DarkRecon

《 H.E.R.O. 2064 》

...so Hitman...we getting the bad back together here? I don't come here often but you want me back, I'll join.

《 H. E. R. O. 》

Alpha

Alpha was among those playing "Irish Thug" while on the boat. In a way, he was dressed similar to Blake with his orange hair combed back down as much as possible with the same suit and red tie with the Fedora hat to match.

Though he mostly kept to himself even with black sunglasses. His "vibe" was to look like a "right hand" man of sorts if anyone got too nosy. If someone did, Cerise would cover for him. The simple "strong silent type".

He had waited at the bar area when the first problem came up.

Malady.

Of course, he knew about her...it was actually on his birthday two days after the whole EAGLES incident. Since losing his special police badge, he needed another source of information. During their stay, his parents came clean on some things. One of the topics was a certain organization that even they weren't supposed to mention but old friends from his days with the US government felt that he had clearance to know about the group.

But not even they knew the whole story...

ZERO. A group of supposed super villains that consisted of the best criminals the world over. Only the strongest and most loyal get accepted to them. And they said that Malady, the daughter to ZERO's leader, was in Castleburg and may have been involved in some of the incidents that had happened in the city.

Regardless, they both said to not go poking fights with any of it's members. It was suspected all were "Tier S" threats.

So when Black Baron himself finally came onto the scene and announced his replacement, he didn't bother taking out his vibrating iPhone to know what text was sent.

This was going to get ugly.

None the less, he played along and clapped with the rest of the group...

But unknown to perhaps Alpha and the others there, a certain vigilante was watching from the shadows...

《 H. E. R. O. 》

Alpha

After hearing the "new" hero Cerise spoke about her time in Hero One and working on her disguise, Alpha then monotoned, "...understood...and my name is Alpha as I said...formerly K Nine of the CPD...may I have your name ma'am..."

Then Brum spoke his mind on the subject. Alpha then responded in a normal voice.

"Uh I don't know about that Mr. Brum. Someone may get suspicious that those going undercover somehow captured a president of his own company and a super genius with technology AND has his own private super team. It may raise some flags on us."

Alpha then monotoned, "...it may make more sense for me to play prisoner...you could easily say that I snooped into the wrong territory and caught me red handed...I have gotten stronger I think since the EAGLES incident...but because I didn't take a Tier test...I'm still classed as a C...plus, you could assume my fall out with CPD may have clouded my judgement and I tried to play solo cop and got burned for it..."

《 H. E. R. O. 》

Alpha

Alpha looked at the team member that addressed his comments (Cerise).

"...first, my name is Alpha Miss...formerly K Nine as stated...copycat or not, this individual has taken two lives so regardless, must be stopped...a good disguise is needed yes...but all the same, myself and others might need to know of such things...and my time as CPD may compromise this mission regardless of a disguise...", Alpha monotoned.

He then looked around the room noting the new faces but then tilted his head slightly at Cerise and then talked normally again.

"I'm sorry but do I know you? Are you one of the new transfer Heroes I heard about?"

@Jumbus

《 H. E. R. O. 》

Alpha

Alpha had taken his own chair in the meeting room as he listened in on what the emergency was.

And it was, indeed, an emergency. Two heroes KIA and the person ID'ed as a old enemy to Hugo Powers it seemed. More important, he recognized the name that is Black Baron. As Miss Lavender said, he believed that super powers were a poison but by the end of the day, he was just another villain.

No...that wasn't right. He or she was perhaps something worse.

A hero killer.

Even back in his training days and even his run with the "secret" government team, he knew how bad this individual was. Weird poems aside, Black Baron was a high threat. Tier S threat as far as he was concerned. Baron didn't care about the lives lost. If the target had a power, said target was on borrowed time. It was because of individuals like this that the US government wanted their own team in case they had to personally respond to such threats quicker than any other organization.

Of course, ICOSA would never have any of it at the time...

Putting those thoughts aside, Alpha then raised his hand briefly then spoke monotone about something else he had to ask.

"...all due respect Ma'am, this isn't going to be fun...I won't mince words everyone...even in my early training days, I've heard stories about...many dangerous individuals...Black Baron is among them...simply put...a hero killer...he says super powers are a poison but far as I heard, he only targets hero's and possibly works with villains...you can add hypocrite to his dossier..."

He then closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He felt that he most likely scared everyone in the entire room with such a statement.

That's when he spoke in a normal tone, perhaps surprising those that knew him to be strict or stiff.

"Sorry everyone. What I mean is that we have to be extra careful on this one. This isn't going to be some random showdown. This is undercover ops. Much more sensitive work. Which leads me to ask some things. First off, Black Baron's known abilities. Is the target super powered or not?"

He then asked this from everyone in the room.

"Now to all of you. I apologize if this sounds rude and over stepping my rank but based on what Commander Lavender said, most of the known gangs in Castleburg are going to be there so...if there's any "dirty laundry" or some history you may have with any of them, now's the time to say so before it rears it's ugly head. I'm concerned as well since when I work with...I mean...when I USED to be "K Nine" of C.P.D., I've done patrols and it's possible that thugs may know me by face so as to avoid me. The last thing we need is one person being called out and we all pay for it."

《 H. E. R. O. 》

Alpha

One week...one week that changed everything for me...

Alpha sat on the edge of his bed in his room inside Hero One. Still wondering if he had made the right choice...because his decision had one of several consequences.

But the primary one being that he was no longer an official "police officer" and being stripped of his police badge, sidearm and even his secondary codename "K Nine".

Though he also knew that this wasn't the first time he had messed up. His "secret" team back in his day weren't all that different. Well...they were smaller in number compared to the numbers assigned to Hero One. Plus, Hero One was a official team of Heroes. But even then, it was only because another Hero team had called them out.

This time, he had only but himself to blame...for the first time since he was only a kid...he lost control of himself...only this time, he didn't suddenly use his power to kill someone...he chose to help his new team. To trust them...and this was the result.

Not long afterwards, I.C.O.S.A. made it no secret that they wanted to split up all those involved with stopping Seraph's coup de tat. Though to him, it was only because they actually got the job done while they were still dragging their heels during the whole incident and just wanted to cover their own rear ends. It would look bad for the I.C.O.S.A. if they were disgraced for failing to react to a situation that Seraph and his EAGLES caused. The only reason Alpha knew any of this was because Alpha still had some friends within the US government here and there. At the very least, they warned him that he was going to be watched a lot more closely now. If not by Powers and/or Lavender but from anyone I.C.O.S.A. sends.

Though it wouldn't be the first time he got busted by the I.C.O.S.A. as he thought.

But...it was two days after the incident that both his parents paid him a visit...not only to check up on him and his well-being...but to celebrate his birthday...his 23rd birthday.

They were happy as always but even more so that he started talking to them normally rather than a stiff soldier. So much so they they even told him this.

"No matter how much you change. For better or worse...we both are proud of you."

Now...he was just an emotional mess.

But it was those emotions that he noticed that made his stronger...for one, when he was trying to heal Quake, he didn't waste energy doing so. He then followed both her and Joseph out and even had energy to spare to heal Joseph or at least stablize both of them and at least lessen their recovery time in the hospital. He could never do that when he had kept his feeling to himself. When he healed someone else's injury, even if it was a very minor one, he was exhausted afterwards.

His parents were now constantly calling him. No doubt aware of his emotional problems now but really, he was taking some down time until he can calm down or figure out what happened to him.

So far, he hasn't had any luck. At first, he felt that meeting Pandora was what first triggered it. His sudden outburst when Commander Lavender told and warned him about her history and her unique condition plus bad attitude towards others. But no. He'd met and even heard of such stories of other meta humans over the years during his training. Or perhaps meeting and interacting with other heroes more frequently simply made him realize how different from others he was...or maybe he just got fed up with being told who his friends and enemies were.

But that changed when he received a certain text message on his iPhone...an invitation to join a group..."C.R.E.W."

Seeing who the message came from, Alpha then thought about it...those group of rag tag heroes...joining them would lead to trouble no doubt...then again, that's probably why she contacted him...simply because he was the most level-headed operative...but not right now...not with his emotions clouding his judgement...but...sitting here and moping about it wasn't going to help either.

So, for better or worse, Alpha sent a reply text.

"...I'm in..."

Alien Angel

Meanwhile, a certain vigilante was on the roof of a nearby building from the place called the Neko Tengoku. But it wasn't that fancy restaurant that she was interested in.

It was the new "business" that was starting next door to it. The words "CREW" spray painted on the upper front door.

"Firewall", a well-known hacker now working for Infinite, had notified her about this. Even the "boss" was curious to see how far "the rookies" has the boss called them could take this business venture. Though Firewall warned her that it most likely wouldn't last. Both the I.C.O.S.A. were "supposedly" making moves against them and even the police were no longer trusting any meta humans from Hero One after the Club 27 incident.

She even had heard about that stiff guy Alpha losing his police badge after that.

As she looked at it, she really wanted to help. Normally getting too involved in others affairs in her line of work was NOT advised. They were just on opposite sides of the law. And even if she did openly join them, I.C.O.S.A. would use her as the excuse to cause those heroes more headaches than they need right now. Either that or "CREW" would look like "hired vigilantes". Bad publicity.

Still, Infinite had an interest here in Castleburg. Zero had shown itself here. She needed to do her part to figure out why. Yet it seemed like this group of heroes always seemed to find their way towards one or more of their members.

And somehow they all lived to tell the tale.

She was glad when she heard Quake and Joseph were ok but she couldn't go to visit herself. Even if he didn't like the I.C.O.S.A., Hugo Powers himself would no doubt arrest her personally on the spot. And she sure as hell wasn't going to risk her human form just to visit some hero's during their hospital stay. Sure, Firewall was good at what she does but Hero One also had their brains that could match hers or perhaps surpass it.

"Heh. Those ombre's probably don't even come close to my level but amigo, don't chance it. Too much heat going around", she had warned at the time.

But now, Firewall had tipped her off about the CREW business. Pulling out, with the usual pink color, an iPhone from her pink backpack. She then hit the speed dial on a certain number.

"Hola."

"English please."

"Oy loosen up A.A. but ok."

"I'm top of a building across from the target. Any updates?"

"Oh yeah. Text messages are going out. Can tell you Alpha, get this, accepted the job. Figured he'd say no after his emotional imbalance right now."

"Heh...well what do you know. The lap dog finally got fed up with the leash."

"Bound to happen...A.A. I know you hate those types but in this case, give him credit. Kid saw s*** very early in his life and it changed him. Even he saw how dangerous he was when he lost control."

"Yeah I know. The whole "living blue bomb" thing. Yet he can heal others. That's handy as hell I'll admit."

"Shame we can't recruit him but kid's got too much baggage with military parents and a dropped body on his conscience. Possibly more."

"..."

"...A.A. Back to reality."

"Yeah sorry. So what's the word from the boss?"

"While you can't join, we CAN shadow them. We'll watch and ONLY step in if it's necessary. Keeping secrets like the Zero Organization is most likely going to catch up with these newbs unless Powers finally decides to actually trust his own team a bit more for once. So for now, just keep tabs as usual but don't slack off on your patrols. You ain't the only meta that can fly you know. Peace out."

"Gotcha. Thanks for that update."

Hanging up and placing the iPhone back in her pink backpack, Alien Angel moved away from the edge of the roof and just started some stretching routines. Firewall was right though. Can't stay in one place for too long. Patrols still need to be done just like the Hero One members did no doubt.

But she was no hero. She was a vigilante.

《 H. E. R. O. 》

Alpha / K Nine

Alien Angel

One thing led to another for Alpha during those extreme moments on the speed boat...the handle braking...literally rushing past the turrents...nearly crashing into people...then just suddenly stopped in mid air it seemed for a safe landing of all things.

But being the trained hero he was, he didn’t miss a beat. So when he disembarked from the boat and saw Pandora dealing with a badly injured Quake, he immediately rushed over to them.

Pandora was nodding along, half listening to Jamie’s answers as she examined the wound. Carefully, she lowered her fingers until they passed straight through the outfit and into Quake’s body. Jamie would hardly feel it, especially in her delirious state.

“Hold on. I think I can do this better”, Alpha said normally. Pandora retracted her fingers and it was as if nothing had happened at all. She squinted at Alpha, suspicious.

Taking off his SWAT helmit and mask, he then took off his right tactical glove to expose his bare hand and perhaps to the surprise of Pandora, Alpha himself started to glow with energy.

Pandora interrupted her ignoring of Rumi to glance over at Alpha. She raised an eyebrow. "I doubt it." She commented, narrowing her eyes at the now glowing police officer.

Taking a deep breath, Alpha then put his hand on the spot where he guessed Quake was “shot”.

As he was doing this though, he then noted another approached and recognized the “pink creature” based on what he heard a report on before.

“...a sharp icicle passed through her. It’s no bullet wound”, Alien Angel then said, hold her side as Winterfall’s wound on her side healed up.

“...that helps...”, Alpha said, now in monotone.

“I also know you Alpha aka K Nine. Basically weaponized energy or ki if you want to use anime lingo. But I was told you haven’t perfected “healing others” from what I was told”, Alien Angel said.

“...shut up...I’m doing my job-”

“Oh get off your high horse. Just let the other lady save-”

“I got this! Her method may hurt her too much!”

Alpha immediately stopped and stared a hole at Alien Angel as she did the same.

Pandora grabbed Alpha’s hands and moved it over slightly on Quake’s body. It was clear Alpha had just guessed where the wound was.
"In future, just start cutting through or taking off clothes. Everyone’s naked on a morgue slab. Decency won’t do them any good." She advised. Alien Angel had joined the list of people Pandora was ignoring. She was even ignoring Quake. Her attention was on the quietly glowing young man. She curled her hand and rested her cheek casually on her knuckles.
"Spread the love, darling." She gestured to Quake. ”Don’t forget the exit wound. They’re usually bigger. Roll her over if you want, she’s barely even here." Pandora chuckled lightly.

Sighing then taking a deep breath, Alpha then started undressing her or at least, around the part where he saw the most blood. Sure enough, he found the wound. Ripping up the clothing to make a hole, he then put his glowing hand on it.

“...Pandora...have you seen my power before by some chance?”, he then asked. Alien Angel just looked on but made a mental note about the lady “Pandora”.

Pandora watched, disinterested. She tried to make eye contact with Jamie but gave up.

"Mmm," She assented dully. "Life energy powers. Very versatile. Usually need direct physical contact, in my experience." She shrugged, studying her fingernails.

”Maybe just let the entry wound sit. I think you’re focusing too much on it. Your energy should still be rattling around in there. Flip ‘er over and apply pressure from the back. Like I said, exit wounds are usually worse." She explained. ”Just a theory, of course."

She looked at the wound. Briefly, she brought her fingers down to her own bare midriff, as if she was remembering something. Shaking the thought off she continued to watch and wait.

Putting his exposed hand at Quake’s back where the exit wound was, he then began to focus. But this time, he tried to actually “feel positive” rather than just being mute or thinking about nothing. It was spur of the moment and he did run his mouth about his method being better than Pandora’s...perhaps that’s what his problem was...he was scared of himself but...didn’t trust others enough.

Meanwhile, Alien Angel decided to drop to her knee’s near Quake’s head and just stroked Quake’s hair with her clawed hands. Not in a way that it was cutting her hair but just to comfort her.

She only hoped this big mouth super cop had anything left for Joseph. He took a beating as well...

《 H. E. R. O. 》

Alpha / K Nine

Now on the boat with the others, Alpha took charge when he decided to take care of steering the boat they were trying to use to get to the Seraph's private island.

Noting the turrents that Pandora pointed out guarding the island, he then spoke with emotion in his voice again.

"Go ahead Pandora. I'll control the boat. Just don't get shot up. If it's too much, just get back here and well try something else", he then said, perhaps surprising the others with him that he didn't speak monotone.

The truth of the matter was that Pandora had seen the worst this world had thrown at her from what he assumed...and that acting all "stiff" around her, as he thought before when he first met her, wasn't going to do her any favors. So if acting...normal made her comfortable enough to focus on fighting and helping them...then so be it.

Then there was everything that happened back at The Club crime scene...he had suspected Hugo had some "Aces" hidden even from his knowledge but "Blade"...he had thought him to be just a rumor but there he was already with all the evidence they were looking for before he directed them here.

But he'll have to talk to Hugo about it later...assuming he was still alive after this whole mess.

Taking the controls of the boat, he then steered the boat away from the turrents.

Alien Angel

Alien Angel wasn't quite sure what had happened...did she just...slow down during that charge?

She shook her head after colliding with the wall...and noted that Winterfall was now focused on Joseph.

...ok he's distracted...whatever his power is, does it let him do whatever it does by line of sight? Or does it simply have an area of effect to it?, she thought to herself.

Then, she remembered something about the villains that her boss told her about that work for Zero...one of them being a "lab coat" as she put it.

"Joseph move! Stay out of line of sight! He slows your molecules down!", Alien Angel yelled at him.

She also wanted to draw his attention. No way his runes were going to work if Winterfall saw them coming. Plus, she had to hope that her healing factor would even work against his powers. It might not but her DNA wasn't exactly normal...heck, even her blood wasn't registered to any "Leftover" that was on file last she remembered.

"...now I remember who you are...Dr. Peter Osberg...psh...just another "lab coat" abusing knowledge for his own benefit...", she said.

This time, she didn't fly at him. She just did a normal run at him but then broke to his left then moved in bearing her claws. She couldn't afford to over shoot him this time. Even if it means taking a deadly blow, she had to give Joseph an opening somehow assuming he was still ok after the attack. For all intent and purposes, Winterfall would most likely see her as the bigger threat due to her mobility and healing factor. She also knew this guy could beat most in one-on-one duels so they had to make the numbers right now count before someone else got critically hurt...or worse...

《 H. E. R. O. 》

Alien Angel

Terra watched as Quake quickly dispatched the supposed "soldiers" that were enforcing the law. Needless to say, Quake had things under control.

It was when their next "opponent" showed...an ice user it seemed.

But to Terra's horror, she watched as a shard pierced Quake's torso.

"QUAKE!", Terra called and quickly floated to her despite the room temperature rapidly dropping.

For Alien Angel, such ice cold torture or even extreme heat wasn't anything new. Even in her days as a lab rat, the "lab coats" as she called them subjected her to such tests just to see if her healing factor could hold up to it...and whether she liked it or not, it did.

Pushing those memories out, Terra quickly unslung her pink backpack and produced, of all things, a First Aid Kit it looked but the special symbol on it looked as if it was designed for super hero injury care.

"...Joseph...take care of Quake...I got first dibs on this cyromancer...any of the special equipment in there has instructions if you need help..."

Now, slinging the pink backpack on, she then approached Winterfall after he made his threatening speech.

"...so basically, were all dead...uh not yet...but after all the s*** I went through once upon a time...who knows? Maybe you can torture me worse than those lab coats playing god on me and so many others..."

On that, Alien Angel started floating only an inch off the ground but beared her claws...

Then suddenly flew right at Winterfall.

《 H. E. R. O. 》

Alpha / K Nine

K Nine listened to the group as they discussed their next action as a group. Then he heard Pandora speak her mind on her laid out plan.

While he didn't like knocking out his own CPD team members, Bulldog included in seemed, he also hated to admit it. They didn't have much of a choice.

Both her and Kanati were also quick to point out his "behavior" with Bulldog as he let his emotions show before with him as well as asking him to personally see the crime scene himself.

"...I apologize...but...meeting Pandora for the first time before...well I couldn't keep...if I may speak freely, keep the 'stick' up my ass in her case...but if we make it through this...I'll be sure to tell Powers and Lavender why it's called retirement...at any rate...I don't like the methods were going to apply to the CPD...but...would it help if I...lured Bulldog near here so we can have a...private...talk...", K Nine then asked monotone.

Alien Angel

Alien Angel had did her part with The Admiral before. Now, it seemed most of the "group" was gathered from a "portal" super power it seemed.

Then, the comment or two thrown at her for working with a criminal.

She just dismissed it till members of another group called Division X suddenly came in but thankfully, it seemed they were here to help. Alien Angel did have problems with authority types but she wasn't about to complain in this case. Castleburg was in serious trouble if everything the commander here, Ether, said was true.

Though it seemed she wasn't aware of the "other" organization that was helping Seraph...

"Heh. About time. The ICOSA is taking their time but...eh. Whatever. Not like any of you trust me anyway. Say what you want about the "Infinite" group but let's just say even we were tired of Seraph's "Ego Trip" as my boss put it. Though at the moment, I'm just the first responder", Alien Angel said.

She then looked at everyone.

"But just so you know, it's only me at the moment. As the portal girl put it, too much help from my group would make it look bad for the rest of you but still, not about to sit this one out. But hey, it's your call all. But just to warn you. Anyone tries to slap some Isolene cuff's on me or any funny business and I'll give you a new hole to breath out of", Alien Angel then warned.

But settling down, she then said this.

"But if you all think your in over your head, I'll call in my own reinforcement regardless..."