Niesha fell silent, finishing her hot chocolate and cake, she was in ner on thoughts now.im sorry mum. But maybe this is just a new begining she thought. At least the house would be lived in. Just not by ber. It didn't matter, she told herself.

she rose, "I'll be at the house round 4" she said, heading out the shop, cookies under her arm.

That was true about the pay, at least for normal jobs. Scipio's "freelancing" was obviously different from just writing up a few good stories or giving a report about the latest things going on in whatever part of Arcus you'd been visiting.

"#You suck at giving advice," teased the symbiote.

"Yeah, like you could do any better," Scipio thought back. "Maybe if this girl was a superbeing I could actually offer some good tips...."

"#Actually..."

Scipio knew what the alien was going to say. This girl had a certain faint scent about her that he was was all to familiar with. Smoke. Was... was she a pyromancer? Or maybe she had just used clothes that had been exposed to smoke sometime ago. Whatever the case, he wouldn't pry, as doing so might elicit a negative response or even give away his true nature.

"Well, I wish you luck in your job hunt then."

Scipio turned to Niesha.
"Kind actions on your part."

With that, he left the coffee shop and headed off somewhere.

Softly, Deadend hummed a tune to himself as he cleaned some dried blood from the blade of his knife. Carefully he poured oil over the blade and cleaned it over with a cloth, he rinsed and repeated until he could see the face of his helmet looking down at the combat dagger. Impatiently, he stabbed the dagger back into the table, leaving it standing straight-up from the table. He turned his attention to face his guest, a young lady gagged with a towel and duct-taped to the oak-wood chair. His voice was distorted by his helmet but it was still audible, it kept his identity safe from the more...aggressive enemies he made. "Your husband is taking a very long-time," he said looking at the clock in the corner of the room, "I told him if he's not here in an hour, he gets to find you with a bullet in between your eyes." Glancing from the corner of his eye he looked down at the girl and examined her, light bruising on the neck, healed but not entirely cut behind the back soldier, and a displaced lens. It was now becoming more possible he had made a miscalculation, the vigilante Starbird was a hero in the eyes of the public but it was clear he was not a 'hero' to his wife, he may have had made the wrong choice in leverage...

BOOM

...Or not, Starbird had come and set off the clay ores set in place downstairs. Starbird was a metahuman, a manipulator of cosmic energy, able to shoot rays from his hands and fly. Eddy had chosen this enclosed abandoned apartment to account for the flight, there was no longer any wildcard in play, the game was his. Pulling his right pistol from his holster he pulled the trigger and planted a shot right between the gagged girl's eyes. Her head lolled forward and she stopped struggling as she died instantly, as blood dripped onto her now dead lap from the hole in her forehead. Holstering his pistol, he picked up the bullet casing and put it in his pocket while he took his knife and sheathed it. Going into the room next to the room with the dead girl, he knocked on the wall that connected the two rooms, nodding with approval he grabbed his rifle. Drawing his sniper rifle, he aimed it point blank at the wall, the tip of the barrel flat against the wall. he counted down in his head 3...2...1...*click* BLAM

-A few seconds earlier-

Touching down at the apartment, Starbird looked up at the gloomy structure, before entering, as soon as he entered he heard a soft click and turned to his feet to see the claymore, instinctively he attempted to fly free of the blast but as he flew he hit his head on the entryway chandelier and fell, using his cosmic power he shielded himself minimally from the explosion. His disguise was burned away on the half where his shield was and he was covered up and down his arm in 3rd degree burns. Half his face 2nd degree burned, he shrieked with pain as he heard the gunshot go off upstairs. The explosion had burned him mostly so he wasn't bleeding but he was definitely in danger, he'd kill the sonuvabitch who captured his damn stupid wife and put him through this. Slowly he hovered up the steps until he came to a hallway. Across the hallway, through an open door, he saw his wife bleeding from her fore-head, tied to a chair in the middle of a room. "Of-oh god...Susie? S-Susie oh god..." He said as he landed and stumbled into the room in disbelief. He reached his hand out to take his dead wife's cheek. As he reached out he heard a loud gunshot. Looking around he saw a smoking bullet hole in the wall to his right. He tried to say something but only blood came out, bringing his good hand up he felt his throat and felt warm liquid pouring out all over his chest. He had bee. Shot in the jugular.

Stepping back into the room, Deadend holstered his sniper rifle on his back as he watched the hero collapse onto his knees looking up at him with disbelief in his eyes. Drawing his sword from it's sheathe he looked down at the kneeling man with blood running from his throat with not even pity, not even emotion. "Don't look at me like that. It's just business" With a clean slash, Starbird's head rolled from his body onto the floor with a thump his body now collapsed on the ground. Opening the window he jumped out and disappeared.

Still awaiting the appearance of the briefcases recipient, MindWarp observed her surroundings. More and more people were filling up the café; it looked to be a busy day. Majority of the room’s occupants received only a slight glance while her attention focused on the group of three over by the wall of fliers. One male and two females, one being the spunky young lady from before who had a go at the bum’s pestering the street cleaner. In fact the street cleaner seemed to have disappeared. Anyway, MindWarp couldn’t help but overhear their conversation. It seemed that they were helping out with suggesting housing and job options. What bewildered her however was why? They obviously haven’t met before. They were perfect strangers and the only reason one offered help was so that they could gain something in return. Kindness was the illusion of a business transaction. There was no give without a take. Releasing a sigh, she took a sip of her beverage. Everyone seemed to be under the impression that reality was the sole truth of the universe, but MindWarp knew better.

“What is reality but a higher plane of illusion?” She quietly whispered and moved onto staring into her glass, still ever waiting for the recipient of the briefcase.

Niesha headed out, hearing sirens but thought nothing of them, she went about her business stopping next to get keys cut, when she heard more sirens. Weird. Something must be going on somewhere. She had a couple of hours to kill until the moving van would be at her disposle.

"You're took curious for your own good" Niesha muttered to herself, following the echoing sirens. She came up to the building that looked as if an explosion had occurred. She got as close as she could, wondering if there was anyone inskde

Hawk stood hovering over the building where according to reports Starbird was dead. Not him. Why did it have to be him. He had been a friend of the original Hawk. He had helped Pete ,the current Hawk, immensely after he took up the mantle. He was torn up. Why him. Who had done it? How had they managed to kill him and his wife? Seemed like an assassination. The authorities had blocked it off. But he could fly. Not easy to block off a guy who could fly. That and he doubted that he would be harassed. Most people did not know of the switch between father and son. Most thought Hawk was still alive.

He hovered over the window where it had happened. He could see the scene. He did not need to go in. Hawk flew to the top of the building and sat down on the ledge over looking the police. Today was going to be a bad day. He could feel it.

The more Katherin thought about it the more appealing freelancing became. It would give her plenty of time to train. She was a descent writer do it was definetly a possibility. The newspaper was even looking for writers. She would need a sample of her writing. So the next order of business was to find a story to write about. It needed to be an interesting story., but something that their current writers couldn't or wouldn't cover. Katherin desired to walk around the city and see what drew her attention.

Dressed in civilian clothes, a pair of jeans a T-shirt some sneakers and a zip-up hoodie, Eddy walked back to the apartment. Casually he watched as cop cars sped down the road to the abandoned apartment complex. He had collected his pay with no trouble and decided to return to the area, amused, he thought about how a good portion of criminals return to the scene of the crime. Only, those criminals return out of anxiety, Eddy returned out of curiosity. He watched as what seemed to be another hero entered the building using some form of electrical flight. He would note him for later.

Niesha looked around the place, at the small crowd, and the police officers, the news crew. What had haplened here to deserve this? She looked up, seeing something, but the next moment it was gone. Maybe she imagined it. She shifted, wondering if she could get closer, ask what had happened.

she edged forwards slightly, trying not o draw attention to herself. Just a curious on looker. Strange, why woukd anyone blow up an apartment? Probablh turn out to be a drug dealer, or a gas explosion or something like that.

she eventually shrugged, deciding to get a better view. What she needed was somewhere where no one could see her. She moved down, away, towards and allyway

KradKazumi said
Lass entered the shop and headed to the counter "Hot chocolate please." he ordered and placed the money needed for the beverage. His drink was made after a short while and he sat at the corner of the shop while drinking. Suddenly, he noticed that a person started running all of a sudden 'There's something different about him...' he thought but the crowd was a hindrance to Lass's observation 'It's probably nothing.' then he continued his drink while deciding where to go next.

She was used to it by now, but the shop was getting busy. Eli was asked to come in to cover a shift - someone had called in sick. She didn't have any plans that night, so she didn't mind, but maybe she should have refused. She sighed, pressing a button on the coffee maker. She turned around and helped the next customer. "Hot chocolate please," ordered a boy.
He handed her some cash and she rang the drink in. At least hot chocolate wasn't difficult to fix up. Her coworkers had it ready for the boy in record time. "Have a nice day!" Eli said, smiling. She focused her attention to the next customer, punching in the rest of the orders.
Earlier, there was a commotion involving three guys and a street cleaner. It was rather quickly resolved, or at least it seemed so to Eli. She was too piled up with her work to notice the time. Noticing her exhaustion, the supervisor sent her to the back to 'clean up a bit', or in other words, to 'take a five minute break'. She accepted the offer and switched places with another worker. Eli slowly made her way to the staff room, planning to simply sit on a chair and close her eyes for a little, but before she could step through the door, there was an explosion outside, followed by police sirens.
Curious, Eli returned to the front, watching the customers and several of the workers exit the building to watch the scene. She, too, followed suit and squeezed past a few people in the crowd. It would've made it easier if she was smaller, but Eli knew the consequences of transforming. She pushed the thought away, scared that it would happen then and there. Before long, she was able to catch a few glimpses of the apartment across the street. The police were working fast, blocking it off already. She thought she saw a figure hovering over the building, but they were gone by the time she double checked.

Lost in his own thoughts, Zed was interrupted by a bellow of sirens down the street. Tons of people were already dashing to the spot as Zed's curiosity got the better of him. He had followed the crowd to a rather grim spot. It seemed that an assassination had took place, a brutal one at that. Zed shook his head as he observed the scene. He was careful not to touch any other humans for fear that the beast might awaken. He had already sensitive senses, a little stimuli might cause a disaster. It was just so sad that a person's life would be ended swiftly... how cheap life is nowadays.

In his contemplation, Zed had become absent-minded. He didn't notice a man in a green shirt with black hair in his way, causing the foolish cleaner to slightly bump a little on the man's arm. Zed was startled as he backed away swiftly.

"I am so sorry! It's my fault I didn't see where I was---" Zed's apology was cut short as an inner voice rose to his throat.

"The scent of blood is clear in this man... His hand has been stained with the blood of an innocent."

The demon within had smelled the blood... wherever this guy went, he had murdered someone. Zed's eyes opened in panic as his arms pulsated. If there was something so effective in bringing out the demon, it was violence.

This guy was dangerous and Zed wanted nothing to do with this man, the demon within wanted to lash out though. The panicked cleaner rushed out of the crowd and headed towards his shack, there was too much stimuli for one day. En route to his shack, he had to pass through one of the alleys as he wanted to forget the scent of blood. In his haste, he saw another figure... It was the girl who helped him when he was being ganged up. He could never forget that scent...

"You... again.." Zed muttered as he debated staying or running. "It's not safe there... not safe at all."

Satisfied, Eddy pulled up his hood and began to leave the crowd before a person in bandages bumped into him, in a split second, Eddy analyzed him. No visible signs of harm or injury around the exposed parts of skin around his eyes, he doesn't move as if he is in pain or has been, clothes indicate city worker, most likely street cleaner. Looks to be in late teens, bandages make it hard to tell. No clear injuries, ruffled clothing and dirt hint to previous fight but no reason for so much medical treatment. Bandages for no reason, 22% chance of metahuman. The boy spoke up about to apologize, but as he looked at Eddy his pupils dilated and he cut himself off, walking away. Speech mannerisms indicate mental instability or something of the sort. Pupils dilating show terror or fear and increase in breathing show panic, reacted at sight of him, possible knowledge of murder. 91% chance of metahuman. Not telepathic or clairvoyant, bandages clue to something different.

Eddy watched with silence as the street cleaner left, a possible loose-end that needed to be tied. He would come back here sometime in the future, waiting would be the best considering the uncertainty surrounded the cleaner's identity. He left the crowd and decided to get something to eat, he started walking towards the cafe nearby.

-Archive's Hideout-

Today had started pretty much normally for Archive. Morning tai chi, a light breakfast, meeting with a few loyal informants, and then right down to business. Compiling info for one client or another, spying on various organizations, monitoring police scanners and phone lines. The usual. It was almost boring.

But then the reports started coming in, one after another, from all of her sources. She couldn't believe it, but the truth was right there in front of her.

Someone had killed Starbird.

An explosion at an abandoned building in the older part of town had drawn the police, and the bodies of Starbird and an unknown woman had been discovered inside. Both shot dead. It was obviously professional work- she knew an amateur couldn't get lucky enough to take down a vetted hero. Who had done it, and why?

Well, the why was rather obvious. Someone wanted a major player out of the way. There were others, of course, but none with as much press as the cosmic ray shooter. It was a major shake up, and it was going to leave a nice vacuum of power on the 'noble' side of things. Repercussions were incoming, and she'd just have to watch how the pieces fell.

Today had turned out quite interesting after all.

Niesha had just started to gather light to her, and knew there was a chance that tne cleaner had seen her glowing slightly. She let the light go, spinning about, "oh!" She put on a slightly shocked voice, and then she smiled "hi!" She let her voice shift into a cheerful tone.

"Are you okay? You were freaked before...and now it seems" she said, stepping towards him, then stopped. "I can help, if they hurt you" she shifted her bag, the cookies rattling, keys jingling. She held out her ha ds to show she had nothing, that she did just wanted to help.

A young man with grey hair (Form 2) walked into a busy bank building with a small satchle bag about his body, and looked around at all the people rushing about. It was clear that he wasn't here for the reason of making a transaction, but what was he here for some of the people wondered as he stood just looking around. One of the security guards came up to him and asked.
"Exuse me sir gut do you need help finding something?" the young amn looked up witha weak smile and replied.
"No, thanks I am just meeting someone here. Thanks for the offer tho." At that the security guard smiled, nodded his head and walked back to his post. After that the young man went into the bathroom and went into a stall locking the door behind him. He then grabbed out of his bag a GPS device and a detinatioin trigger. He plugged the trigger into the GPS and began scrolling around on the map until a red blip appeard. "I guess this will begin it." he whisppered with a murderous smirk playing across his face. He looked to the trigger and pulled the small leaver and pushed the red button.
"Boom."
At a Construction Corporation building a few block west from him, where people were walking to where ever they go from day to day, an explosion ripped through the front door with a fire ball consuming the lobby area. this explosion cuased the ground to trimmer slightly at the bank making the young man smile broadly as he scrolled some more on the GPS, and pressing the button again.
"Boom."
This time a few blocks south of the first explosion, at a News building Reporters were hard at work typing up stories for the paper, another fireball erupted from within the building blowing out many of the windows. This one didn't really explode it was more just fire without a boom. The young man stepped out of the stall and went to wash his hands and tossed the device into the sink and looked into the mirror. His face was shifting shape and color slowly his smile became very wide, his face white and hair green. His attention was turned to the sound of a toilet flushing and a well dressed man stepping out. The man stopped dead in his tracks as his gaze came up to meat Persona's in the form of The Joker.
"Well," Persona said turning his body to face the man. "You could have just found yourself in a very... Mmmm, interesting situation should we say."
Persona burst out of the restroom holding a revolver in holding the man as a meatshield and yelled into the now panicing people. "Everyone on the ground!" everyone didn't respond imediatly, but after a few seconds the guards saw what was happening and drew their guns on him.
"On the ground!" they yelled back at Persona which was got everyones attention and they all got to the ground.
"Aw, thank you sir." Persona replied, and shot both the guards killing them where they stand. "Now that you can all hear me no one leaves and would one of the staff come and lock the doors! please." first none of the staff did anything so Persona shot one of them as well. "Now!" One of the men behind the counter came out around the desks and went to the door and locked it and started back to the desks. "NO!" Persona called out to the teller. "Keys here plaese." the man came to him slowly and handed him the keys which he swiftly pocked. Thanks, Mr..." He squinted, looking at the teller name tag. "Sheldon."

Scipio was well away from the coffeee shop area and was now more in the nicer parts of this particular town of Arcus. Despite this, news of an explosion at an old apartment complex reached him through the large screens on some of the buildings around.

"Sheesh, well that sucks..."

"#Perhaps we should go back to the site later today and do some forensic inspections of our own? See what's worth bombing an old, practically empty building."

"Good idea."

Just as Scipio was thinking, an explosion occurred. He could even see the flames of the rising fireball from where he was standing. Quickly, he jumped into action, sneaking into a secluded alley to allow the symbiote to shift over him.

"#The bomber?"

"No, this is an explosion big enough to bring down a whole building. The one at Starbird's death site-"

"#Was only confined to a specific area. Okay."

Abaddon leaped onto the side of the wall and climbed all the way to the roof of the building.

BOOM

Another explosion.

"Christ, was today the day all the villains decide to go apeshit?!"

Abaddon ziplined and swung from building to building, perch to perch. Those were controlled explosions done by someone with a remote. But where?! A couple of gunshots alerted him to the location. A bank.

"There, at the Gelden Bank!"

Abaddon made his way there, clinging to the wall just above the building to assess the situation before going in.

Pete had been thinking about Starbird. He missed the guy. They had gotten along so well. They had the same methods. He looked over the city when the explosions started. He tried to figure out the location. It was them a voice spoke in his ear. "I know you are mourning Starbird but there are more important things. Sir the explosions happened around a certain area. However there have been reports of gunshots at the Gelden Bank. " A crisp English accented voice said in his ear. He jumped off the building and flew towards it.

When he got there he noticed Abaddon clinging to a nearby wall. They got along good enough. He hovered next to him. "Ello gov." He said in a fake Cockney accent. "So hostages in the building. Go in. Try to save them? " he said quickly. "We are working together on this. Don't debate it." He said definitively.

Abaddon looked at Pete and let out a hiss. It wasn't a threatening one though, merely a sound of acknowledgement and slight surprise. This was one of the metas that was close friends of another hero named Starbird. While Abaddon and Starbird did manage to work together, the two were uneasy about each other due to a difference in methods and ideologies. How was that cosmic idiot doing anyway?

"Fine, but just remember that I do things my own way. If a couple of suckers need to get gutted or eaten, don't interfere."

Abaddon crawled into the building, still clinging to the ceiling where Persona was at. He'd distract him and hope his new ally would get the message.

"Come on man, you're holding up the line! I need to cash in on my checks and have money to give to your mom at the club tonight!"

Persona stood in the bank and twisted his wrist to look at his watch. "Kinda slow these days." he said out loud. Then a voice called out from the ceiling making a childish insult.
"Well, drat, looks like I am being assaulted with a... I wouldn't even call that an insult." Persona said. "Is that all you wish to say?" Persona had no time for hot headed show boats, and wanted more of a crowd to cater to. "Flanking me wont work Commander. If I take more then shove of force this place goes up in flames. Kinda like the two buildings in town, Oh that just reminded me: there is one more bomb in the Silver's Co. rigged to blow in..." He looked to his watch again. "three minutes, so it's your call: Bring me in and let the bombe take down the building, or save the down town business district a big remodel?" Persona began to laugh, but not on his own accord it was more of The Joker part of him giving into habit.