GamerXZ — Roleplayer Guild

 
@NeutralNexus

Location: Lost Haven, Water Tower

Time: Dusk, Just Before The Sun Sets

Another night had descended on Lost Haven and with it, another night of prowling around, taking down lawless gangs and whatever evildoers were prowling about. Evergreen sat on the edge of a water tower, lying on his back and doing some star-gazing with his partner in crime, “Nice night out, huh partner?”

“It’s alright, I suppose…” Gaia admitted while somehow managing to do a shrug despite her small size, “Would be better if there were fewer lights and a lot less smog.”

The plant man could only sigh and shake his head.There was just no pleasing the spirit some days. “Hey, on a unrelated note...you think she’ll be ok? Nemesis, I mean…”

Gaia sighed and sat up, “Do you want me to be upfront with you on what I think, or sugarcoat it?” Jaden looked over to her with a “What do YOU think?” look on his face, “Yeah, that’s what I figured…” She laid back, “In all honesty...I think we need to keep a close eye on her...like you, I think deep down she’s a good person...but on the surface, she’s a loose cannon packing an insane amount of power with no respect for authority at all…and her control over what she has is...finicky at the moment…”

She didn’t need to explain why. That earthquake from the other night was still fresh in their minds, as was the fact that it had been set off by Nemesis just punching the earth. “Her powers are very similar to those that Icarus wields...and they’re growing too, I can sense it…” Gaia closed her eyes,deep in thought.

“I can believe that…” Gaia looked over to her friend as he locked eyes with her, “I saw the kinds of things Icarus was capable of during that scuffle at the Ironworks...and I’m gonna be honest...it’s scary…especially now we know there’s more than one of those...biometal devices out there…they’re like a nightmarish hybrid of the Guyver Units and the Scarabs…”

Just where exactly did these devices come from? Who or what made them? For what purpose?...No, both of them had a pretty good idea what the answer to the last one was: War. It only made sense that something with that kind of wide-scale destructive potential would be intended for conflict….and where there was two, there was bound to be  many more...and a lot of people who would do anything to get their hands on them.

“...We’ll do our part to keep her safe…” Jaden said with certainty, “Both from those who would do her harm...and from herself too…”

“...I hope so…” Gaia quietly muttered as they kept observing the night sky for a while, the echoes of background noise creating a calming white noise for the vigilante.  The sounds of car horns in the distance with the shouting of a food cart operator providing a soothing tranquility for someone like Evergreen, a long-time resident of the busy city of Lost Haven.

However, that tranquility was about to be interrupted, a sound resembling thunder erupting near his water tower as the mercenary War-Pulse came to a halt in mid-air before the hero.

“Ah-hah!  There you are!”  The man proclaimed, pointing at Evergreen excitedly.  “Tracking you has been this entire night’s work, you’d think it would be easier to track down a plant-man in a place that is mostly concrete and steel.  Though, to be fair, you leave quite the trail of bloodied crooks behind you, all I had to do was follow the moaning and the smell of a Greenhouse.”

Floating closer, the merc landed softly on the opposite side of the water tower, his kinetic aura dying down as soon as he made contact with the ground, allowing him to stride towards the vigilante with a confident bounce to his step.

“I suppose introductions are in order at this point, but if you already know who I am I’m sorry to waste your time”  War-Pulse said.  “My name is War-Pulse, the best damned merc here in Lost Haven and as of a few months ago honorary superfriend and co-vigilante to help stop the whole ‘Pax Metahumana’ debacle, pleased to meet ya!”

The merc stretched his arm out for a handshake, moreso being a common courtesy than a sincere gesture with the arrogant speech he was crafting.

To say that Evergreen and his partner were surprised by this latest development would be quite the understatement. Jaden had thought that after being at this hero gig for almost a year would mean he’d be use to this kind of thing. However, apparently there were still ways the world could surprise him. 

He sat up as Gaia floated back over to his shoulder, looking over at the mercenary warily as he touched down and walked forward. Instinctively, the plant man took a step back. He had heard the stories and seen the reports about this “War-Pulse”. He was considered to be what would happen if you took one of the world’s best mercenaries...and then gave him superpowers, namely the ability to absorb most forms of energy and use it to augment one’s self.

This was someone capable of destroying entire city blocks and wiping out small armies with minimal effort. Even if he wasn’t straight-up “evil” the stories about him suggested he had, and still did at times, accept work from some very shady groups...and that he wasn’t the most stable individual. 

“..Partner, I know this will sound rude, but until we know why he’s here, I would not suggest taking his hand…” Gaia whispered to Jaden before morphing back into a green orb and vanishing into his chest.

“Right…” The plant man looked down at the offered hand with a neutral expression, though if one looked closely behind the mask they may’ve noticed a hint of a frown. “...I heard about that incident, yeah. Some wacko doctor set off a bunch of bombs that would forcibly turn humans into Metahumans in the hopes of preparing humanity against worser threats. You have my thanks for the role you played in helping stop it...still…” 

“All in a day’s work, right?” The merc quipped, giving Evergreen the finger-gun gesture.

He looked up at War-Pulse, not really caring too much if he was surprised by his knowledge or not, “That doesn’t explain why you’re here...so I have to ask...why personally show yourself to me of all people?” 

“Straight to the point, I like it!” The merc replied, gesturing to Evergreen as he began to, leisurely pace back and forth. “In all honesty though, can't a meta be friendly to another meta without ulterior motives getting in the way? I mean I could just be here trying to turn over a new leaf and--” He paused, holding back a snicker, “Sorry, I just realized I said ‘leaf' to the guy who controls leaves…”

“Pulse, stay on topic.” Warden’s voice hissed over his comms. “We are here on a mission, not for you to make friends.”

“Alright, alright. I can see you ain't buying that, so let me cut to the chase.” War-Pulse said, raising a hand to acknowledge the flat look of doubt plastered on Evergreen’s face. “You are one of the lucky few who knows a person I am looking for.”

There were times that Evergreen hated being right, and this was definitely one of those times. He figured that this was as good a time as any to try out his acting skills. He folded his arms and rolled his eyes at the sky, “Gosh, I’m sooo honoured…” Despite his sarcasm, he focused on the individual before him, “Before you say anything else, mind telling me why exactly you’re looking for this person?”

“Actually, before that...whom exactly are you working for and why do you think I know anything?” He knew he needed to play it cool. If he played his cards right, he could probably get War-Pulse to leave without any trouble. He had already made a vow to defend Racheli and her whereabouts to his dying breath, and he was not going to break that vow for anyone….especially for someone whom had a reputation as infamous as the person before him.

“Whoa there, Tiger Lily...I thought I was the one asking the questions here.” War-Pulse said his calm, friendly tone barely fractured by the slightest hint of annoyance that the questions were starting to turn towards him. He knew he was a lousy liar and Pulse did not even really know much of the truth in the first place, he had to go with what he knew, it was his only card to play. “What I've been told, there is a rather dangerous little metahuman wandering the streets that could grow to be something of a worldly threat. Now I don't know the name of who I'm working for, but what I can tell of the quake I just walked away from, I'm inclined to believe them.”

War-Pulse pointed at Evergreen as he continued, advancing slowly on Gaia’s chosen. “As for why I think you know something?  Well, first off, I'd like to think I'm a good reader of people.  You’re grilling me without even knowing who I'm asking for, which means you either got something you’re hiding in that Russet potato of a brain or you're oddly suspicious for a do-gooder.”

A cocky little smirk was barely made out underneath War-Pulse’s facemask, his eyes narrowing to a squint as he scrutinized the man, or what one could call a man.  In truth it was more like staring down a rosebush.  Warden had informed him that the hero used plants to fight crime, but he was not expecting the guy to be an actual plant. 

Evergreen did his best not to wince. It was becoming increasingly clear that underneath this guy’s courteous exterior was someone dangerous, just like the stories had said. Still, Pulse wasn’t the only one good at reading people. The plant man stayed where he was despite the uneasy feeling being given off by the merc as he got closer, “...You know, I may not be aware of every harsh reality in this world...but I can tell that whomever you’re working for does NOT have said individual’s best interests at mind…”

He sighed while looking off to the side, “Why, for all I, or even you, know, these people could just be using you. They could be planning to take this individual and turn them into a weapon…” Evergreen spread his arms and shrugged, “I guess it’s not really that much of a concern for you considering this is likely just a job in your eyes...but if you go through with this, and people end up dying...that’s gonna be on you...I’m sure even mercenaries have standards, don’t they?”

“As for me being suspicious...well, after you been in the business as long as I have, you tend to build up a healthy amount of paranoia,” He leered over at the mercenary suspiciously, “So, forgive me if I don’t entirely buy your story.”

The merc hesitated, his brow furrowed as Evergreen gave his warning.  “Right, so we’re all just going to ignore the earthquake generator you got in your city while it gets some time to gestate.”  War-Pulse said. “Geez, I wreck a city block and the city goes haywire, and this bitch gets to wreck a street and nobody bats an eye?  What’s she got that I don’t?  It’s because she’s prettier than me, isn’t it?”

He laughed and waved Evergreen off, but his words became more heated by the minute. “I kid, but seriously, with that kind of knowledge, I could tell you the same damn thing.  Merc or not, should a metahuman with this kind of attention be hidin’ out underneath Lost Haven without supervision?  They’re hiring guys like me to rope her in and that’s not sending any warning lights for you?”  

He circled Evergreen, feeling out how the hero followed a target as he shifted in footwork slightly, keeping his front facing Evergreen as he walked, “I’m trying very hard to be diplomatic about this, but as you can clearly see I’m a very shitty diplomat.  Now you got a choice, string bean. I’m leaving this conversation with the information I need, how many bumps you’ll take along the way are up to you.”

To emphasize his point, he cracked his knuckles.  As usual, they sparked up in kinetic prowess, the pops superficially enhanced by a pulsating hiss of raw power.

If Evergreen was intimidated by this fella, he definitely wasn’t showing it. Of course, after staring down a man made of gosh darn LAVA, there wasn’t really too much that could faze him. He pondered over what he was hearing, bobbing his head side to side, “...Fair enough, I suppose this IS a little hypocritical of me...but I stick by what I say…besides…”

He stared down at his hand and flexed it a few times, “There’s way too many inconsistencies in what you’ve told me so far. I already know the warning signs...but this individual...they’re still a person...they have rights like any other individual. This person makes mistakes, they’ll face the consequences...but until then, their rights will be respected...and protected…”

The plant man looked over at Pulse again, “Besides, considering you have a history of killing people for money...I don’t think you’re in a position to judge anyone…”

“I ain't judging anyone, kid,” War-Pulse retorted, beginning to stretch his neck out as he continued to circle, sizing Evergreen up with each step. “You’re totally right, I’m not in a place to judge others, which is why I’m not interested in playing debate club on the water tower right now.”

Evergreen’s tone of voice now got a little darker at this point, “Now...in all honesty, I’ve had a good night so far, and I don’t want anything to ruin it...so I’d like to avoid any pointless conflict. For that, I’m gonna give you a chance to back out…though judging by that look you’re giving me, you’ve already decided to beat the information out of me…”

It may’ve been a trick but for a moment, one could’ve seen his eyes, hidden behind the mask, glowing a little, “Get out of here...because if you push your luck...well, I’m not gonna be responsible for whatever happens to you…” It was obvious now that he too wasn’t exactly good at diplomacy...but he had already mentally prepared himself for this. 

The plant man had a promise to keep, after all.

“Ohohohoh, you got a bit of fire in you, I like it!” War-Pulse roared, offering a bemused chuckle at the aggressive stance of Evergreen. “Damn good to hear that the metas of Lost Haven still got a pair of acorns despite the shit that’s been thrown your way.”  He readied his stance a bit more, raising his hands in open palms before him. “But I unfortunately got a job to take care of, and if that means I have to pluck a few petals to get you to talk, then that’s what I got to do.  No hard feelings, right?”

“No...you got your job to do, and I got mine. It’s as simple as that.” Evergreen remarked in acknowledgement. Neither he nor Gaia could sense any truly evil intent from him, which honestly made this whole situation a bit sad. However, it was obvious negotiations had failed, and there was only one way this could be settled. “...Catch me if you can.” 

With that, he leaped off the edge of the water tower and plummeted towards the ground, seemingly ready to go splat...only for a pair of green wings made from vines and leaves to unfold from his back and allow him to soar off and as he did so, he threw one last glance back at Pulse as if daring the merc to follow him into the sky. 

“...Well that’s new,” War-Pulse muttered, his brows raised and his hands on his hips as he watched Evergreen soar up into the sky.  With a chuckle, the hum of building kinetic energy began to echo into the air around him, his legs began to sizzle and glow with the increasing build up as he walked over to the edge of the water tower.

“Alright, you want to play?” Pulse growled, the glint of adrenaline building up in his voice. “Game on, mother fu--”

The end of his statement was cut off as the burst from his legs rocketed him into the air, the water tower bending in on itself as the pulverizing force rocked it backwards to crash into the rooftop below it.

The chase was on.
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