Mao Mao's Test & Stash Zone

[Mao Mao]

_{Planetary Auction Square}

---

^{Hizuno // Euthenia System}

𝗤𝗨𝗦𝗞𝗢𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗔–𝗪𝗘𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗔 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗢𝗡

Hidden in the Downtown District, a repurposed warehouse was full of potential buyers looking to own something within the Expansion Region. Of course, it was filled with some of the wealthiest people in the entire star system. Some of them were looking for new sites from their businesses while providing colonial opportunities to everyone else. Others were planning on building resorts and turning their new planet into another Las Vegas or Dubai. All of them had the money and means, but who was going to outbid who. Nearly everyone was accounted for thanks to the government's official security force. In fact, the auction square was being run by them. It was part of their plan to fill the region as soon as possible. So far, it was successful.

Another shuttle arrived in front of the square, but it got everyone's attention. Theo Ross exited out of the vehicle and approached the auction floor. He was one of a few representatives of the prosperous biotechnology company, Horizon Industries. Horizon was one of the few companies that began trading with outsiders during the Great War. Soon enough, it became one of the wealthiest companies in the world. But, their position needed to be secured. Just like everyone else, they waited for the remaining guests to show up. Five minutes later, the auctioneer appeared on stage and clapped her hands to silence the customers.

"Thank you all for taking the time to meet with us." the auctioneer smiled and then turned on the hologram, displaying several objects. "Tonight, we'll be looking at the Sargas and Beta Ithacae system. Both of them have healthy suns and asteroid belts. But, the Sargas system has four habitable worlds, while Beta Ithacae only has two. We'll be starting with the Sargas system. Our first object will be..."

Theo listened as planets, moons, asteroid belts, and plenty of objects were being sold. Acoria. Sold to Terra Resorts for 1.60 billion credits. Phorth I6O. Sold to Legendary Mining Operations for 600 million. Donion and her rings. It was sold to Aeon Exploration for 700.92 million. He waited until the ideal planet presented its self. Eventually, it did. Ciamia was the last planet to be auctioned off. It was a stable desert world with two moons. The starting bid was ninety million. Si rose it to one-hundred million. Then, someone else raised it to one-hundred forty million. It kept going up for a bit until it came at two billion.

Horizon Industries and Mustang Arms were the remaining bidders. The auctioneer waited for another bid and saw Theo putting in five-hundred million. The representative of the arms company hesitated for a moment while awaiting a response. Then, he pulled out the bid leaving Horizon Industries the only bidder left. She waited at least ten seconds and then announced, "Ciamia's sold at 2.5 billion. We will be moving onto the Beta Ithacae system after a quick recess."

Theo got up from his seat and headed towards the security guards. They escorted him to a small room, where someone was waiting for them. He was a government worker that oversaw countless planets to ensure they were following government requirements and their rules. In addition, he needed to handover and explain the paperwork to the bidder. Buying a planet within the Expansion Region was easy (if you had the money). However, maintaining and ensuring that it was running flawlessly was a different story. It took at least a half-hour to explain the whole thing to Theo, but he understood the basics.

Soon enough, Theo was outside of the warehouse and got in the shuttle. He took the time to set up a holographic call with the CEO of Horizon, Si. The izien was in the middle of work when they answered the call. "I assume that the auction went well?"

"Correct, sir." Theo responded. "All of the paperwork should have been sent to you."

"Yeah, I just got the notification." Si took a moment to examine Ciamia and read it's brief summary. "What was a useful test site. The two moons are a bonus. Good decision to skip the last audition. Horizon Industries will never forget your hard work, Theo. I will be in touch with your supervisor shortly to talk about your excellent job. Keep it up."

Shortly after the call ended, Theo threw his hands up and cheered on the possible pay rise. He decided to spend the rest of the night celebrating with some friends from work.

_{Hizuno's Orbit // Euthenia System}

---

^{QWU Pandora}

"Are the reports that the FedNAT withdrawn from the Treaty of Madrigasa true?"

"I have several sources telling me that along with the Imperial Union."

[Mao Mao]

_{Chicago, Illinois}

Present Day

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^{1.00 // A Favor}

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗦𝗛𝗘𝗥

"I'm sorry, but he died on the way."

That was what the doctor told James Pierce after his surgery. The news left him feeling numb. He had thought that he was going to break down and start crying loudly. Just like in those sappy movies that Cole always watched. Then again, Pierce wasn't normal, unlike his lover. Cole never deserved to be gunned down in broad daylight. He worked hard to achieve a bachelor's degree in English while working. And his friends and family loved and cared about him. In fact, his entire family was at the hospital, grief-stricken over the news. Yet, they still took their time to visit Pierce.

He felt like he didn't deserve vistiors.

Only forty-eight hours since he woke up that the authorities planned on releasing footage of the shooting. Pierce was glued to the small screen waiting for something significant to be revealed. After a lengthy press conference, the footage was shown briefly of Pierce and Cole walking together in the downtown area. He remembered how Cole was so excited to be outside. Then, the murder appeared behind them with a pistol hidden behind him. That was when the fucker's face was shown. Just before he fired several shots at them. Before he killed... Without thinking, Pierce grabbed his phone and took a picture of that scumbag.

Then, he got out of the hospital and started getting undressed. Both the doctor and nurses protested the decision, but nobody was going to prevent him from leaving. Pierce left the hospital without trouble and immediately dialed a number.

<"Hey, I need a favor.">

<"Pierce? Is that you?">

<"Yes, it's me. Look, I need you to look up someone from me. Can you do that?">

<"I thought you were getting married to that fellow down south?">

<"I'm not in the mood, David. I will send you a picture of someone. And you will search for everything about him, got it?">

<"Sounds serious. Let me see how you're doing over there. I heard-">

<"David.">

<"-it's a great place to start a family. I mean, it was rated number-">

<"... David?">

<"I didn't know... I'm sorry, James. I.. I will get on it now.">

<"Thanks.">

The call ended in silence for both of them. David was a good person, but he didn't know when to shut up and listen. On the bright side, it meant that he was going to get his info quicker than usual. But, he had to wait back at home. Pierce spent fifteen minutes walking home alone with his thoughts. Of course, he was trying to make sense of Cole's death. Of all the people in the world, why did it have to be you, Cole? I should have died instead. Nobody would have missed me. Hell, my family never cared. But I will be there for your family, and I will kill your murder. That's a promise.

After walking for an extra few minutes, Pierce looked up and saw the home that Cole wanted to live in. It cost a fortune, but it was worth every cent. A front yard with the white picket fence and the perfect backyard for birthday parties and BBQs during holidays. Better than a cramped apartment. Now, it was a haunting reminder of the future that Pierce will never have. He unlocked the front door and slowly entered the house. The quietness felt out of place. Cole never was the one to enjoy the calm, always planning some kind of party or gathering. And he was good at it.

Pierce sat down on the couch and pulled out his phone. The lock screen was a photo of him and Cole at a friend's dinner party. He already missed him. Once the phone was unlocked, Pierce checked on new messages for friends that were filled with heartfelt condolences. He tried to read every single one of them. But then, David called. Pierce knew that he had found something on the killer and answered without hesitation. He heard some laughter coming from David. Next, he announced much needed good news.

<"Found the fucker.">

---

[Mao Mao]

_{Lancaster, Ohio}

Present Day

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^{5.02 // Cruel World}

𝗪𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥 𝗪𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗡

Today, the United States of America was the first nation in the world to denaturalize and bar a superpowered individual. Wonder Woman was given only twelve hours to present herself to properly be escorted. It was all bullshit. She knew that no piece of paper was going to prevent her from saving lives. Yet, she didn't want to give them any more reasons to throw the book. So, she decided to obey their wishes and meet them at the location; however, she needed to take care of a few things. The first thing she did was giving her house to Rachel Keast. Then, Wonder Woman officially announced that she was taking a temporary leave for her organization, World Veterans Federation, and putting Alana Dominguez in charge.

And finally, she paid a visit to Colonel Steve Trevor at the apple tree. He wanted to be buried in front of that tree because his father planted it after buying the land. Of course, Diana went through complications to ensure his wish was secured. She arrived at the site with some roses from the garden and her iconic sword. There was a moment of silence before she was able to speak.

"This will be the last time that I will see you for a while. I only have fifteen minutes left before the government officially has reason to arrest me. I am forever barred from this country... but I won't follow with it. I have to take a stand for people that I have disappointed... and for the souls that I have taken. I need to atone for the things I have done. To take a stand for all heroes before its too late." Diana placed the roses on the grave and faintly smiled. "I want you to feel proud of me again."

She walked towards Trevor's tombstone and planted it to the ground hard enough to stand on its own. Then, Diana grabbed a few rocks and placed them around the sharp blade. "I need to leave it behind. It has been tarnished by death and brutality. I will only pull it out of the ground if there was a threat more powerful than everything else. Until that day comes, can you keep an eye on it for me? Please, my love."

Wonder Woman turned away from the grave and looked up at the clear sky. She knew what was awaiting her there. A massive crowd filled with unsatisfied protesters, calling her arrest. The avalanche of journalists and reporters asking questions despite the silence. After taking one last look at the grave, Wonder Woman took off and started making her way towards the destination. Towards the cruel world awaiting her arrival.

[ENDING SONG]

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In other news, Empire Enterprises managed to buy the remaining Vistacorp assets with the bid of $600 million. Veronica Cale, CEO of Empire Enterprises, released a written statement about the merger. It said that Empire Enterprises has always "expressed interested in buying the remains of Vistacorp after the acquisition of WHIH News." It will mean that the multinational mass media company will have their hands in security. The statement highlights the company's expansion into security systems as "an exciting opportunity to have their hands on the security market to protect everyone from threats beyond our control." According to several...

Meanwhile, "Wonder Woman: Untold Stories of The First Superhero" remains the New York Time's Best Seller for the third week in a role. Emmett Mueller, the author, has posted on Twitter that he has started working on a book based on Captain America. It will be similar to the Wonder Woman biography, which he will highlight Steven Roger's controversies during the war and the execution of Stryfe. Critics and readers alike have said that...

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^{Edwards Air Force Base, United States}

Nearly everyone in the base was watching the live footage of Wonder Woman leaving the country. Some of them celebrated her departure while others remained silent and kept watching the screen. Then, there was General Wade Eiling sitting in his office and working on a report. Nearby, the radio was playing the news describing the crowd's atmosphere. Eiling cracked a smile when he heard the official confirmation that Wonder Woman wasn't an American citizen anymore. Suddenly, the phone rang out loud enough to catch him off guard. The General took a moment to collect himself and then answered the call.

"Hello, how can I-"

"General, it's time." a familiar voice interrupted Eiling. "Operation Achilles has been given the green light. Notify him and give him the folder. We'll talk about it at our next meeting."

Before he could respond, the caller on the other end hung up. Eiling opened up a locked drawer with his key and grabbed the folder of documents. He was surprised that it had finally been approved. Then again, it might have something to do with Wonder Woman destroying an American symbol and killing thousands of innocents. He got up from his seat and head towards the gym. It was the only place where the General ever saw him spend his days since arriving at Edwards. Except for sleeping and eating, he was always seen working out or flying around. Even today of all days, he was spotted at the gym once more.

General Eiling entered the room and saw him lifting weights with both of his hands. Captain Atom, the World War II veteran and former leader of the defunct Justice Society of America, was finishing up when he saw Eiling watching him. The soldier immediately placed the weights down and saluted at the General as quickly as possible.

"At ease, son." Eiling dismissed the sault and sat down on the bench with the folder on hand. "Do you know what I have on my hand?"

"No, sir."

"This is our solution to neutralizing the world's biggest threat before she could strike: Operation Achilles." Eiling said with confidence as he showed Atom the folder. "Before you take this folder, I have to make sure that you're committed to accomplishing the mission—no matter the cost and risk—for this great nation."

"I'm committed to my nation and American interest. No matter the risk and cost."

"Even if that means you might be given orders to kill Wonder Woman."

"Yes." Captain Atom answered without hesitation.

Eiling nodded and then handed over the folder. "Then, you are officially part of Operation Achilles. Welcome aboard, Captain Atom."

---

[Mao Mao]

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𝗠𝗔𝗢 𝗠𝗔𝗢

✦ 𝗘 𝗔 𝗥 𝗧 𝗛 - 𝟴 𝟯 𝟯 𝟭 𝟭 𝟳 ✦ 𝗦 𝗛 𝗘 𝗥 𝗜 𝗙 𝗙 ✦
✦ 𝗣 𝗥 𝗢 𝗧 𝗘 𝗖 𝗧 𝗢 𝗥 𝗢 𝗙 𝗣 𝗨 𝗥 𝗘 𝗛 𝗘 𝗔 𝗥 𝗧 𝗩 𝗔 𝗟 𝗟 𝗘 𝗬 ✦

---

Character Differences

Inspired by Bounce and his Steven Universe sheet, I wish to try my hand at writing one of my favorite characters. Yet, I want for Mao Mao to fit in with the Marvel and DC universes thus the incorporation of Marvel's Earth-8311 and DC's Super-Pets and Zoo Crew. With the splash of medieval and modern to keep up with the show's setting. Plus, it would give me the chance to write out someone that has issues from his childhood (with the neglectful father) and how Mao Mao still wants his attention despite his negligent. And to write how this omniverse trip changes Mao Mao.

Brief World Background

This Earth was a universe where anthropomorphic animals and magic thrived. Instead of one defined hero, there were two types of heroes: regular and legendary. Regular heroes were animals that either stuck with being local or haven't achieved legendary status yet. Legendary heroes, on the other hand, earned that status by performing incredible feats while being heroic. There were already several legendary heroes like Spider-Ham, who used his powers to stop Swinester Six from taking over the world. Of course, some heroes had to relies on skills and gadgets. Like the legendary Bat-Hound, who used the night to protect people. In terms of gadgets, some in the hero community saw modern inventions (like bionic body parts and aero-cycles) as a blight upon the world.

Magic existed for thousands of years and thrived thanks to magic users and technicians. Without them, wonders like Ruby Pure Heart would have never existed. The Pure Heart was the rare crystalline heart that sat on top of the Pure Heart Kingdom, cloaking the land for outsiders. Then, there were magic-powered weapons that can do various things, depending on the object. The Golden Spear, for example, pierce through nearly anything with ease while the Golden Hat stored hundreds of objects underneath the brim. The Legendary Golden Weapons were crafted and designed by Shin Mao.

And in a world with heroes, there were going to be villains. There were the Sky Pirates, who were Mao Mao's antagonists, that wanted the Ruby Pure Heart despite it not working. However, there were other villains around the world, like Ducktor Doom and Kingpig.

Brief Character Background

Shin Mao, one of the world's legendary heroes, raised five daughters as successors to the family name. They were taught based on their strengths and weaknesses while treated like royalty by their father. He made sure that they were instructed by him and the best teachers in the world. And he even spent years crafting their unique golden items for them. He spent so much time on his daughters that he neglected his only son, Mao Mao.

Mao Mao spent his entire childhood and early teens trying to get his father's attention. From training to showing off his skills, he tried everything in the hope of getting praise from his amazing legendary father. Sadly, Shin Mao only loved his daughters and never cared about his son. His lack of love got bad enough that he forgot Mao Mao's name. And when he wanted a golden weapon, Shin Mao randomly handed him a katana and dismissed him. Despite all of that, Mao Mao still cared for his father and kept trying to get his attention. That was when his constant need to become a legendary hero began. He thought that he would finally get the respect for the sisters and love for his father.

Mao Mao's first attempt occurred when he left his home during his teen years. During his adventure, he met with Bao Bao and became partners. It lasted for a while until Bao Bao "betrayed" him for the Amulet of Borflagon and left him behind. As a result, Mao Mao lost his tail because a boulder crushed it. The injury forced him to return home with nothing to show. He realized that his sisters already left while his father was working out in the dojo. Instead of saying words or comforting him, Shin Mao only stared for a moment before leaving him alone. That was when he started training harder.

When he reached adulthood, Mao Mao left home again for his second attempt to becoming a legendary hero. He became a nomad that traveled all over, looking for adventures and people who need assistance. It was during his travels that he met with Badgerclops and saved his life. He joined Mao Mao's side and traveled across the world until they accidentally crashed into the Ruby Pure Heart, permanently damaging it. Mao Mao vowed to protect the citizens of the Pure Heart Valley Kingdom for monsters and villains like the Sky Pirates. It was where he and Badgerclops met Adorabat, who wanted to become a hero like Mao Mao.

The trio became known as the Sheriffs of Pure Heart Valley and made their base nearby the broken pure heart. Things were going well for Mao Mao until he found himself in a prison cell. At first, he thought that the Sky Pirates managed to kidnap him. Then, he realized that something strange was going on.

---

[Mao Mao]

Wonder Woman

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𝗪 𝗼 𝗻 𝗱 𝗲 𝗿 𝗪 𝗼 𝗺 𝗮 𝗻

^{_{♦ D I A N A P R I N C E ♦ F O U N D E R O F WVF ♦ V E T E R A N ♦
♦ T H E F I R S T S U P E R H E R O ♦ P A R I S ♦ I N D E P E N D E N T ♦}}

C H A R A C T E R C O N C E P T:

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^{"Love, that spark of light within man, can save the world.
I will stay and fight against hate, that darkness within us, for a world I know possible."}

Princess Diana of Themyscira, daughter of Queen Hippolyta, was created with clay from Paradise Island and given life thanks to her father, Zeus. Then, she was granted six gifts from the Gods themselves: Great strength, wisdom and courage, a hunter's heart and communion with the animals, beauty and loving heart, sisterhood with fire, and speed and the ability of flight. Diana grew up with the Amazons, a race of warrior women isolated from the rest of the world, and lived in peace for hundreds of years. Until she overheard her mother talking about Man's World preparing for war. With the heart of compassion, she pleaded to go to Man's World but Hippolyta forbade her for speaking about Man's World.

So, she decided to disobey her mother and leave for Man's World. Diana snuck into the island's tower at night and stole the Amazonian sword and Themysciran shield, the Lasso of Hestia, the Bracelets of Submission, and Amazonian battle armor. Then, she encountered her mother in front of the dock knowing that her daughter was leaving. Hippolyta told her that leaving the island meant exile for life and gave her the tiara before saying her goodbye. Diana left behind her home island in order to save man from war and destruction. After spending a few days in the Mediterranean, a British-American spy, Steve Trevor, spotted Diana and her wooden ship drifting and managed to get her onto the cargo ship.

After their first encounter, Diana told him about wanting to help stop the war from happening but she was already too late. However, she wanted to help end the war as soon as possible. Steve Trevor introduced her to his task force designed to take down high ranking officers from the Central Powers and protecting civilians caught in between. Soon enough, the press learned about her and started to call her Wonder Woman. Then, the war ended and Diana planned on exploring the world with Steve Trevor. Of course, their plans changed when the Second World War began and it was different. With the rise of Hydra and Red Skull during the war, she saw herself working with Captain America for a while until he went missing somewhere in the North Atlantic Ocean.

When the war officially ended with the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Wonder Woman drew criticism from denouncing the bombings and it was enough for her to be barred from joining the Justice Society of America (despite being invited by Captain Marvel himself). And during McCarthyism, she almost was considered to be a Communist sympathizer over her comments if it wasn't her heroism and her lover, Steve Trevor. That era was a dark day for her as she saw Captain Marvel, a good friend, being called Communist sympathizers from supporting her statement, which banned him from partaking in the Korean War. But, she persisted in the matter. After that messy situation, the JSA basically became a puppet from the American government when Captain Atom joined to replace Captain Marvel and became their leader.

After that messy situation, Wonder Woman and Steve founded the World Veterans Federation to promote the well-being of veterans and victims of war worldwide. During the Cold War, she used WVF and her fame to call for the disarmament of nuclear weapons, especially after the Cuban Missile Crisis. And during the Nixon administration, the Justice Society of America was disbanded because of government regulation and proceedings. Then, Steve Trevor died in 1978 due to heart problems and Diana hid from the public eye to mourn. Thirty-three years later, she returned to the spotlight after 9/11 to help with the victims. Since there, she has been all over the world to protect the victims of war and chaos.

C H A R A C T E R M O T I V A T I O N S & G O A L S:

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After fighting in two world wars and seeing mankind almost destroy themselves in the Cold War, Wonder Woman has increasingly grown tired of war and the suffer it often brings. She wants action to be taken in favor of peace, not increasing military budget or the nuclear arsenal, meaning that she needs to get political. Of course, she would still fight bad guys and kick ass doing so. But, it would be interesting to focus on the politics of this world. And there are many things I have in store for a Wonder Woman that partook in both World Wars and has been around for a hundred years.

C H A R A C T E R N O T E S:

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The international community is still questioning what Wonder Woman's existent means to the world. The most powerful woman in the world with no constraints and allegiance to a nation. Even known it has been more than a hundred years, no government has dared try to stop her or question her since Wonder Woman kept her activities quiet. However, in a post 9/11 world, some governments of the world have considered establishing a rule book for her and other superheroes inspired by her actions. One country in particular, the United States of America, recently suggested forming a committee to study Wonder Woman and her actions throughout her time on Earth.

To answer the "Superhero Question."

And to everyone else in the world, Wonder Woman is a topic of discussion from dinner tables to universities; however, many people view her as a force of good.

She is considered to be the first superhero in history given stories of heroic actions during the First World War appeared in newspapers. And if it wasn't enough, the earliest photograph of Wonder Woman was taken after she saved the village of Nauroy from being destroyed with Steve Trevor and his squad. And as the result, dozens of media properties were made about Wonder Woman and her actions throughout both World Wars and beyond. To this day, media properties are still being made since it's her main source of income.

And while the Justice Society of America was a thing, the Soviet alternative was the People's Protectorate aka The Rocket Reds. Wonder Woman met with its members several time during the Cold War. Shortly after the JSA was disbanded, the The Rocket Reds were also disbanded for the same reasons. She has met with Red Guardian, Red Rocket, Red Widow, Red Bear (aka Mrs. Gradenko), Vostok, Darkstar, and plenty of other members. On the other side, the Justice Society of America, she has met with Captain Atom, Liberty Belle, Sandman, Starman, Wildcat, Golden Girl, Union Jack, and plenty of other heroes.

S A M P L E P O S T:

---

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^{"What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?
Only the monstrous anger of the guns." - wilfred owen, 1917}

---

𝗪𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥 𝗪𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗡

Diana Prince came awake in the dark and nearly got out of her bed as if she was already in a battle. Then, she realized that she was sleeping in a luxurious hotel room instead of the battlefield. Her dreams felt so real as if she was reliving those moments. But, it became difficult to tell which war she dreamt about. Each of the wars that Diana fought in were almost identical besides its locations and reasons why it began. All of them caused so much suffering and loss regardless of justified cause. She could have listened to her husband and lived a peaceful life after fighting in both world wars.

But, the world needed Wonder Woman.

And for seventy-four years, she started a new battle against the development of nuclear weaponry and the rising military-industrial complex. With help from her husband and the squad, the World Veterans Federation was founded with the goals of promoting world peace and protecting veterans. But it still wasn't enough. The greatest superpowers of the world during the Cold War nearly destroyed the world a few times. She wanted to do something before man did something incredibly stupid like nuking the entire world. However, her husband wanted to live his remaining years in peace and quiet with the woman she loved. So, she did.

Diana's train of thought was interrupted by a knock on the door. "Diana, are you awake?" a familiar voice was heard on the other side.

She got out of her bed and went over to the wardrobe room in order to change into her dress. Today was the day where she planned on giving a speech at the twenty-ninth general assembly of the WVF. Once she was done with the dress, she told the person to come on in while she walked to the bathroom to do clear up a little. Etta Candy, Diana's personal security, walked into the room with a little grin on her face. Despite being the cold hearted badass of the group, she loved to travel around the world principally Paris. "Are you ready for the debrief, madam?" Candy asked Diana while scanning the bedroom.

"Everyone's already here?" Diana asked confusedly while she was picking out the earrings.

"Of course, madam. It is an important day after all." Etta answered with a smile on her face before she straighten up when Diana came out. She looked beautiful as always, she thought with her eyes looking at the dress. She responded with a cough and said, "It looks good."

Before Diana could thank her security chief, she saw that her secretary had been staying there with her arms crossed and a grin on her face. Alana Dominguez was pretty damn good at her job given she was made responsible for most of the administrative work and decisions. Dominguez had served in the US military before going to school and getting her associate's degree a few years ago. Diana saw potential and hired her to be the new secretary. "Told you that dress looked good on you." Dominguez remarked.

"Well, good thing that I listened to you." Diana gave her a light-hearted smile before walking out of the room with Candy and Dominguez following behind. She knew that it was the same procedure year after year with a few minor changes here and there. Until she found that her chief legal officer, Rachel Keast, had the entire conference room to herself. Without any warning, Diana dismissed both Dominguez and Candy before walking into the room. She knew that something serious was going to happen if Keast was in Paris instead of the United States. "It will be only a few." Diana gave a forced smile before closing the door on them.

Then, she turned and looked at Keast trying to find the right words to say.

---

[Mao Mao]

_{Chicago, Illinois}

Present Day

---

^{1.01 // His Majesty}

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗦𝗛𝗘𝗥

>>file = open ('russo, william.mp4')

William Russo. That's the bastard that murdered Cole Willis in broad daylight. With my remaining contacts, I was able to piece together information about him. Born to a family of addicts, Billy Russo was placed into the system after his mother and oldest brother got arrested for drug possession and fraud. His father overdosed shortly after losing his whole family. Russo lived throughout various foster homes before placed in the Rosas. His foster family loved and cherished him as if he was their son. It was enough to earn him a spot in their crime family.

Of course, before I tell you more, you need to know the Rosa Crime Family. For almost a hundred years, this family was able to maintain a grip on organized crime across the midwest. Their reach went as far as New York City. However, it was before the government launched several assaults against crime families across the country. And in the aftermath, Don Albert Rosa rose up to rebuild the crime empire. He even managed to reestablish communications with several families in New York City and Gotham City. During all of this, Albert met and eventually married Cecilia Arlotta after having their first and only child, Vincent Rosa.

Unfortunately, Cecilia became infertile after being in a car accident that nearly killed her and Albert. That was the reason why they adopted William Russo.

Now that you know a bit about the Rosa family, it's time to wrap up Russo's background. He joined the crime side of the family at fourteen, then became the family's hitman at eighteen, and finally went international at the age of twenty-one. It was when he gained a reputation for being effective but messy at his jobs. One of his infamous works was the assassination of Toby Dixon, a war journalist featured in the Daily Planet and New York Times. Dixon obtained information of a known dictator that caused him to become Billy's target. Obviously, he was successful at the mission; but, he started a fire that spread several blocks and killed dozens.

Years later, Billy went back to the states to help out his foster family during a tough time. He decided to stay permanently and stood side-by-side with Don Albert and Consigliere Vincent. However, my contacts said that he worked with dozens of crime families across the country. Even worked with a rival family about a few weeks ago. It means that there isn't a clear motive for the shooting. That's where you come in.

Head over to His Majesty Club, a nightclub that Billy frequently visits, and find out why he tried to kill you. Then, you can kill the son-of-a-bitch. I will be heading over in a day or two, depending on the traffic. I should be able to help you with getting the... necessary equipment.

>>file.delete ('russo, william.mp4')

Pierce approached the nightclub and saw the long line of eager customers wanting to take a break for their lives. He knew that the place was going to be busy since it was a Friday night. But, he needed to get inside as quickly as possible. That was when he noticed a group of well-dressed elites walking towards a nearby alley. Pierce carefully followed them and saw them talking to the bouncer. There were about five people in the group, looking forward to celebrating; however, the bouncer stood in front of the door and told them to leave. It was a perfect opportunity for Piece to take.

The bouncer put his right hand up and said in annoyance, "Look, you have to wait like everyone else. It's that simple."

"Come on, dude!" the young man cried out and attempted to convince him. "Tonight, we are supposed to celebrate my friend's twenty-first birthday! You have to let us in, mate!"

"I honestly couldn't care less. Now, if you could just-" the bouncer looked behind the group and saw an older man approaching him. He took a moment to examine the man, wondering if his name was on the list. Based on his attire, he seemed flushed with enough cash to afford VIP membership. The bouncer pulled a fake smile and pulled out his tablet. "Welcome. How could I help you out, sir? Are you looking to join our VIP program?"

Pierce avoided the bouncer's attempt to spend more money than needed and turned his attention towards the group. "Actually, I was wondering if there was any way of letting the birthday squad in and me?"

"Sir, as I said to them moments ago, there isn't anything that will convince me."

"Oh? Are you so sure about that?" Pierce questioned while he got his wallet out and pulled out two one-hundred-dollar bills slowly. He made sure to shake it for a bit before the bouncer grabbed it. Then, he looked down at his tablet to see if there was an unoccupied room. He faintly smiled. "Actually... there is a room available. But, are you sure you want to take them with you?"

Pierce nodded. The bouncer looked over at the ground and sighed, "Tonight's your lucky night, gentlemen. Know the rules next time, and this will not happen again."

Pierce and the group entered the nightclub and saw a waitress waiting for their arrival. She greeted them with a warm smile and guided them to the available room. But for Pierce, he had to find where William was spending the night before it was too late. During the walk, the birthday boy thanked him for paying off the bouncer and even offered a free drink. Pierce couldn't help but smile at the young man's energy. "It's no problem. You only celebrate your twenty-first birthday once."

"At least let me give you a free drink."

"Nah, I have enough cash to buy my own drink." Pierce insisted. "Besides, you should be more worry about having fun!"

The birthday boy chuckled. "I would feel bad for not paying back your kindness... Um, what's your name anyway?"

"Aaron." Pierce properly introduced himself. "Aaron Paulson."

The birthday boy tried to say his name, but his friends and the waiter were waiting for him. "Oh shit! Look, I will make sure you're paid one way or the other, Aaron. I hope you have a good night."

"You too." Pierce murmured to him as he ran over to rejoin his friends. As soon as the waiter escorted them into the VIP room, he went down to the dance floor to start his search. There were dozens of people dancing to the latest trending song about summer love. It brought back memories of Cole and it hurt. He tried to block out the music while making his way to the bar. Taking a seat, Pierce asked for a Blood Orange Jalapeño Whiskey Cocktail and the bartender nodded and began making it. From the corner of his eye, he saw a waiter talking to someone on the phone.

The music made it impossible to hear him, but he could hack into the conversation with his modded phone. It used to be a standard Samsung Galaxy until David got his hands on it. He installed a program that granted him the ability to hack anything connect to one of several systems. As far as the government, they thought that it was one of their dozens classified projects. So they didn't ask too many questions. Pierce looked at the waiter and pulled out his phone. And in a matter of seconds, he was granted access to their phone and allowed him to listen in.

<...did noticed him being paranoid. Even told his guards to fuck off before entering his room.>

<Why?>

<Could be the fact that his face was on the local news.>

<I am surprised the owners allowed him to come at all.>

<You shouldn't be. He helped build this place, after all. Anyway, you shouldn't keep him waiting any longer.>

<Right...>

<Don't tell me you forgot the fucking code again.>

<Your ass is lucky that this is only your third night here. Otherwise, one of the owners would have fired you on the spot. Give a sec to get it... Here it is. Five... three.. zero-eight.>

<Got it.>

<Don't forget this time. I will see you after work.>

Pierce left the call shortly after getting the code and finished up his drink. The waiter grabbed Russo's drink and headed towards a door near the entrance. After entering the code, he pushed the door open and went inside as the door shut behind him. Then, he reappeared a few minutes later and disappeared into the kitchen. Pierce immediately got up and went towards the door. He entered the code and went inside before anyone was able to see him. It turned out that it was an elevator that automatically went down. The ride lasted about thirty seconds before the doors slowly opened, revealing something unexpected.

---

[Mao Mao]

I'm interested in joining and was wondering if this area wasn't taken.

Shining Path

---

𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗣𝗔𝗧𝗛

^{𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗞 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘 // 𝗔𝗟𝗙 ///}

---

Origins

Pirate raids across the Mid Rim caused nations and corporations to militarize. The Kingdom of Ascia was one of the first that tried to combat the rising pirate threat. Unfortunately, the regional power was severely crippled when a pirate attack on one of the Frontier worlds resulted in Duke Diederick's death. Similar to the corporations within Apavock Republic, the corporations supported the monarchy by forming the Purple Guard. That was when a shift was taking place between the wealthy and the lower classes. Those corporations began to influence the Royal Family and their ruling party to ease up the restraints. As they took on more government responsibilities, the wealthy saw tax cuts and fewer limitations to do whatever they wished. Meanwhile, the working and lower classes were left to cover the costs with increased taxes on nearly everything.

Then, they realized that their elected process was under complete control of corporations and the wealthiest families in Ascia. That was when the protests began. With six demands on hand, the protesters marched all over the capital to demand change. As the Royal Family tried their hardest to avoid the demands, some of the protesters realized that violence was their only option left. That was when Shining Path formed.

And their first official action was going to change everything.

Leadership

Shining Path is a socialist revolutionary organisation that takes inspirations from the Old World's revolutionary movements. At the moment, their goal is to get the attention of the corporations and the Royal Family with six demands. The first, and most important, demand calls for the restoration of laws and bills scrapped by the corporations. The second demand calls for corporate tax laws to be enacted. The third calls for the resignation and arrest of CEOs (and wealthy individuals) that played a part in the transfer of powers. The fourth requests an independent committee investigate alleged brutality against protesters (and bystanders) from the police and military forces. The fifth orders amnesty for arrested protesters. The sixth and final demand calls for the abolishment of the monarchy.

The protesters are willing to protest for a long time if it means their demands are met. Of course, the Shining Path knows that both the monarchy and corporations will never give up their power. So they are prepared for a fight.

Military/Civilian Assets

Airwave - A drone company in the heart of the capital responsible for producing drones of different variety. There are rumors of an underground factory used to produce military-grade drones for the Royal Family. The Shining Path plans on storming the building to find out if they are true or not.

Amalia's Armory - A former military officer that was forced to retire earlier due to his views on the protests. She uses her connections to the illegal Black Market to gather weapons and equipment for the Shining Path and stores in basements of supporters. Her few friends also help out whenever they could.

Elliot Square - Named after the first King of Ascia, the square has recently become one of the few places that protesters occupy. The Airwave Center is in front of the park and would give anyone occupying it a bird’s-eye view of the area.

Pandora's Lantern - The Shining Path's underground media platform run by several anonymous protesters.

Budget

Most of their stuff comes from donations from other protesters or anonymous sources.

[Mao Mao]

Kingdom of Ascia (NPC-ish)

---

𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗗𝗢𝗠 𝗢𝗙 𝗔𝗦𝗖𝗜𝗔

---

Government Type

Absoulte Monarchy with heavy corporations influence and insight.

Demographics

74% Humans
25.7% Humans with augmentations
0.3% Other

Economy

While Atlas provides tourism to those venturing to the Frontier, Ascia offers world-class defense to those that can afford it.

Military

Overall, their military is primarily defensive and wouldn't have been able to go on the offensive. Both the fleet and army have defense operations and protocol in place of offensive. They are focus on defending citizens and important assets from pirates. They also have a Defense Intelligence Agency for the possibility of a cyber warfare. The government considers defense to be an important tactic and its teach often to personnel. Meanwhile, the ground forces contains standard firearms and armors with an understanding of defense doctrines.

---

[Mao Mao]

Disintegration

_{Inspired by Leftovers, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame}

August 5th, 2020. The day that forever changed the whole world for the worst. Where half of humanity was turned into dust. It didn't matter what their status or background was. Four billion people were gone in a snap. And the other four billion were spared to foreseen the collapse of society. In the days after the event, the world came to a halt. The Global Economy collapsed entirely, emergency services became overwhelmed, and people were beginning to realize their loved ones were never coming back. Mass panic occurred worldwide causing the breakdown of society. Countries declared martial law...

[Mao Mao]

𝗪𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥 𝗪𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗡

_{St. Petersburg, Russia}

Several Months Ago

---

^{Issue #6.01}

Across the United States, millions watched as the once respected heroine left the nation over her alleged ties to the terrorist leader, Stryfe. While the American government plans on invesigating the claim, several cities proposed barring her with New York City being the first in the nation to sign it into law. She offered no comment on the matter. The World Veterans Federation responded only saying that Diana Prince recently stepped down, effectively making Alana Dominguez the new CEO. In other news...

Wonder Woman quietly walked out of the café before someone could have spotted her. It had been years since she was last in Russia. Now, she was looking for a ghost. A former acquaintance that disappeared shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union. Dimitri Bukharin, the first and last leader of the Winter Guard. He and the other members vanished once Gorbachev officially dissolved the country. Nobody was able to locate them until now with some outside help. Wonder Woman walked towards the Samson and the Lion fountain and pulled out a gold coin. Before she threw it into the fountain, someone grabbed her wrist.

It was a dying Bukharin, standing there annoyed. "Follow me." he only said to her.

The pair departed towards the edge of the city, where nobody would have suspected things. It was where the coughing fits began for Bukharin. Wonder Woman saw the blood on the ground and walked towards him, offering a hand. "What happened to you?"

"Chernobyl." The former hero answered coldly.

"I thought your suit was designed to withs-"

"Another lie from my supervisors, trying to salvage that mess." Bukharin wiped the blood from his mouth and saw the blood splatter on the ground. "I suppose it didn't matter in the end... Now, tell me why you are looking for me."

[Mao Mao]

---

_{Temprary Police Headquarters}

---

^{Ylaso // Elia}

𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗣𝗔𝗧𝗛

A holographic drone view of the protesters occupying Elliot Square was projected in the temporary headquarter nearby the park. A dozen police personnel was monitoring the situation while the captains awaited Commissioner Lawrence and General Griffiths of the Ascia Ground Forces to arrive. Each of them took notes and watched the massive protest. Official reports revealed that nearly two million people were camping in the square; however, the numbers appeared higher than described. Personnel kept on scanning news reports, online posts, and live footage to identify as many protesters as possible. It was when the commissioner and general arrived at the headquarters, still talking about the situation.

"The royalty are starting to worry about the protest. They haven't faded out like you originally reported five days ago. Instead, more and more of the common people are joining in this so-called occupation. You have to end this before it's too late." Charlotte Griffiths finished her thoughts.

"And we will, General." Commissioner Harley Lawrence tried to calm the general down. "We need to be mindful of this situation, or my men will get hurt."

"You should've thought of that at the start, Commissioner. You need to strike them now."

"But what about my men?!" Lawrence asked.

"Your men knew the risk of joining the force. They will understand one way or the other." Griffiths answered with a hint of irritation. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to-"

"Commissioner Lawrence," One of the personnel called out. "a large crowd is forming in front of the Airwave Building!"

"What?!" Both the General and the Commissioner said simultaneously and went towards the hologram table. It was true that protesters were surrounding the front entrance of the drone company. Their security was outnumbered and in dire need of protection from the police force. Unfortunately, protesters had blocked the roads with barricades to protect their makeshift camp. Griffiths began texting her supervisors on the sudden update while Lawrence started panicking. The captains were trying to identify the leader behind this protest until the drone malfunctioned. That move caught everyone in the headquarters offline. Until another drone was able to take over, their only reliable source was the news. And it didn't look good.

_{Ylaso // Elia}

---

^{Airwave Building}

"We need to go now!" Stella Baxter, the secretary to CEO, cried out in terror while the news was playing in the background. Most of the floors were filled with scared workers, trying to pack up and destroy anything significant to the company. Eli Bernard, the CEO of Airwave, exited out of his personal office with personal bodyguards and met with his secretary. Both of them were critical to the company and its assets. Now, it was time for them to escape thanks to the private elevator. All four of them entered the elevator and waited while it started descending.

"Are we safe?" Baxter asked her boss while watching the number of floors decreasing.

"Yeah, we are." Bernard smiled at his secretary until the elevator suddenly grounded to a halt. The doors opened to reveal that they were the first level. Local security was attempting to blockade the door with anything not nailed to the ground. Protesters were slowly approaching the main entrance with the look of anger, shouting at them. And when they saw the CEO was in front of them, things went south in an instant. The bodyguards dragged them into a nearby elevator and slammed the 'thirty-first' button. As the doors were closing, the crowd managed to overwhelm the security and tried to catch up to them. Thankfully, the doors closed in time, and the elevator started going up.

Bernard took the break to comfort his secretary while one of the bodyguards called for a helicopter to save them. Once they reached the floor, they processed directly towards the other elevator avoiding pleads and questions from workers. On the second elevator, the bodyguards overheard that the protesters broke into the security room. On the third elevator, the pilot alerted them to their arrival on the helipad. In the ninety-third floor, workers were blockading hallways while some of them tried to get their attention. But, their calls had been avoided. And after two minutes of climbing the stairs, the helicopter was awaiting them with the pilots ready to leave.

As the blades began spinning around, the bodyguards went ahead with Bernard and Baxter behind them. One of them went to open the sliding door and didn't take into account that someone was waiting for them inside. Before he was able to react, a man kicked him away and shot him in the head. The other bodyguard raised his pistol at him but was gunned down by a masked individual. The pair exited from the helicopter as its blades slowly stopped spinning. Bernard tried to run, but a nearby gun impact to the ground caused him to stumble.

"Going somewhere?" the man asked him while walking over the dead bodyguard.

"Get away from me!" Bernard yelled at the man while crawling towards the elevator.

The gunman laughed at his attempt at escaping and just tugged him off of the ground with his hair. He grabbed hold of the CEO's neck and said in a soothing tone. "Not so fast, Mr. Bernard. You are needed here to answer the question of the century. What's the biggest drone manufacturing company hiding out in the open? Of course, you're an answer. Your secretary... isn't. So you get to decide each of your fates: Let her live, and I'll pry the answer out of you. Or let her die, and you'll be able to leave."

"What's your-"

"Kill her!" Bernard answered quick enough to surprise the man, leaving Baxter horrified and angry.

"What?!"

"Are you sure?" the man pulled out his pistol and aimed it at the secretary.

"Yes!" Bernard replied again.

Baxter's cries got louder while her attempt at appealing the masked man to help failed. He pulled back the hammer. "Last chance."

"Just do it alre-!" Bernard yelled out in annoyance before realizing the gunman pointed at his foot and firing the shot. He crashed to the ground in agony, realizing that he had been tricked. That was when he started to curse out at the man. "You motherfucker! What do you want?! Money?!"

The man laughed at his offer and grabbed his collar. "No, I want something more important."

---

[Mao Mao]

---

_{Airwave Building}

---

^{Ylaso // Elia}

After taking a lift on the private elevator, the trio stood in front of a secured door. The man ordered both Bernard and Baxter to grant them access. They refused until their lives were threatened once again, which made them comply. The door opened up to reveal massive production lines hidden beneath the city, confirming the rumors. Now, there was the matter of the guest since they had outlived their usefulness. Bernard remained silent while treating his injured foot while Baxter was curled up in a ball. None of them were innocent.

For example, Bernard laid off thousands of workers while raking in millions of credits. Baxter got into her current position by having an affair with her bosses and getting others ahead of her fired. The man already had decided their fates. He approached them and ordered them into the elevator while pointing the pistol at them. Bernard looked at him and said with a sigh of irritation, "You already have everything. What do you want now!?"

"Justice." The man answered.

"Justice?"

"Yes." He walked towards Bernard and pointed the gun at his chest. "Justice for those that you have wronged. Those that were cheated. Those that have to live in this world that you and your friends created. And it starts now."

And with that, Bernard was shoved into the elevator and watched as Baxter joined him inside. He made one last attempt to escape, but the door shut in front of him. Then, it started moving up. They thought that freedom was near until it didn't stop. Bernard tried to stop the elevator, but nothing happened. It was when the doors finally opened to reveal the lobby filled with angry protesters. Both of them started to panic once the crowd saw them and began advancing towards them. Baxter tried to close the doors but it still wasn't working. When the crowd got closer, she and Bernard tried to beg for their lives.

But nobody cared.

_{Ylaso // Elia}

---

^{Temprary Police Headquarters}

Footage of protesters storming the Airwave Building began airing on several screens in the headquarters. Commissioner Lawrence watched smoke coming out of several floors in disbelief as General Griffiths was in the middle of a phone call. He went to establish communication with Chief Superintendent Rory Dawson, who was on the field. But, Griffiths stood in front of him after her phone call. She asked him, "What are you going to do?"

"I need to see what the Chief Superintendent is planning on doing." Lawrence responded honestly.

"I'm afraid that you can't do that anymore."

"Huh?"

"You have failed your duties as commissioner of the Ylaso Police Department. And after talking to the Royal Family, they agree with me and want to personally meet you." General Griffiths explained while two soldiers entered the headquarters with the intent to arrest Lawrence. He backed away and resisted arrest while pledging to do better; however, she ordered the soldiers to take him away. Everyone else in the room was shocked that their commissioner had been fired and arrested. Meanwhile, Griffiths stepped towards the hologram table and announced.

"I will be the acting commissioner until this... protest ends. For now on, I want to be updated on everything and everyone. I promise you that order will be restored, and those insurgents will be punished."

_{Airwave Building - Underground Factory}

---

^{Ylaso // Elia}

The man turned away from the elevator and went towards the production lines. He started to inspect everything to see if it was going to work. The other man took off his mask and threw it into the bin before following him. He started typing out something onto his augmented arm at lightning speed and then sent it to 'Dusky.' Afterward, he followed his friend further into the factory before finding the office belonging to the CEO. Well, former CEO. Both men headed straight for the computer and began hacking into it. "I hope we find something juicy."

"Even if we don't, we have enough for the sunrise." The man proclaimed before taking off his mask, revealing an early twenties man.

"Liberator! Savior!" A familiar voice called out to them. "Aren't you going to give me the grand tour of my upgraded workshop?"

Savior went to meet their friend, Creator, standing outside of the facility with their arms crossed and a smirk. They were impressed that the rumors were actually true, but it was bigger than expected. Perfect for making a shit ton of drones designed by them. "Congrats on securing the prize, mate. I never thought we would be standing here. Or that the "beloved" CEO would hide something so secretive under us. What a shocking revelation!"

"Good thing you just got here in time to see what he was hiding." Savior guided them to the office and rushed over towards Liberator, hugging him from the behind. It was rather odd that it was easy to hack, but Bernard probably thought that no one dangerous was ever setting foot here. That was he got from not investing in essential cybersecurity for the underground part of his business. So far, he was scrolling pass emails and notes with a lack of interest. Savior asked with curiosity, "What have you found, babe?"

"Nothing exciting." Liberator answered.

"Of course, you would say that." Creator stated to their friend before shoving him out of their brand new chair. They took a seat in it and began reading the emails, realizing that there an exciting discussion taking place. It confirmed that the Royal Family was working with Airwave to deal with the growing protest by producing drones approved by them. One of them was designed to drop gas onto Elliot Square to get rid of the occupiers ensuring their arrest. Another was made for gathering identities of protesters and sending them to the police to guarantee arrest and punishment for going against the monarchy. They pulled out a device from their pocket and set it on the computer, which started making copies of everything.

"Well, I have a lot of stuff to sort out." Creator said with excitement in their voice and turned to Liberator and Savior. "I'll call you guys once I start up the lines, and then I can show you what I have found in this goldmine."

With that, Liberator and Savior headed back to the surface and plan out for the future of this movement.

_{Tarlington Palace}

---

^{Ylaso // Elia}

---

[Mao Mao]

---

_{Airwave Building}

---

^{Ylaso // Elia}

Liberator and Savior stepped out of the private elevator and saw dozens of protesters all over the main floor. Some of them were heading towards the other floors while others were busy inside the security room, coming up the next move. Amalia Hudson, owner of Amalia's Armory, was busily investigating the weaponry used by the former security, Soon enough, both men entered and greeted the former officer while she was inspecting one of the pistols to determine its usefulness. Amalia placed down the weapon, took some notes on her pad, and acknowledged both men. "For some private security firm, they have some quality weaponry. It must have cost a fortune to secure from the police."

"How do you know Airwave got weapons from them?"

"Besides a change of color, the designs look identical to what the police use on-duty." Amalia explained while adding in some final words to her journal tablet. She then gave a short tour of the security room, explaining that everything was in working condition. Video surveillance was still working correctly with a few secrets hidden from Airwave's workers. Several of the protesters were already hard on work to find them in their cloud system. And she briefly mentioned bringing her armory over here before moving on to the building's defenses. That talk lasted for a half-hour before Liberator quickly approved nearly every idea and suggestion.

Before Amalia knew it, Savior and Liberator disappeared from her sight. Both men walked back to the lobby and saw the massive crowd of protesters awaiting their next move. "Good luck, hon." Savior quietly whispered to Liberator before kissing him on the cheek and disappearing into the crowd.

Liberator wasn't able to stop his grinning until he forced himself nearby a handmade platform. Before giving his speech, he pulled out a small square from his pocket and pressed it on his forehead. In a matter of seconds, it transformed into a mask capable of blocking facial recognition technologies. People that were seeing him in person saw the mask as someone iconic from the Old World. Everyone else that was watching through footage only saw black cubes and rectangles spreading all over the screen along with messages. Once the mask was done, Liberator walked up the stage and greeted the protesters as their cheers got louder. He waited for them to settle down before delivering his speech.

"With the occupation of Airwave's headquarters, we have taken the necessary steps towards a better tomorrow where we are finally free—freed from the corrupt capitalist regime where only the elites profited while the rest of us were deprived. And since we found that courage to march for five demands, thousands of our brothers and sisters have been arrested without trial. The Royal Family already found them and all of us guilty of public nuisance charges and being traitors. But we know the truth. We are guilty because we dare to challenge them and stand-up for ourselves. They are afraid of us because we have taken action to fulfill our five demands.

But with today's bold move, a sixth demand is needed more than ever to achieve all of our demands. We must abolish the corrupt monarchy responsible for the inequality!"

Savior's eyes widen in surprise of the unexpected announcement as the crowd erupted in applause and cheers. While Liberator kept on speaking, he pulled up his sleeve and saw messages from other leaders demanding an emergency meeting. Some of them wanted the speech to end immediately, but it was already too late. Savior pulled down his sleeve and kept on watching his lover address the masses.

"Because we are the only path towards prosperity and equality! The only path to move forward towards that better tomorrow. And even if it gets bloodied and blackened, it will shine bright because it's the right direction for all of us! That shining path will be there to guide us―no matter what! We will follow that path towards its end to find that pot of gold waiting for our taking! We are the resistance! And we are the Shining Path!"

_{Tarlington Palace}

---

^{Ylaso // Elia}

Fomer Commissioner Harley Lawrence slowly awakened to the sound of people discussing the latest reports. He tried to get up from the ground but heard the sound of chains hitting the metal. That stopped the chatting for a moment before someone shouted for Lawrence to open his eyes. And upon opening them, he found himself in front of the entire Royal Family. King and Queen Richardson were sitting on their thrones with their children behind them. Both of them, along with some of the children, were upset over his recent failure. Benjamin looked down upon the arrestee and began addressing him, "Sir Harley Lawrence, former Commissioner of Ylaso Police Force, you are here charged for failure to uphold your oath as Commissioner. In addition, you are also being charged with treason. The punishment for both crimes is death by public execution. How do you plead?"

"Not guilty!" Lawrence responded without hesitation. "If I had more time, then-"

Queen Freya rudely interrupted the former Commissioner by holding up her hand in a halting motion. "Your plead is rescind since you have failed to contain the rebels. Now, they are control of Airwave's headquarters and the CEO was most likely murder. That's why you have been found guilty for treason, violating the oath, and the murder of Stella Baxter. You are sentenced to death by public execution, which will take place tomorrow night. Your family has been informed and will attend your execution. Before death, a small ceremony will be held. After death, your body will be displayed as an example until it starts decomposing. Then, it will be cremated, and the ashes will be given to your family. Do you understand?"

"I-" Lawrence couldn't fully answer the question.

"Guards." Freya called out them. "Escote the traitor away to his cell."

Lawrence remained silent as the guards dragged him away to the dungeon. He took one last look at the Royal Family, who was calmly looking down upon him, and then the door was shut close.

---

[Mao Mao]

Jaden Knapp

_{18 - Gemini - Senior - 5'6" - Cole Sprouse}

“It feels like we all are in a hellish nightmare... but the bloodstain in my jacket tells me otherwise.”

---

Appearance Details

Jarden's green eyes caught most people's attention compared to the rest of his appearance (besides the jacket). Thankfully, everything else was average including the blonde hair. As for their lack of workout routine, it wasn't ideal but they were passing physical ed. Regarding their attire, Jarden spent the cold winter months wearing long sleeves, jeans, and boots. And to complete the outfit, the iconic green jacket that they took from their mother years ago instead of buying one. Now, there was a bloodstain on it from the incident in the gym.

Characterization

Their life consisted of moving state to state due to the lack of stability in the family. A messy divorce and sudden unemployment caused their mother to take her only child and move to the nearest state. It was the reason why Jaden didn't interact with other classmates as often as a child should. However, Michigan was different compared to the other states. Their mother found love with her current boyfriend, a military contractor, and a stable job for the first time in years. Jaden was still cautious about making friends during middle school. Yet as weeks became months, they opened themselves up to fellow classmates.

In high school, Jarden fell in love with the Writers Ink Club at the start of the ninth grade. Writing was one of their favorite hobbies to do. But they didn't share their works with other members. They were secretive about it but offered help to other classmates struggling with their essays. It was quite easy to make them feel sympathetic toward others. That was one of Jarden's weaknesses besides grappling with their own sexuality.

They joined the GSA club in eleventh grade to find answers and feel accepted. Of course, there was still some self-hate and depression. But it was slowly being clipped away. Until the world came crashing down.

Inventory

- A smartphone with a wallet case holding their identification card.
- A bag containing school supplies, phone changer, snacks, and a stainless steel water bottle.
- A keychain for their apartment and SUV.

---

[Mao Mao]

---

𝗝𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗞𝗻𝗮𝗽𝗽

---

^{Teacher's Lounge // Stockbridge Academy}

"You're thinking of staying in this hellhole?!" Jaden turned towards one of the drama kids, Alex, and asked in shock. "No, I am not partaking in this madness."

Then, they turned towards the only exit out of this room and walked towards it. It was a simple barricade that could easily be torn apart. Jaden turned towards the group and proclaimed, "I want to leave not stay here and get eaten alive!"

That was when they started taking down the barricade, trying to take it apart in panic. But it proved to be more difficult than expected. Whoever arranged it did an excellent job. Regardless, they kept on trying to solve the puzzle until they managed to pull a chair out of it. Jaden tossed it aside and kept on going for it with one thing on their mind: getting as far as possible from the school. Maybe head back home and see if their mother was still alive. Or just get somewhere safe and wait until help arrived.

---

[Mao Mao]

---

𝗝𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗞𝗻𝗮𝗽𝗽

---

^{Teacher's Lounge // Stockbridge Academy}

While everyone was either trying to make use of the tablet legs or searching for supplies, Jaden was still eager to get out of the school. Especially with the death of their best friend on mind. They were unable to completely understand what truly happened during the stampede. But the one thing that was impossible to forget was the scream. Jaden wanted to cry and yell to the heavens; yet, they knew that doing so would have brought more trouble. So they kept their mouth shut. Until, one of the theater kids, Alex, suggested the dumb idea of staying at the school. Jaden cringed at the idea and decided to keep their mouth shut for now.

While everyone was planning their next move, Jaden was already set on getting to his vehicle. It was the golden ticket out of here. They went to sit on the ground while others were introducing themselves and discussing the next move. Then, he saw the flask from one of their classmates. The thought of alcohol usually disgusted them. But reflecting on the entire situation... Fuck it.

Jaden stood up while someone was calling them idiots and walked towards the flask. They grabbed it and took a sip to calm their nerves. It didn't taste as bad as they were told. But it was a little warm to his liking. They paid little attention to the argument. But they assumed that everyone was planning on spending the night here. That was a dumb idea but a perfect opportunity to finally say something.

Jaden chuckled and made their way towards the rest of the group.

"Actually, I have a better plan that doesn't involve dying."

Jaden pulled out his car keys and shook them. "Six of us get to my car and leave this hellhole. It's just sitting in the parking lot with a decent tank of gas. Anyone that doesn't want to spend the night here is more than welcome to follow me."

---

[Mao Mao]

Wonder Woman

---

𝗗 𝗶 𝗮 𝗻 𝗮 𝗣 𝗿 𝗶 𝗻 𝗰 𝗲

^{_{♦ W O N D E R W O M A N ♦ R E T I R E D ♦
♦ V E T E R A N ♦ I N D E P E N D E N T ♦}}

C H A R A C T E R C O N C E P T

---

^{"Love, that spark of light within man, can save the world.
I will always fight against hate, that darkness within us, for a world I know possible." - November 1991}

Princess Diana of Themyscira, daughter of Queen Hippolyta, was created with clay from Paradise Island and given life thanks to Zeus. Then, she was granted six gifts from the Gods themselves: strength, wisdom, courage, compassion, speed, and flight. Antiope, general of the Amazons, oversaw her training and gave her the tools to survive and fight another day. Her mother taught her everything else, from language to history. She felt content about her life until she learned about Humanity. As the years passed by, Diana grew more curious about humans with every report.

One day, she overheard Antiope and her mother arguing about the doom facing mankind. A great war that will forever change them -for better or worse. Diana tried to make a case that the Amazons should save them. Hippolyta forbade her for speaking about the topic while Antiope watched proudly.

So, she decided to disobey her mother and leave for Man's World. While packing up for the long trip, Antiope knew what she was planning to do and decided to help. Both of them went to the island's only tower and stole the Amazonian battle armor, Amazonian sword, and Themysciran shield. They made their way to the docks, where Hippolyta was waiting for them. She had the Lasso of Hestia and the Bracelets of Aphrodite. Yet, she warned that leaving the island meant exile. With the heart of compassion, Diana made the ultimate sacrifice and got ready to leave.

Before she left, Hippolyta gave her own tiara before saying her goodbyes. Antiope gifted her Achilles' bow for her best student to use in combat. Diana bid farewell and set sail for Man's World. After a few days of traveling, she found her on the coast of France. Steve Trevor, a British-American spymaster, stumbled upon her while on break. Diana told him that she wanted to save mankind from the Great War. But she arrived too late. Steve dismissed her as suffering for heat exhaustion until he was ambushed by assassins.

Diana managed to block a bullet with her bracelets and overwhelmed the threat in seconds. It left Trevor speechless and asked to come and join his task force. She agreed on the idea to end the Great War before it was too late. Together, they took down down high ranking officers from the Central Powers and neutralized Doctor Poison and her poison gas factories. And saved villages from total destruction. Her deeds got the attention of the press, who started naming her: Wonder Woman. Once the war ended, Trevor offered to take Diana on a private tour of Europe and North America.

Unfortunately, they were unable to travel to America before the Nazi threat rose. Hydra and its leader, Red Skull, were also a significant threat once the Second World War began. However, she wasn't alone in the fight. Other superheroes joined in the effort to stop Nazism and defeat Hydra. It included Captain America and other heroes. Despite their efforts, the war proved to be worst than the first in terms of destruction and death. Both sides were bombing cities and killing innocents. Then, Hiroshima and Nagasaki happened. Diana became the first influential critic against nuclear bombs and denounced the bombings. It led her to be labeled as a communist traitor by the American government during the Second Red Scare.

Regardless, she persisted. Diana and Steve got married and moved to Britain. Together, they founded the World Veterans Federation to promote the well-being of veterans, victims of war, and peace worldwide. WVF rose to fame during the Cold War thanks to Wonder Woman repeated calls for the disarmament of nuclear weapons, especially after the Cuban Missile Crisis. Steve Trevor died in 1978 in his sleep. And Wonder Woman wasn't seen fighting bad guys as often. Instead, Diana Prince rose up and became more politically active while promoting her image and WVF across the world.

Wonder Woman made a return after 9/11 to maintain order and peace across the world. Then, Stryfe and his Mutant Liberation Front unleashed chaos. He had managed to frame her for the entire attack before being executed by her former friend, Captain America. After the attack, America went after Wonder Woman and launched a series of investigations. After months of fighting, her innocence was proven, but the damage was already done. To set an example for other heroes, the government ordered Diana to officially retire Wonder Woman. In turn, she was able to remain a free individual with regular check-ins.

With no other options, Diana hesitantly agreed and moved everything to the East Coast. Diana Prince was ready to rebuild. One year later, it seemed like almost everything about her life was back to a sense of normality.

C H A R A C T E R M O T I V A T I O N S & G O A L S

---

Diana Prince spent a hundred years fighting for humanity from The Great War to the War on Terror. She was already tired of fighting and the suffering it brings. Now with the Stryfe attacks and being blamed for it, she was truly done. Even if the government didn't order Wonder Woman's retirement, she would have thrown the towel regardless. And with a year passing since the incident, she embraced the role of a multi-billionaire along with political activist, retiree, and other things. It's an interesting next step in her life. Inspired by several dozen drama shows and movies. Still gonna focus on the politics and business of the world.

C H A R A C T E R N O T E S

---

I will say that some aspects of season one are void. Like the entire Aladdin arc. But everything else from the committee to Stryfe arc is canon. Ask me for details and I'll answer. And I will be taking control of Donna Troy (and Hawkeye). Why? For no reason whatsoever. Totally...

Supporting Characters

S U P P O R T I N G C H A R A C T E R S

---

Etta Candy - #9370DB

Personal bodyguard of Diana Prince. Head of Security at the World Veterans Federation.

Alana Dominguez - #CD5C5C

Secretary of Diana Prince at the World Veterans Federation headquarters.

Rachel Keast - #FFA6A6

Diana Prince's lawyer. Head legal counsel of the World Veterans Federation.

Peter Garibaldi - #3DB634

Media affairs coordinator of the World Veterans Federation.

Post Catalog

P O S T C A T A L O G

---

^{A R C T I T L E}

^1.00

[Mao Mao]

---

The Punisher

𝗧 𝗵 𝗲 𝗣 𝘂 𝗻 𝗶 𝘀 𝗵 𝗲 𝗿

^{_{♦ J A M E S P I E R C E ♦ V E T E R A N ♦
♦ F O R M E R I N T E L O P E R A T O R ♦ I N D E P E N D E N T ♦}}

C H A R A C T E R C O N C E P T:

---

_{"I'll not rest until there's justice for him."}

James Pierce joined the military after his parents kicked him out at the age of eighteen. He was considered to be great among the rookies during boot camp. His superiors took note of his potential and enrolled him as a test subject in a classified medical experiment. There were rumors that the military was attempting to recreate the original super-soldier serum. In contrast, others said it was something completely different. Regardless, Pierce survived the experiment and became a vital intel operator for the American government. Then, he fell in love. Another man managed to get his attention, and it caused him to want retirement.

Before being allowed to retire, the government required him to complete one final job: clean-up.

It was a simple job, and the government upheld their promise. Pierce was able to move forward with his life with Cole. Two years later, that future was shattered by a board daylight drive-by shooting. Pierce survived the attack while Cole died inside the ambulance. He was in mourning. And when the police were able to do nothing, he took it upon his hands. With help from an old hacker friend, David, and the drive to get payback, he was able to find the owner of the car in the scene. With the determination to get revenge, Pierce headed towards the hangout.

Only one thing was in his mind: retaliation.

C H A R A C T E R M O T I V A T I O N S & G O A L S:

---

While Frank Castle is the Punisher, I wanted to do a semi-original take on the anti-hero. Based on several movies and a video game, I wanted to craft an interesting story about a former killer for the American government that tried to move beyond that. Unfortunately, his last job for the government was enough to piss off someone powerful. James thought that he had finally earned his freedom. Instead, a gunman shot him and his lover and left them to die. Learning that his lover died while he lived broke him. Now, he wants revenge and answers.

No matter the concept, I always wanted to do a year one Punisher. Take him and develop him into the anti-hero that everyone knows. Yet, add in my own favors. For example, I made him into a hacker. You might be wondering why. It was because I thought it would be a cool addition that made my version stand out for the others. I had several ideas of how that skill could be used before or during combat. It also gave me the chance of exploring hacking and hacker groups in this world of superheroes. Of course, it will be inspired by one of my favorite Ubisoft games Watch_Dogs. Other media that helped inspired me were John Wick, Kill Bill, and The Guest.

Hopefully, I'm given the chance to write the Punisher because he has been on mind since the start of this roleplay.

C H A R A C T E R N O T E S:

---

Without spoiling everything, the story will be dealing with mature content from violence/gore to trafficking. And it will also have serious and dark themes. I thought that I'd at least warn you guys in case you are sensitive with the contents and/or the themes.

S A M P L E P O S T:

---

_{Chicago, Illinois}

Present

---

^{Issue #0.00}

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗦𝗛𝗘𝗥

Bars were always one of many worksites for James Pierce to do whatever the American government required. Either to listen to essential conversations, steal something from the target, or even charm them. It didn't matter what you did as long as you did the job. However, that life was over for Pierce. Instead, he was at the bar to celebrate New Year's Eve with his fiance, Cole. It was only recently that Pierce washed his hands with the government. Now, however, life was still young for him.

Pierce watched the television with only a few minutes before the ball dropped in Times Square. He didn't believe that the year -and the decade- was coming to a close. It made him reflect on everything that happened in his life. Joining the military, being subjected to experiments, working for the government, and meeting Cole. It was a rather interesting decade.

"Helloo~" Cole sang out drunkenly to his fiance. "It's almost time~."

Pierce couldn't help but smile at Cole as the crowd started counting down. Life did work in mysterious ways for someone like him. He held his lover's hand tightly, with only ten seconds left. Even with so much sin, Pierce knew that he might have found peace. While the crowd started celebrating the new decade, Pierce and Cole kissed each other to ring in the new year.

"Happy New Year, hon."

"I love you so much." Pierce proclaimed.

"I love you too."

---

Supporting Characters

S U P P O R T I N G C H A R A C T E R S

---

Allies
Microchip - code

WIP

Opponents
Willian Russo - code

WIP

Post Catlog

P O S T C A T L O G:

---

Awakening - Issue #01
A Favor - 1.00

Playlist

_{the punisher: vengeful executioner - playlist}

_{mischa "book" chillak & esthero - ready or not saint bernard - lincoln}

_{imagine dragons - ready aim fire the wolf - siamés}

_{woodkid- iron blood // water - grandson}

_{fleurie - soldier everything black - unlike pluto}

_{adam jensen - the hunter survivor - 2wel}

_{end credit song v.1 - Justice - Phantom Pt II
end credit song v.2 - Friction - Imagine Dragons
end credit song v.3 - Writing's On The Wall - Sam Smith
end credit song v.4 - Two Evils - Bastille
end credit song v.5 - Soldier On - The Temper Trap}

---

[Mao Mao]

---

_{Chicago, Illinois}

Present

---

^{Issue #1.00}

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗦𝗛𝗘𝗥

"I'm sorry, but he died on the way."

That was what the doctor told James Pierce after the emergency surgery. The news left him feeling numb. He had thought that he was going to break down and start crying loudly. Just like in those sappy movies that Cole always watched. Then again, Pierce wasn't normal, unlike him. Cole didn't deserve to be gunned down in broad daylight. He spent part of his life to earn his bachelor's degree in English. And he had family and friends that loved and cared for him. Pierce knew he didn't. His family cut all ties after kicking him out. Most of his military friends have either died or vanished for his life. And the only person that ever loved him was murdered.

It should have been me.

The thoughts worsened when Cole's entire family visited James despite being grief-stricken. His mother, Diana, was grateful that he was alive even known her son was gone. His siblings brought a card and flowers for his "speedy recovery." Then, his friends came by with the same things to express condolences. The visits made Pierce hate himself even more. All of them were heartbroken and devastated over Cole's death. And yet, they still took their time to visit Pierce. He didn't deserve them.

I should have died.

Forty-eight hours after being admitted to the hospital, the authorities visited Pierce for details of the drive-by. He tried to explain every single detail that he saw, heard, and felt. But his emotions got him. A day later, the news showed footage of the shooting in the hopes of finding the gunman. Pierce thought of turning the television off but kept watching instead. The footage showed him and Cole walking together during the day. He remembered parts of their last conversation and how it was cheerful. That was always Cole. Then, the car appeared in fame as the back window was going down. The footage was paused before...

Suddenly, Pierce realized that part of the car's license plate was visible. Of course, it was blurred out by the news station. And the authorities will never release the footage to the public. He turned off the television and planned on getting some sleep. The same officers came to visit two days to inform him and Cole's family (who came to visit again) that the car was found torn apart in a scrapyard. He knew what was going to happen and asked bluntly, "Is it going to be another cold case?"

The officers didn't answer and looked away ashamed. That made him angry.

A week passed since the shooting, and the authorities stopped visiting him. Pierce looked at his phone on the table and hesitated to grab it. He knew that calling him meant going back to the life he tried to leave behind. But he thought of Cole and the brief moments after the shooting occurred again and again. He had to do it. For Cole. Pierce picked up the phone and dialed a number. It took a few seconds, but a familiar voice greeted him.

<"Cole?">

<"Hey... I need a favor for you.">

<"I can't believe you're calling me, man!">

<"Yeah, me either. Look, I need you to-">

<"It's been a while since we met. I thought it was the last time that I will ever see you.">

<"I am not in the mood, David. Can you help me or not?">

<"You sound more serious than usual. Wait for a second! Does this have to do with your boy toy?">

<"David.">

<"Are you calling me to invite me to be your best man?">

<"David.">

<"I am truly honored if that's the case. Does Cole like strippers? I was thinking of doing the whole cake thing-">

<"Please stop...">

<"-with the stripper and the candles-">

<"Stop. Talking. David. I am not-">

<"-Wait! What kind of cake does he like? I am honestly hoping chocolate, but it's up to-">

<"DAVID, COLE'S FUCKING DEAD! IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT TYPE OF CAKE HE LIKES. OR IF HE LIKES STRIPPERS. OR THE WEDDING. NONE OF THAT FUCKING MATTERS ANYMORE! JUST SHUT THE FUCK UP FOR A MINUTE, OKAY?!">

<"...">

<"...David.. fuck, look, I am-">

<"No... I-I am so sorry, James. I didn't know. Should've just kept my big mouth shut... [Sighs] What do you need to be done?"

<"...The authorities have footage of the incident, and I know that the car's license plate is visible. I need you to hack into the department and find Cole's killer. Can I count on you?">

<"Yeah... I will get on it immediately. Call you back once I have it. Bye.">

<"David, wait, I'm-">

The call ended before Pierce could apologize for the outburst. David was a good person and terrific hacker, but he didn't know when to shut up and listen. At least, he was helping to catch the killer. Pierce ended up placing his phone back on the table and going to sleep. He was thinking of Cole.

Of all the people in the world, why did it have to be you, Cole? You were the only good thing in my life. Now... I will be there for your family. And I will find your murder and make him suffer for an eternity. That is a promise.

The recovery process took three additional weeks before Pierce was healthy enough to leave the hospital. David said that he was going to take him home. Home. It cost him and Cole a fortune to buy, but it was worth every cent. An ideal neighborhood with amazing and kind neighbors. A perfect backyard for parties and BBQs during holidays. Better than the old cramped apartment. Now, it was going to forever be a haunting reminder of the future that Pierce will never have. A nurse greeted him with a stack of papers to sign and a wheelchair.

David was waiting outside by his van and walked towards James, who was getting up from the wheelchair. He greeted the former hacker with a light handshake. There was a sense of relief that he wasn't trapped in that hospital anymore. But he immediately noticed that David was quieter than usual. Both men entered the van, and James saw a sightly damaged license plate with a sticky note attached to it on top of the dashboard. And for the first time since seeing each other, David talked.

"Found the fucker."

---

[Mao Mao]

---

Bars were always one of many worksites for James Pierce to do whatever the American government required. Either to listen to essential conversations, steal something from the target, or even charm them. It didn't matter what you did as long as you did the job. However, that life was over for Pierce. Instead, he was at the bar to celebrate New Year's Eve with his fiance, Cole. It was only recently that Pierce washed his hands with the government. Now, however, life was still young for him.

Pierce watched the television with only a few minutes before the ball dropped in Times Square. He didn't believe that the year -and the decade- was coming to a close. It made him reflect on everything that happened in his life. Joining the military, being subjected to experiments, working for the government, and meeting Cole. It was a rather interesting decade.

"Helloo~" Cole sang out drunkenly to his fiance. "It's almost time~."

Pierce couldn't help but smile at Cole as the crowd started counting down. Life did work in mysterious ways for someone like him. He held his lover's hand tightly, with only ten seconds left. Even with so much sin, Pierce knew that he might have found peace. While the crowd started celebrating the new decade, Pierce and Cole kissed each other to ring in the new year.

"Happy New Year, hon."

"I love you so much." Pierce proclaimed.

"I love you too."

---