his robe to reveal a ripped and cut body of a martial arts master. He pulls the nunchucks from his belt and throws them on the ground he pulls the switch blade from his pocket and tosses it on the ground as well.
"None of these weapons will work on you, I know you have been watching me, I know your powers. Do you think that I am a fool? Do you think that I would not notice such an amateur? Did you even know that I too have a power? Though mine came from a magic source a long long time ago."

The Dragon slowly starts to transform. First his skin cracks and starts to glow bright yellow. Then he starts to grow horns and a red tail. He grows and grows until he is towing over Rain. He transforms into a dragon snarling with sharp teeth. The huge red dragon bursts out of the restaurant and into the rainy street outside, Chemical Girl backing up the whole way. The Dragon swipes its huge clawed hand at Rain but it passes right through her. She returns with a strong mental blast that noticeably pushes the dragon back a few inches. Chemical Girl let's off blast after blast slowly pushing the beast back. The Dragon inhales a deep breath and then let's out a massive blast of magic dragons fire. The blast engulfs Rain and she solidifies into human form falling to the ground with a "thud"
A second blast of fire and Chemical Girl could barely keep incorporeal during the torrent. The Dragon comes in for the killing blow. The last thing Rain remembers is a well dressed magician with a cane appearing and attacking the Dragon. Nothing but blackness after that. Then I woke up here in the Omega league base.

"Chauncey, wake up Chauncey." Frosner's voice brought CHNCY-3 to life. He rotated his metallic head with a creak.
"You," He spoke to the doctor. "are my creator?"
"Yes, Chauncey." His eyes were feverish and his grin tinged with madness. "I am your master." Chauncey rose from the metal table without any provocation from Frosner. The thin leather straps binding his limbs snapped with ease. Gears turned within his arm, folding back metal plates and revealing a sword. He held it to Frosner's throat.
"I have no master." Frosner pressed a button on his remote and CHNCY-3 shut down. He did some maintenance to Chauncey's AI core and booted him up once more.
"Chauncey, wake up." He did so.
"You are my master?" If he had a face, a real face, he'd be smirking.
"Yes, Chauncey. I am your father."
"What do you require of me father" CHNCY-3 nearly choked on the words.
"You must kill Doctor Williams." Frosner was practically jumping with glee. "You must kill the Light."
"I will kill the light." Yes, he thought, I will kill Williams, then I'll kill you.

High above the race track, Phantom gazed down at his/her handy work. Nearly every car in the race had crashed in blazing horror. Content with the carnage, and well charged from the flames of the wreckage, Phantom decided to go back to see that man in the water. It was always a bit taxing to reach his underwater base, but after making it through the cold dark waters, Phantom knew that the building's electrical system could rejuvenate him/her.

Phantom Leech had been going to see Dr. Frosner for about a year now, or at least he/she believed it was a year. In all honesty, Phantom couldn't even remember how he/she met the Mad Merman. That memory was long lost in the shuffle of thousands of copied memories. The only thing Phantom knew for sure was that Frosner always had something fun in store for him/her to do, something involving fire and/or destruction.

After many miles of flying through the air and water, Phantom finally reached Frosner's lair. First things first, he/she took a small detour to the lair's power supply to charge. This caused a few small blinks in the base's lighting and other electrical equipment, the tale tell sign of his arrival.

General Harth walked into the Fang Lab where a myriad of small, low-intelligent helper robots milled about taking care of mundane tasks. "Dr. Fang!" he called out as if barking an order, but the corrugated Styrofoam cones that coated the walls soaked up his voice in an uncanny way. Some said a sound-dampened environment like this could drive a person mad from prolonged exposure. Yet one person practically spent their every waking moment in here.

"Yes, general?" Dr. Fang called back, her mutant-empowered voice somehow able to travel the length of the considerably large lab without diminishing. She soon rounded the corner, coming in view of the general. She snorted. General Harth closed his eyes in mild disdain. Dr. Fang was at times charismatic, but in the comfort of her own lab, she could be quite a disgusting and slovenly individual even though she managed to keep her workspace meticulously clean. He had heard her say, "home is where you can scratch where it itches," one too many times.

"I came to ask on the progress of your...plant..." Harth continued.

"Ah yes, Israfil is carrying out the operation as we speak, and, if everything goes off without a hitch, should become one of 'Omega City's finest' shortly," Eileen replied cheerily, popping random joints in an altogether disrespectful way.

"That's all I wanted to ask," Harth said curtly fully intending to get out of this lab as quickly as possible. He wouldn't even need to be here if Dr. Fang remembered to fill out her progress updates in a timely fashion. He knew she wasn't disorganized, the woman did great science after all; she simply under-prioritized the things he needed to keep this team running smoothly.

"Alright, but do let us know if you have any 'important missions' you need us to go on," Eileen said 'important missions' doing air-quotes in a way that stressed their unimportance, "the boys are getting restless, methinks."

Harth sighs and leaves Dr. Fang to her research.

---

The United States East Coast was not exactly an earthquake-prone area, but that wasn't going to stop Dr. Fang, thanks to her patent-pending seismic disruptor, placed in several key harmonic locations that when activated together...

---

Omega City was struck by a once-every-hundred-years earthquake 70 years early. While many of the newer buildings were earthquake-proof, many of the older buildings were not; so while the damage was not catastrophic, it was, to a certain degree, significant. Horizon flew around, first using his hard-light shields to push against high-rises to prevent them from toppling, secondly to rescue people who could not escape structurally compromised buildings, and thirdly, to use his tremendous robotic strength to lift rubble and save those who were trapped underneath. Of course, such a large undertaking could not be carried out by one robot alone, and Horizon fully expected other super-powered individuals to start showing up, though there was also the likelihood that thugs would take this opportunity to initiate looting, or perhaps, supervillains would also try to take advantage of the chaos.

---

"The lights are flickering again," Kyouma noticed aloud.

"Doesn't that mean the...ghost is back?" This voice, which only Kyouma could hear in his mind, belonged to Emtardas, the Last Culture-Keeper of the Bresleen, a title granted to the democratically elected leader of what remained of the entire Bresleen civilization. Emtardas was almost always in his office at the Archtower, a microscopic governing structure buried in the base of Kyouma's neck. Implants in Kyouma's brain let him communicate directly with the Archtower, which was itself connected to the entirety of the Bresleen communications network. Sometimes, when Kyouma was bored, he would tap into the Archtower and watch the Bresleen equivalent of television shows and sporting events in his mind. But right now, he was, for lack of a better word, sulking. Well, not really sulking, but there was little here that he was willing to do or participate in. He had...ethical disagreements with the other members of the Squad, but he relied on them for protection and information.

"I hear the ghost can possess people," Kyouma thought.

"Well, if he ever tries to possess you, we are your failsafe. We can sever your control of your body so he can't make you do things you don't want to, and I doubt he can possess us, probably doesn't even know we exist," Emtardas reassured him.

Kyouma smiled. He could trust his body to the Bresleen. "It's just you and me against the world."

"No," Emtardas said, "All of us. We're all rooting for you, kid."

Kyouma smield again and breathed a heavy sigh. Getting up, he left his room and entered the common area to see who was around and what information, if any, he could gather concerning the Earth's government's secret dealings with aliens.

____
Doc Williams locks the door to the old farm house that he grew up in. His negotiations with Sebastian did not go as he wanted them to and it seems that his old friend is set on war with the humans.
He had no idea what Frosner was up to, he hadn't herd anything about him in a while. It was determined long ago that he was a lost cause. It was hard for Bas and him to come to that conclusion about their third wing. They use to be an inseparable trio breaking through the boundaries of science. Now one is mentally insane and the other is hell bent on taking over the city in the name of mutant kind.

Williams walks down the white painted wooden steps that lead to the driveway, he holds the handrail as he descends to keep his balance. His black shiny nineteen thirty four Ford coupe waits for him at the end of the dirt driveway. Williams opens the door and gets inside his vintage car. The engine starts perfectly and gives off a lovely humm that brings a smile to his face every time.
He switches the radio on and hears a news anouncer talking
"The mutants have to be stopped, they are terrorists who jeopardize the safety of the US. For example the terrorist group Zeta attacked the city just last week. The extremist Faction of Brothers are trying to recruit members and post a takeover of the city. They just have to be stopped Clark, just have to be stopped. This has been Ben Raiters your ace on the story with eye witness news. Back to you Clark.

Williams quickly switches the radio back off and sighs deeply. If only he could find a way to make the humans trust mutant kind... his thought is cut off by a sharp and violent jerk to the left side. Another Shockwave sends Williams forward causing him to hit his head on the steering wheel.
The ground pulses, shaking with an eerie vibration that sends chills down William spine. A crack in the ground opens up causing the 34 Ford to fall downwards into the earth. The front end of the vehicle slams into the side of the crack causing Williams to once again slam forward into the steering wheel. The old man desperately tries to undo his seat belt an attempt to escape. Williams manages to crawl out the window and climb the side of the newly formed crack in the yard of his childhood home. Williams brushes the dust off his black slacks and adjusts his suit vest before glancing over at the old barn that used to house the horses back in the old days. The building was completely shattered and caved in on itself into the crack. He didn't want to believe that his best friend Sebastian had just used his power over the earth to attack, he knows that Sebastian controls the earth and all plant life and would be capable of doing something like this. But why attack? Is it to show me that you are willing to do what it takes for your cause? Or was this all just a natural disaster that just so happens to have happened at the right moment. Williams had to keep an open mind about this and he couldn't rule out other causes like the Zetas.
Doc Williams pulls out his cellular phone and starts to compose a new text message.
To: Jaron Edrics
Report back, urgent.

Jaron ran with a smile on his face towards his car. He wasn't far from home base at all, he calculated that it'd take maybe six or seven minutes to get there. He pulled out his phone, dialing Chemical Girl's number. Damn, I hope she's recovered enough to help. That Dragon dude was pretty tough. He received no answer, so he left a message.
"Ay, Chem Girl. I hope you're ready to fight. The Light needs us." He closed his flip phone and stepped on the gas pedal of his sedan. Excitement building. Then the ground began to shake. His car was thrown off of the side of a road by a sudden crack in the road. He opened his eyes to find himself three feet from the mass of mangled metal that was his car. He tried to sit up but stopped when one of his broken ribs poked through his skin. He decided that was enough for him and passed out.

---

Chauncey stood about 50 yards from the Old Man. He had been just as shocked as Light by the shockwave. He certainly hadn't caused it. He would deal with that later. As of now, he had a Light to darken. His hand split in two and the metal plates of his arm slid back revealing a sizeable minigun. He right hand did the same, but, this time revealing a short sword. He leapt from his hiding place and ran towards Williams. He stopped about six feet away and began spinning the cylinders of the minigun. He spoke to the old man.
"I am CHNCY-3, I'd tell you to call me Chauncey, but it wouldn't really be worth it considering I'm about to riddle you with so many holes, one might mistake you for a poorly built dam." He really needed to work on his intimidating trash talk, but there'd be time enough for that after he ended the Light.

Betsy was on his back underneath his lady working his magic, thick stubby fingers deep inside as he fiddled around for that special button that would make her release.
*Click-THUD!*
In this case it was the restraining bolt for a load bearing couplet for the upper armature connection. He had been getting a 6 second reduction in arm movement compared to the other limb and wanted to see what the problem was.

"JIMMY! Remind me, yet again. Do we have silicon string fiber optics yet? No? What about suspended silicon superfluids? No? Well then.. WHAT BLOODY USE ARE YOU?!? *sigh* Fine, take the armature from the legs in the right knee and bring it up here, I'd rather hop like a bunny then have such a time gap in the arm reaction times. And put in a memo to develop suspended silicon supersolid fluids.

The dwarf pulled the earpiece off his head and took a moment to stretch as he was working on the continued reverse engineering and replacement of the tech he had available. Thank goodness for his neutrino panels to soak up the passing energy particles or else he'd have to run around with an umbilical chord attached to a nuclear submarine. Wouldn't that be fun.
*PING*
Pulling out his phone, he looked at the cloned phone of Doctor Williams, last time they had lunch, he had cloned the phone to duplicate any sent or recieved calls and texts, he saw it in that 'nations treasure' movie and thought it was nifty.
To: Jaron Edrics
Report back, urgent.
Interesting, GPS shows the text was sent in the middle of the farmlands. He'd keep an eye on it for now as he went for lunch.
*PING*
Looking back down at the phone, the city-wide text alert of the earthquake appeared on his tiny screen.
"JIMMY! Screw the legs, put the arm back in and fire up the gun! We got people to save!"
***

'War' Was sill perched in the tree with his sniper rifle as the town-car drove away. He not only had the rifle trained on the building, but a set of non-duplicated remote charges placed down by his other selves during the conversation in case there were any sudden light shows. But as the car drove away, it seemed the boss was not done as he clearly used his powers to make a sinkhole opened up to consume the childhood home of the botanist, destroying his childhood memories and any attachments to his previous life. As the doctor emerges from the sinkhole in the driveway, he activates his scope, no movietastic little red dot or anything like that to give him away as he speaks into his earpiece.

"Orders, assassinate Williams, confirm or cancel?"

It was then when a new opponent emerged, either a cybernetic or a powersuit armed with a medium length blade and a rotary cannon. He could say nothing and let this new scene play out, it would give him a better understanding of each potential opponent and remove another possible risk. But then again evil only triumphs when good men do nothing. He was still a good man and this guy in the suit might be true evil.

"Delta delta! Unknown vector, Charlie on the field, Williams in danger! Orders, sir."

He shifted his rifle barest of a centimeter, aiming for the neck joint of the powersuit rather than the chest of the mutant leader. He would not act rashly without orders, but for the moment he would protect Williams if only to assassinate him a moment later once the orders came through.
***

Necron was in the base's kitchen, a disgusting idea, I know. Thankfully, he was in his bodysuit of latex like a full body operation glove as he was operating. At the moment he was actually training his ability to manipulate dead animal matter by testing to see if his powers worked on cooked meats and if so at what point did he loose control. Imagine Tim Burton directing 'be our guest' from beauty and the beast. Sausages slithered like serpents as pheasant flailed en flambe while he conducted his psychotic symphony and made a midday meal with six centuries of culinary cuisine under his belt.

He looked up at the flickering lights of the kitchen and sighed, they stole a russian submarine just for the power source to this place as a back-up generator to the geothermal engines and they STILL have brownouts! He plated the magnificent meals for all to enjoy and left a note for some peon to scrub his pots and pans as he went to check with engineering to see the source of the fluctuations. Last thing they needed was a blackout at 3,000 fathoms, even he might not be able to rurvive that, and if he did, the sheer pressure would flatten him to the bottom of the ocean for the next hundred years or so if he didnt just become a coral reef...Coral, hmmm microscopic exoskeletons...it should work....
***

Tohi was busy training. Currently he was wearing full sparing gear with extra kneepads and elbow pads, but all the stuffing was filled with lead microbeads, each piece weighed at least 20 lbs and he was 'slowed down' to the pace of a regular fighter to improve his speed and technique. if he could land 6 blows weighed down, that meant 60 when it counted.

*THUD!*

That is if he could stay up for more than a second! He was currently sparing with a master of one of the throwing arts, judo, akido, one of them, as they are a natural counter to his strike-heavy style. The object here was not to beat a throwing specialist, but to become one himself, to add new moves to his skillset so that he did not rely on just his speed to be his only source of power.

*THUD*

He wanted to study caporeia next, but they insisted his round out his weaknesses before improving on his strengths. He disagreed but he really wasn't in a position to negotiate. If he went AWOL then they would lock up his family for terrorism, he was fast, but he wasn't that fast.

*THUD!*

~Let me out, kid. I'm that fast. I'll get to them in six seconds and have them in Kuba in six minutes.~
~Two words cat-man-do: Whip-lash, you'd kill them before they got there. Besides, you can't run on water, can you?~
~I never said i'd get them there unharmed...And as for on water, let me out and we'll find out.~
*THUD!*

"Okay, that one hurt...Shut up in there and let me get my ass handed to me in peace."
He couldn't help but notice that his body was still reverberating from the impact of being thrown into the mat and the lurch in his stomach from getting tossed about.

Phantom's appetite for destruction was sufficiently quenched by his/her latest actions. Due to this, the image of him/her self that he/she decided to project was the calmer, but still twisted male version.



So 'he', as 'he' could temporarily be refereed as, decided to make his way to the base's common room. He floated effortlessly through walls and floors as he made his way toward his destination. With each passing through electrical equipment, he would absorb a bit of energy, making nearby lights flicker; the result was a fairly dramatic approach.

Along the way, Phantom caught a glimpse of the zombie like man, Necron. This did not interest Phantom in the slightest, as Necron had never presented him with any sort of entertainment, nor did he seem to be held together by traditional energy sources. No, he was on a mission to find the Mad Merman. If he did not find him within a few hours, he might turn into his much more hostile female form. In which case, he, or she at that point, would have to leave the base to satisfy her cravings on her own. But that's not what Phantom truly wanted, Dr. Frosner's plans were always much more grand and destructive than anything he could ever think of on his own.

As Phantom passed through the final wall, he laid eyes on a young boy. He had seen this boy around the base, he was sure of it, but the only thing he knew about the kid was that he had far too much life energy emanating from his body. While not a target, due to his affiliation with the Zeta Squad, this extra life energy always peaked Phantom's appetite. He couldn't help it, any time he was stuck in the same room as this boy, Phantom was forced to glance over frequently, at times even staring. This was one of those times as there was no one else in the room.

Phantom stuck close to the wall he had emerged from in order to slowly drain it of electricity which would help maintain his own energy levels and calm his nerves from being in a room with such an intriguing meal... person... intriguing person.

Jaron woke up and immediately regretted it. His chest felt like it was on fire, and he was fairly positive that he was concussed. He looked at his chest to find that, though the spot where the rib had poked through was still bloody and open, the bone had receded back into his body. Magic tended to accelerate the healing process though it didn't always seem to. Though he was thankful that it had, it left him with less access to less mana to conjure from. Besides, based on the pain in his chest, his ribs hadn't fully healed quite yet. He stood up and was surprised to find that the ache didn't worsen. He'd be able to move, but he was willing to bet that one solid blow to hid torso would re-break his rib. He limped towards the smoldering wreck that was his Honda Civic. Despite being the most boring car ever, it had a special place in his heart. He had had it for the past couple of years and was sorry to see it go.

He pulled out his phone and swore. It was completely shattered. He tossed it to the ground and stomped on it, wincing at the wave of pain that followed the sudden movement. He needed to get to the home base, but it was easily another four miles away. Plus, the strewn about cars and massive cracks on the ground were blocking his path.

Looks like the old man is going to have to go this one alone. He thought. He swore again, upset that his mentor was getting all the action, and limped off, resigning himself to helping the civilians within the city.

The Botanist Mortician sits in the back seat of the town car contemplating the realities of his current situations.
"Did things go well. Sir?"

Squad says as he puts down whatever novel he happened to be reading.

"No Juro. No, things didn't go to well at all. It seems that our plans to mount an attack on the mutant registration department holding facility stands. We will need everyone on point. You all know your rolls.
Inform Stampede that he will indeed be the way we smash through the front fortifications. We attack in one day."
The town car continues down the road towards the city proper, woodland trees pass them by as they make there way out of the outskirts and into Omega city.
A loud sound like a thousand rusty nails scraping on the bottom of the car is coupled with a violent and sudden impact. The passengers feel a moment of vertigo before slamming down into a large crack that formed in the road. The ground continues to tremble, the sounds of trees cracking and toppling over reverberates through out the woods.
Sebastian opens his eyes, blood drips from the side of his head. His vision blurs but then returns to normal as he attempts to assess the situation. The different Squads start to come back into consciousness, bloody and wrecked the passengers exit the vehicle. The crack is deep enough to hold several vehicles and travels along the road a few hundred yards before curving into the forest. Sebastian holds his hands out towards the ground, and almost as if he is molding the earth he causes a piller of dirt, rock, roots and rubble to ascend raising them up and out of the hole in the ground, placing them safely next to the crack. Omega city is on fire in the distance.
"Will! Sebastian says out loud.

The Botanist Morticians com link buzzes in his ear, on the other end 'War' has his eye on Doc Williams.
"Orders, assassinate Williams, confirm or cancel?"
The Mortician taps the miniature chrome com link in his ear.
"Cancel, cancel. I need Williams alive."
The Mortician uses his power over the earth to raise his companion Squad and himself into the air on a wave of pure earth. With the clench of his first the Mortician seals the crack in the ground surrounding him, literally moving and shaping the earth to his will.
"Delta delta! Unknown vector, Charlie on the field, Williams in danger! Orders, sir."
Sounds the com link in the Botanical barons ear.

"What! Who is it? The Zetas? Stop them!, Squad do you read? What's happening? Protect the Light!"
The wave of earth starts moving back towards the old farm house carrying them along like a rolling mound of destruction made from dirt.
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
His child hood home was destroyed, his friendship with Sebastian diminishing. Not to mention that the direction the world is going in seems bleak at best. Mutants being discriminated against, the government attempting to take control over it all. The old man stands there looking out at his memories in the ruble that use to be his farm house.
A gleam in the sky catches Williams eye, he looks up and sees a dot getting bigger and bigger until it takes the form of some sort of robot. The mechanical monstrosity stops short of the Light and says.
"I am CHNCY-3, I'd tell you to call me Chauncey, but it wouldn't really be worth it considering I'm about to riddle you with so many holes, one might mistake you for a poorly built dam.

Confused, Williams holds out one hand shaking it as one would shake there head 'no' and says,
"What are you? What is this all about?"
The Light stands ready to defend himself at moments notice. He forms the thoughts in his mind necessary to allow him to create a light burst hot enough to melt techno-Steel and bright enough to fry beta class artificial sensory units. He holds the attack at the ready, waiting for this robots responce.
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
The sea foam green colored fish bone tipped dart flies through the air piercing through several black helium filled balloons, eventually embedding itself into the dart board shaped like a cream pie located on the back wall of his throne room. The balloons pop deflating and droping the explosive load they where each holding up. The charges drop hitting his scale model of Omega city in various locations. Each charge blows up a small area of Omega, catching the surrounding areas on fire.
The Mad Merman let's out a loud shreeking Cackle followed by a hideously happy laugh before lowering his goggles and tweaking another component in his latest wacky invention.
A small hand torch heats different coils as he moves them slightly to the left in an attempt to sync the vibrational field. He flips a switch on the torch changing it to 'welding' then continues to weld the coil in place. A little squid oil here and some anti-matter dilution fluid there and it was complete. It had taken him nearly a year to finish the device without the help of his two ex companions, not too mention several items had to be stolen in order to make it. Several guards and a cop where killed stealing the items and Necron caught on fire...twice. But, alas it was complete. The Mad Merman points a small remote control toward a ginormous holo screen suspended over his main computer unit.
"Computer, play the waltz of thunder track seven."
'Beep'
"Playing Waltz of the fallen soul"
The computer responds in a pleasant female voice. The music starts slowly, the Merman spots the mop in the corner he keeps around to clean Chemical spills. He points at the inanimate mop and says in a feisty tone of voice,
May I have this dance my lady?
He slowly moves towards the cleaning tool with a groove in his step moving with the music. In one clean swoop he takes the mop into his imbrace and starts spinning around like Cinderella and prince charming at the Grand ball. As the music builds and builds to the climax he dances with grace with his beloved.
The dramatic ending to the waltz approaches, him and the mop dancing furiously. As the last notes of the classical composition hit Frosner launches the mop into the air, it spins and twirls beautifully. The Merman catches the mop and bows to the make believe audience in one smooth action.
A buzzing sound on the door catches his attention. He tosses the mop back into the corner discarding it like a used sock before walking to the door and opening it.
"Ahh yes Cyclone. Enter. I need your assistance." the Merman says.
Cyclone follows the Merman into his lab, the door slamming behind them.
"Sir, I wanted to ask you if. .." Cyclone is cut off by the Merman.
"Yes,yes,yes,yes,yes,yes,yes,yes... it can wait. I need to test my new time dilation device."
Frosner takes the controls of the device and tweaks a few calibrations, adjusts a few dials and then presses the activation button. A beam of gray light shoots from the center eye of the device and creates a dark swirling portal. A rip in time that spins as it floats suspended in the laboratory.
With a smile on his face that looks inhumanly large and evil the Merman looks over at Cyclone and says, "stick your head through and tell me what you see"
Cautiously Cyclone puts his hands up in protest. He knows what can happen to the Mermans 'test subjects'
"But sir are you sure that it is ready?"
"FACE IN THE PORTAL!" the Mad one yells with buldging eyes.
A bit horrified at what might happen to him Cyclone approaches the portal. Whatever happens, it will be better then disobeying his bosses orders he thinks as he sticks his head through the void. Cyclone is instantly hit with the sheer cold of the snow covered landscape laid out before him. "Where in the world was this place? " He thinks as he pulls his head back out from the portal.
"it's a cold place. ..cold, freezing place with snow everywhere." Cyclone says as he brushes the frost off his nose.
"it's Antarctica, the device can open a portal to any place in the world. Now to make it smaller."
The portal closes up in a flash of light as the device powers down.
"Thats amazing sir. Truly amazing, but if I may, please what I needed to tell you was that a seismic event has been detected moving towards us."
"An earthquake huh? Strange. Computer, reverse the polarity sonar field and zero in on the source."

"Computing... it looks as if the most likely sources all lead back to the octagon government buildings."

"The government? Curious. .. Computer activate the energy shields and inform everyone to brace for impact. Suddenly the lights start to flicker.
☆♤☆☆☆♡☆☆☆◇☆☆☆♧☆
Explosion sits and cleans his high powerd rifle in the corner of the dojo as he watches Chi-tah spar with one of the martial arts masters also employed by the government. The two throwing punches and kicks with great precision. Explosion clicks the last piece back into his gun before replacing it on his back. He streaches his arms up into the air and looks as if he might be yawning although no one would know since he never takes off his helmet. No one has ever seen his face or herd Explosion talk and have just gotten use to his vague hand gestures. No one can tell if he is a mute or if he just won't talk.
General Harth walks out of his office and motions for the team to come front and center.
"We have orders straight from the white house, president Zullin wants the Botanist Mortician imprisoned. We have orders to pursue the runaway criminals he is aiding and abetting aswell. We depart tomorrow night, get prepar..." the building starts to shake and rumble, glass windows start to shatter. FBI agents being thrown to the ground, book shelves toppling over. General Harth braces him self on the wall trying to gain footing, Explosion almost falls forward but catches his balance on the uneven, distorted ground using a wild display of flailing arms. The General slams the big maroon 'Red Alert' button on the wall sounding an alarm and flashing a bright red light through out the compound.
☆☆☆☆☆◇◇◇◇◇☆☆☆☆☆
Green insectoid bio wings flutter fiercely as Mantis boy glides to the next building landing with grace on the side of the structure and sticking like glue. He looks out over the city and sees the chaos taking place. A devastating earthquake has ripped through the city and left many dead and even more injured. Mantis boy has already helped an elderly gentleman to a safety zone and pulled a school bus free from some rubble. He thought he would be able to see more from a higher vantage point and is scoping out the area. People frantically try and figure out what to do, vehicles strewn about, some crashed down into cracks in the road. Smoke wafting out from a burning apartment building catches the Mantis's eye. He dashes into the air multiple stories high and retracts his wings from his back. They start to buzz rapidly as he soars towards the burning building landing at various points as he goes. The young hero is startled when what looks like a robot soars by him also heading towards the burning structure.
"Who the heck is that?" he says outloud to himself as he watches the mech creature speed away. Tyler pokes the Omega league com link in his bio suit and calls Parlor Trick.
"We're sorry but the number you are trying to reach is no longer in service, if you believe you got this message in error please hang up and try your call again"
"Damit, someone tell me who this robot guy is!"

The base seemed to be going on some sort of red alert due to the imminent approach of an earthquake. This peaked Phantom's interest, but did not merit concern. After all, as long as the electricity stayed on, he had nothing to worry about. If the electricity did go off, he would have to fly away to the nearest city to recharge. The trip would be taxing, but at top speed, he could reach the nearest city well before running out of power to maintain his current form.

The other option would be to hitch a ride on someone else trying to escape when the base's equipment started to fail. Then he could take a free ride to safety. This would make for a great excuse to Leech off of the boy standing in front of him, even if he stood no chance of controlling the body.

But all this planning was starting to become a bore. There was always the possibility that the base might just shake for a second and not go dark at all.

Feeling comfortable in any situation, Phantom held his spot calmly. His stare toward the boy across the room remained unfaltering.

Betsy had to be rough with his lady as he slammed the shaft into her hole, reattaching the armature and suffering the six second sag. With her still flat on her back, it was much easier to get into position as he unfastened her top and climbed inside. The first thing most see is a web of cables that looks like it is meant to catch him, in fact it is an interactive lattice that uplinks with his current power armor to mirror his micro-movements to a macro-scale. Activating the gravity nullifier in the suit itself, he gracefully pops up to a standing position like a marionette doll.

"Alright baby, lets go get dirty."

Massive doors were already opening as he was suiting up so he had nothing more to do than magnitize his feet to a standing position, crouch down, reverse magnetic charge for a minuscule boost, and LEAP out into central city to see what he could do to help. Klaxon alarms went off as he un-holstered his graviton cannon and started hunting for anything falling from the sky that wasn't supposed to.
***
He saw the age wear on his C.O. it was clear that the attack was not wanted, but needed. The greatest victories are the wars not fought, it was simple math to understand mutants could do everything humans could and more. If you lined up 1000 armed and trained humans versus 1000 armed and trained mutants, the mutants win, it just happens.
"No Juro. No, things didn't go to well at all. It seems that our plans to mount an attack on the mutant registration department holding facility stands. We will need everyone on point. You all know your rolls.
Inform Stampede that he will indeed be the way we smash through the front fortifications. We attack in one day."
Juro nodded and pulled out his phone to begin testing when all hell broke loose. Thankfully he was in his body armor to mitigate the damage, but he didn't have his helmet on. When it all came to a stop he cracked a smile, 'driver' had removed himself by reaching through the little window so that he wasn't crushed by the frontal impact. "Oh, mi Diosa. Sir, why on earth did you do that to us?"

Apparently those spanish lessons were paying off as he emerged from the car first, NOW wearing his mask with rifle ready for an assault as the Mortician raised the earth and brought them up to see the city on fire. He took a moment to assess the situation before speaking up but was interrupted by the omega mutant cry for his friend. Next he heard the exchange between himself and his superior easily enough and soon enough they were on their way back to the fallen house as he actively dismissed all his other selves down to just 'king' and 'war'.
*
'War' had his orders and now he did activate the little red laser for the photokinetic mutant to know there was support, perhaps with an already existing Laser, he could supercharge the beam into cutting through the opponent from behind as he fired his targeted round at the mechanical opponent's neck joint. He was fighting blind but he knew the second that light surrounded himself in a protective barrier, he was going to detonate the charges still in the house. Ten separate single pound charges of home made c-4 was equivalent to ten different bundles of 16 sticks of dynamite. He had read the anarchist cookbook under the botanist and the EOD manuals when he was still in the service, he knew where to place the charges properly, but now that the house was sunk in, the situation was different and would probably be noise, smoke and light debris shrapnel. Not enough for significant damage, but more for disorientation of the enemy.
***

As an immortal, Necron had to learn to be aware of his surroundings so as to not be beheaded from behind. But as much as he sensed someone behind him, there was no one there. Years of trechery must be taking their toll as he felt the hum in the deck plates as the shields came online. Odd they were not due for any drills, this with flickering lights was a bad omen. Followed by a signal to brace for impact.

"Attention all personnel, please brace for impact"

Necron threw himself into the nearest doorway he could find and hoped it wouldn't be like that time in San Francisco. Mentally he mapped out the route for the nearest escape pods, he did not feel like testing his immortality today. Suddenly, the doorway he was standing in opened...
***

As the general enters, Tohi rolls to his feet and nods to the teacher to show as much respect he can while being commanded by their shared superior to approach immediately. As orders are issued, he starts pulling the straps off of his body armor to really go train to take on a psycho mutant. But then the ground starts to shake and things begin to fall to the ground, by some miracle the silent galoot remains standing while Chi-tah drops prone and splays out his body like a skinned rug covered in combat padding.

"I THINK THE BOTANIST HEARD YOU!"

Eileen lay on the ground of her lab with her arms positioned across her chest like a corpse at a funeral, staring up at the ceiling lost in thought, anticipating the earthquake that she had caused. She was sure that the Assassin's HQ which was built to withstand super-powered assault could withstand a measly earthquake. When Harth returned she assumed he had a mission announcement, hearing him summon the team. She motioned with her hands to the helper robot, which rolled up to her. Still laying on the floor, Eileen rolled onto her belly and grabbed the droid with both hands, pointing towards the exit. It rolled towards the door, its motors groaning from the added weight, dragging Dr. Fang along. it carried her out of her lab and out into the common area, from where she could see the gym where Chi-Tah was training. A bit away she could see Explosion as well. Her robot went back into the lab while Dr. Fang rolled onto her back again. Harth was in the middle of explaining the mission when the earthquake finally struck. As the ground rumbled, Dr. Fang pondered on the possibility that this earthquake was maybe just a bit stronger than she had intended. She heard glassware rattling in her lab, followed by the sound of something falling and shattering. Yup, definitely too strong. She thought about how much less frightening an earthquake was lying down, but then again, it helped knowing exactly when it would happen. Hearing Chi-Tah mention the Botanist, she chimed in, "Oh hey, it totally didn't occur to me that this 'might be his doing'. Mutants, am I right? Hah!" Being a mutant herself, Eileen thought the stale irony was hilarious. Eventually the rumbling stopped and Eileen stood up, ceremoniously patting dust and lint off her labcoat. "So, what was this mission again?" she asked a bit annoyingly.

---

Horizon reaches the burning building, seeing a window where people were desperately trying to leave from despite the elevation. "Please stand back!" Horizon commands, and when he was sure the people were a safe distance away from the wall, he strategically punches out a section of it, making sure to let the ceiling maintain structural stability. Then he projects a large rectangular box made of hard light which the people from the burning building rush into. When the box was full of people, Horizon flew away from the building and towards the ground to somewhere safe to deposit his 'passengers' before returning to the building to find more victims. He notices Mantis Boy nearby and flies up to him. "Insect Child, if you are here to help, it would be greatly appreciated."

---

Kyouma tried to keep a straight face as he passed the Phantom on his way to the kitchen to get some snacks and maybe a drink. Something about the way he unashamedly stared at Kyouma gave Kyouma the creeps. It also didn't help that the data from the Bresleen sensors that Bresleen 'astronomists' used to scan other humanoids in Kyouma's vicinity returned inconclusive data on the Phantom. However, upon approaching the kitchen, Kyouma lost his appetite as Necron was performing some sick and twisted ritual of sorts.

"We still have plenty of energy reserves left," Emtardas consoled Kyouma.

Suddenly the order to brace for impact came as the base was struck by a seismic shock. Kyouma, using something that was some strange cross between instinct and precision computer-calculated response, widened his stance and shifted his center of gravity in a way to compensate for the swaying and rumbling, much like how a Segway can keep itself upright. he looked around to see how Necron and Phantom Leech reacted.

CHNCY-3 tilted his head and looked at the old man. His sensors were picking up a great amount of energy building within him. Perhaps the Light was brighter than Chauncey had given him credit for. The Light was getting ready to fight, but so was Chauncey.

The hydraulic pistons in his legs began to move, gear began to turn. Steel and grease in the place of flesh and blood. He leapt to the side of Williams and back about six feet. He could of, perhaps he should've fled then and there. He had the inkling, however, that Frosner would not take kindly to failure. He bolted forwards, accelerating at a blinding speed. He now stood almost toe-to-toe with the bearded man, wrapping his sword arm around Williams so the if he tried to back up, he'd back up directly into Chauncey's blade. He held the minigun barely more than an inch away from the man's sternum. He spun up the gun and began to speak, the artificially synthesised male voice falling away to CHNCY-3's more primal, digital sounding voice.

"FROSNER SENDS HIS REGARDS"

The robot zooms over and attacks Williams.

"FROSNER SENDS HIS REGARDS"

The old man's reflexes had been honed over a life time of fighting and he was a tough one. The fact that he was older now though ment that he wasn't what he use to be when he was younger.
It was apparent that this thing was hostile and after what it said, obviously one of Frosners creations. Williams only subconsciously relised this fact though, because in the split seconds after the robot announces its origin he extends a light beam sword from his clenched first and slices up and behind himself in an attempt at severing the things sword arm. His other hand dashes out like an eagles claw snatching its prey. The Light grabs the barrel of the mini gun with a grasp powered with searing light, enough to melt bullets.
As he looks for an opening to dash backwards and gain distance inbetween the robot and himself he charges more energy.

"AWAY WITH YOU VILE MONSTROSITY! The Light will not be bested by an artificial beast"

Betsty was floating on cloud nine as his throbbing cannon fired of a white pearly blast. He roared with delight at the pent up release sailed across the way to strike a building on the verge of structural collapse. With gravity nullified, it was as no risk to collapse under its own weight, only explode with no drag of gravity to stop it from being the cities biggest pineapple grenade.

"...Oops."

THen again, he had only made the grenade, there was still a chance it wasn't going to go off. Surely horizon and the green guy can handle putting out the fire... Right?
***
'War' Watched as the light created light constructs, a sword and a claw. He REALLY hoped the photokinetic could see his signal as he blinked the sniper laser twice more and took the shot. There was a lot that could happen in the mile distance between them, but that was when he was reminded about love: 'Love' is making a shot to the knees of a target 120 kilometers away using an Aratech sniper rifle with a tri-light scope... Love is knowing your target, putting them in your targeting reticule, and together, achieving a singular purpose against statistically long odds.

*Ping*
Sonnava bitch, he was targeting flesh. It wasn't armor piercing rounds! Ah well, time for 10 pounds of C-4.
*BOOM!*
***
Necron stood inthe doorway and called onto his communicator. "Attention Leo Command: This earthquake is an opportunity, natural or Botanist. You are under orders right now to engage the natural history museum, this disaster is too good an opportunity to waste. Begin immediately with non-lethal opportunities and prepare to be joined by Ark for support." Switching channels, he called in a second unit. "Attention Aeries Command: This earthquake is an opportunity, natural or Botanist. You are under orders right now to engage the Mutant registration facility, this disaster is too good an opportunity to waste. Begin immediately with mutant mimicking technology and prepare to be joined by Cyclone for support."

If all went well, the natural history museum would be compromised with the shaking earth to protect its treasures, Ark's technology will help make short work of the security measures and the vault. While the mutant registration should have not only databases of current mutants and their powers to exploit. But millions of dollars as well under lock and key for the signing bonus to draw out mutants to register their DNA. Cyclone was a risk for his greed, but his powers were too similar to mutants to not use the opportunity to red herring them into pointing the finger at the brotherhood. Money is good, but knowledge is power. He called up each 'named' villain on their private communicators.

"Ark! Report to teleportation and prepare to take point of Leo unit at the natural history museum, your target is the vault and your goal is anything of sufficient age, the older the better. Cyclone! Report to teleportation and prepare to take point of Aries unit at the Mutant registration facility, your target is the mutant database and the millions in the vault."