Member
SuperIOR Inc., Lost Haven
"Why are we besieging this glass tower, friend Chike? What do you hope to gain?"
Chike Baatul poked his head over the cubicle he was using for cover. A dozen security guards were scattered around the room, pistols in hand. They were firing non-stop on Thune; who didn't seem to notice the barrage at all. Chike pulled his assault rifle over the top of the wall and let loose a hail of aimed shots at a pair of guards with their heads stuck out. The two men collapsed out of sight in a spray of blood and brains. The rest of the guards turned their weapons on Chike and opened up on his cubicle, forcing the vigilante to duck. "Why are you just standing there?!" He yelled over the cacophony. "Do you require my assistance?" He asked nonchalantly. "I would appreciate it, yes!" Thune nodded and took a step out of the cubicle and into the open. "Very well. Consider it done!" Then he vanished before Chike's enhanced eyes. Bewildered, Chike turned to look at the security forces. By the time his head was over the top of the cramped space, the opposition forces were all sprawled across the floor.
"Nice work. Now come on."
"You have not yet answered my inquiry." Thune reminded his new companion, refusing to move.
Chike took a deep breathe and sighed. "If anyone knows where this Pax Metahumana guy is, its Edward Cunningham. Even if he doesn't, SuperIOR has some of the best tech on the planet! We'll find some way to track the bomb before it goes off. Trust me, Thune. This is the best way. Now, follow me. His office should be this way."
The motley pair jogged through the office space past the corpses of their enemies. Blood stained the workplace and bullet holes were scattered across the windows. There was a similar scene in the lobby, where Polemos had gunned down a number of security personnel and terrified the civilians until they ran. He'd given them ample time to escape via the stairs and fire exits while he and Thune took the elevator to the penthouse floor. "You know, on my world, such an action would be seen as treason. Attacking targets with such a significant innocent presence is strictly forbidden." Polemos glanced over at Thune. The big guy wasn't hard to read. He let his heart hang on his sleeve for all to see; which usually wouldn't be a problem. But Chike had begun to question the morality behind his every action ever since he broke free from Ares' influence. But doubt lingered in the back of his mind: what if the touch of Ares had never truly faded? The old Chike would never have stormed an office building, guns blazing. He must look like a bloody terrorist!
But Baatul steeled himself. He knew the truth. SuperIOR was an evil corporation led by a sinister man. There was nothing "morally questionable" about his actions so far. He hadn't harmed any innocents. The security guards knew what they were getting in to when they took this job; and they shot first. Even still...
"I had a feeling you would try to pull something." Chike whipped around and immediately opened fire on the familiar voice. The rounds bounced off Captain Liberty like they were made of tissue paper. "But I hadn't imagined you would be so bold as to attack our headquarters in broad daylight! And so soon? You're either complete moron or out of your mind!" Abrams chuckled. The AK-47 clicked multiple times. Chike released the empty magazine onto the ground and retrieved a second one, gritting his teeth. "You're a monster. I'll kill you!" James smiled beneath the helmet. "I'm the monster? Lost Haven hates you. They're afraid of you; I'm their hero. What I have done to be called a monster, eh?"
"You killed t-those innocent people. My friends. Almost crushed those office workers."
Captain Liberty merely scoffed and waved at the bloodshed behind him. "We're not so different."
"I'm nothing like you."
"Sure, sure. Who's your girlfriend, by the way?"
"How dare-" Thune started. Chike placed a hand against his chest. "This guy. He's dangerous; and one of the bad guys. Don't hold back." Thune only nodded, a solemn look crossing his face. "I shall vanquish this armored knight, as I have thousands like him. Have at thee!" Thune exploded forward in a blinding display of speed, striking Captain Liberty straight in the chest. A shockwave burst forth behind Thune's speeding fist before metal and flesh made contact for the briefest moment. With a single punch, Thune Xavier sent Captain Liberty soaring backwards. James' battlesuit looked more like a steel coffin as he smashed through multiple walls and eventually shattered a wall of glass, falling out of sight. Chike rushed to the edge of the building, leaning out to get a better look. Captain Liberty sat in the middle of a sizable crater, perhaps twenty meters in diameter, unmoving. Chike could see the damage from up here; it was quite extensive.
"Y-you only hit him once." Chike stammered. "You said he was dangerous. I don't understand; I thought your people were formidable? I was told there was much potential here." Thune's eyes held only contempt and disappoint as he turned and walked toward the CEO's office. "One punch..." Chike muttered, following behind him.
The elevator dinged, announcing its arrival to the final floor. A pair of oddly dressed men rushed out, wielding weapons. "Who-" Thune began. He was interrupted by a feminine voice from behind him. "Hey! Which one of you assholes knocked the tin can out this window?" A woman, dressed in street clothes, asked. Her arms were crossed and she looked pissed. "Who art thou?" Thune inquired. "The name's Skyquake. Leader of the Vanguard. Who are you supposed to be? Super Saiyan Thor?" Chike took in a gulp of air. "I've heard of them. The Vanguard are the ones who defeated Umbraxis-" Thune's head shot towards Chike at nearly the speed of sound at the mention of Umbraxis. "Are you sure?" Chike nodded. "Oh yeah. Not everyday-"
Thune tackled Skyquake out of the window. The two supers disappeared out of sight, leaving Chike with the rest of team Vanguard. "If she's Skyquake, then you two must be Supercell and...?" Who was the other one? Bone Breaker? Face Caver? "That's Skull-Thrasher, ya dickhead!" The armored one yelled, waving a fist. "Drop your weapon and surrender. There's no need for further violence; you are outmatched. "Aban attempted diplomacy, his gun trained on Chike. "Pfft. Me? Outmatched?" He tossed his firearm to the side. The two superheroes looked at each other wearily. "I am Polemos! I AM WAR!" Polemos sprinted towards his attackers and kicked the gun from Supercell's hands. Skull-Thrasher blocked Chike's followup kick. "Gaahhh! Son of a bitch almost broke my arms!" He yelled. Skull-Thrasher and Supercell retrieved their melee weapons and charged at Polemos. "I'll take you both on!"
Thune backhanded Skyquake through a nearby skyscraper. "Is Umbraxis fallen? Have you slain it?" He screamed, bull-rushing the falling heroine and hitting her again before she could recover. Skyquake crashed into the middle of a busy street, throwing up chunks of concrete as he skidded to a halt inside a trench of her own making. "What are you on about?" Skyquake rapidly pounded on Thune's face, using her strength and speed at maximum power. Thune merely stood there, his head unmoved. Shockwaves exploded around the two of them every time Skyquake hit him.
"Enough." Thune grabbed Skyquakes arms and slammed her into the ground. The entire block was damaged. Cars were thrown into the air. Windows shattered. Foundations shook and hairline cracks formed. Visible damage appeared on the nearest structures. Skyquake went limp in Thune's hand. "Answer me or suffer the consequences." He growled. "No." May squeaked weakly. "It's still alive. We hurt it though." Thune looked at her quizzically. "You had help. Not just your friends inside; I could sense your power, not theirs. Who helped you defeat the Destroyer?" Skyquake's lips pursed. Thune squeezed her throat, causing May to scream- if she could breathe, that is. "WHO?!" Thune roared. "Icon! A-And a couple of speedsters named Thunderbolt and Boom. Please, that's all I know. Don't-" He tossed the girl to the side with enough force to knock her unconscious. A single drop of blood fell from Thune's nose. Then another. It wasn't more than a moment before blood streamed from Thune's nostril. A small smirk crossed the giant's face.
"Your people have...potential. I will need to test these other heroes you spoke of. Perhaps your kind can help me after all."
