Ezekiel
Festive
Half Pint
Cyberlad
Hound55
HeMandaddy
Melissa
Supermaxx
Sep
swordmasc
Lord Wraith
Member
Actually Three Otters in a Trenchcoat
STATUS: I'm GMing an RP. That's enough horror for me. 2 mos ago
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I'm GMing an RP. That's enough horror for me.
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5 mos ago
But can the Ghost Note see why kids love the great taste of Cinnamon Toast Crunch?
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6 mos ago
Have you tried finding the Avatar?
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7 mos ago
When you manage to snag post 69 in the IC. Nice.
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8 mos ago
When a group of players click and the posts keep roling in, that's what GM dreams are made of.
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Bio
L O R D W R A I T H
L O R D W R A I T H
L O R D W R A I T H
"TBD"
U S E R P O R T R A I T _________________________________________________________U S E R P O R T R A I T _________________________________________________________ U S E R S U M M A R Y _________________________________________________________U S E R S U M M A R Y Lord Wraith _________________________________________________________ February 21st | 31 | Caucasian _________________________________________________________ Married | ♂ | Heterosexual _________________________________________________________ Ontario | Canada P R E F E R E N C E S P R E F E R E N C E S C U R R E N T R O L E P L A Y S C U R R E N T R O L E P L A Y S | A B O U T M E A B O U T M E All systems go. Back to writing. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Vivamus at mi mi. In imperdiet porta dolor, at fermentum nulla commodo eu. Suspendisse volutpat et ex tempor suscipit. Nullam tincidunt at nunc vel auctor. Donec venenatis, nisl nec fringilla varius, massa quam porttitor turpis, sed bibendum purus sem id risus. Nullam scelerisque lectus eget diam gravida malesuada. Maecenas consectetur est ac sollicitudin congue. Maecenas interdum erat dignissim lectus sodales, nec ultrices neque egestas. Integer convallis lacus at consequat volutpat. |
Most Recent Posts
<Snipped quote by Ezekiel>
Save the sheet
A new one will crop up soon.
@Lord Wraith looking at you for no reason
I have the concept of a plan.
As these games tend to draw recurring members of the community, we'll be enforcing a new rule that if you had previously participated in either Ultimate One Universe: Emergence or its predecessor, Absolute Comics Presents - What If?, you cannot reapply as any character you previously played. Should a week elapse after the RP starts and that character remains unclaimed, you will be able to apply for the desired character at that time.
This is in addition to a week's delay in the original application process to ensure that all interested parties have a fair shot at 'A-List' Characters.
This is in addition to a week's delay in the original application process to ensure that all interested parties have a fair shot at 'A-List' Characters.
Death brings people together.
Also quite a difference between banter and writing a post.
Hound55 // mattmanganon 2024 was not the campaign I saw coming this year.
Blows dust off of thread
Alright, time to properly review this sheet lol
Alright, time to properly review this sheet lol
| 1984
The sound of the heavy door creaking open alerted Aiden Roth to the fact he was no longer alone. It had been several hours since he had been put in the dark room, hauled out of class in front of his peers and subjected to handcuffs before being escorted down what had felt like the endless halls of Mather Memorial High School. A musky cheap cologne filled the teen’s nostrils as the squeak of leather followed by the tap of a hard sole moved past him.
A sharp, mechanical click was followed by a disturbingly audible electrical buzz as Aiden was suddenly forced to close his eyes by a blinding light pointed directly on his face. Blinking slowly as they adjusted to the brighter luminance, he was hit with a new smell. The enticing aroma of a freshly lit cigarette wafted towards his nose from across the table before it mixed with the odour of the stale ash tray in the middle of the beat-up table. As the detective across from him took another drag, Aiden could feel the familiar itch of the nicotine monkey beginning to squawk. It had been… actually he had no idea how long it had been since his last cigarette, but he knew he was overdue for a long drag.
Closing and opening his eyes a few more times in a futile effort to further adjust to the bright light,, the teenager peered past the overhead lamp, jealously watching the other man take another drag from the dart before his baritone voice filled the room.
“Aiden Buchanan Roth, quite the rap sheet you have for someone so young. Vandalism, petty theft, numerous counts of hooky, oooh grand theft auto,” The officer paused as Aiden simply gave an apathetic shrug and a smirk in response.
“I’d lose the cocky attitude, son. Do you know why we’ve dragged you in here? The Crestwood Police Department has good reason to believe you were involved in the murder of Vanessa Bordeaux.” The officer snapped before slamming a folder down on the table. Aiden could only imagine it must hold the ‘damning’ evidence within it.
“Do you want to tell me again where you were the night of October 18th? And this time, how about we tell the truth.” The suited man asked, prompting an eye roll from the teenager.
“First off, Brody, for you,it’s just ‘Roth’,” Aiden retorted, watching the officer's hands curl into a ball. RJ had been hit enough in his life that another strike wouldn’t be the end of the world, and in fact it might even get him out of here faster. “Secondly, I didn’t fuckin-”
“Language.”
“I didn’t fuckin’ kill Vanessa.” Aiden smirked as he continued, “You want to know where I was the night of October 18th? That’s easy, same place anyone else was; the twins’ party. If I’m a suspect, so is the entire senior class.”
“Your father runs with the Sons of Salem doesn’t he?” The detective asked, lighting a new cigarette.
“You tell me,” Aiden responded with a measured tone, “I don’t know my father,”
“Apple never falls too far from the tree. Doesn’t it bother you that he never wanted you? Might lead to rage issues, especially in relationships.” The detective fished. “Vanessa Bordeaux. Prettiest girl in school, popular too. Bet she has a lot more admirers than just you. Better ones too. Like you said, it was a big party.” He took a longer, exaggerated drag below blowing the smoke towards Aiden. “Hell, I’d chase after her too.”
“Dude, she only just turned seventeen.” The teen retorted while making a disgusted face towards the officer.
“No what I meant, smartass.” The officer replied angrily. “Forget it, tell me more about the night of the 18th, what time did you arrive at the party?”
Taking a deep breath before letting out a small sigh of frustration, Aiden began to reluctantly speak.
“It was around nine at night by the time Minnie and I arrived at…”
A sharp, mechanical click was followed by a disturbingly audible electrical buzz as Aiden was suddenly forced to close his eyes by a blinding light pointed directly on his face. Blinking slowly as they adjusted to the brighter luminance, he was hit with a new smell. The enticing aroma of a freshly lit cigarette wafted towards his nose from across the table before it mixed with the odour of the stale ash tray in the middle of the beat-up table. As the detective across from him took another drag, Aiden could feel the familiar itch of the nicotine monkey beginning to squawk. It had been… actually he had no idea how long it had been since his last cigarette, but he knew he was overdue for a long drag.
Closing and opening his eyes a few more times in a futile effort to further adjust to the bright light,, the teenager peered past the overhead lamp, jealously watching the other man take another drag from the dart before his baritone voice filled the room.
“Aiden Buchanan Roth, quite the rap sheet you have for someone so young. Vandalism, petty theft, numerous counts of hooky, oooh grand theft auto,” The officer paused as Aiden simply gave an apathetic shrug and a smirk in response.
“I’d lose the cocky attitude, son. Do you know why we’ve dragged you in here? The Crestwood Police Department has good reason to believe you were involved in the murder of Vanessa Bordeaux.” The officer snapped before slamming a folder down on the table. Aiden could only imagine it must hold the ‘damning’ evidence within it.
“Do you want to tell me again where you were the night of October 18th? And this time, how about we tell the truth.” The suited man asked, prompting an eye roll from the teenager.
“First off, Brody, for you,it’s just ‘Roth’,” Aiden retorted, watching the officer's hands curl into a ball. RJ had been hit enough in his life that another strike wouldn’t be the end of the world, and in fact it might even get him out of here faster. “Secondly, I didn’t fuckin-”
“Language.”
“I didn’t fuckin’ kill Vanessa.” Aiden smirked as he continued, “You want to know where I was the night of October 18th? That’s easy, same place anyone else was; the twins’ party. If I’m a suspect, so is the entire senior class.”
“Your father runs with the Sons of Salem doesn’t he?” The detective asked, lighting a new cigarette.
“You tell me,” Aiden responded with a measured tone, “I don’t know my father,”
“Apple never falls too far from the tree. Doesn’t it bother you that he never wanted you? Might lead to rage issues, especially in relationships.” The detective fished. “Vanessa Bordeaux. Prettiest girl in school, popular too. Bet she has a lot more admirers than just you. Better ones too. Like you said, it was a big party.” He took a longer, exaggerated drag below blowing the smoke towards Aiden. “Hell, I’d chase after her too.”
“Dude, she only just turned seventeen.” The teen retorted while making a disgusted face towards the officer.
“No what I meant, smartass.” The officer replied angrily. “Forget it, tell me more about the night of the 18th, what time did you arrive at the party?”
Taking a deep breath before letting out a small sigh of frustration, Aiden began to reluctantly speak.
“It was around nine at night by the time Minnie and I arrived at…”
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Location: Crestwood Hollow - New Hampshire
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Human #5.039: Freezing
Interaction(s): None
| A Week From Now
| Several Weeks From Now
| 2006
Previously: Island on Fire
| A Week From Now
“...the Bordeaux Estate?”
Lorcán stood in disbelief at the house in front of him that dwarfed the Administrative Building back on Dundas Island. A wall ran the outside perimeter, splotches of newer paint covering obvious graffiti from a time when the ‘hype’-hunt blamed all the Hyperhumans in the town on Vanessa following her murder and had strived to drive the remaining members of the Bordeaux family out of Crestwood Hollow.
Still, the Estate and the family endured, with Viktor and his wife; Sarina or ‘Sally’ as she was more commonly referred to, collecting the majority of their weather from the Bordeaux Orchard and Vineyard that was situated behind the Estate and stretched into the fertile Orlaith Valley.
“I guess we just hit the intercom?” Lorcán suggested approaching the gate while Cass sized up the perimeter wall.
“Could always jump it and knock on the front door.” He replied dryly before watching as Lorcán took a hold of the wall. Realizing his sarcasm had been missed, he moved quickly to pull his young cousin off the wall before giving him a light cuff to the back of the head.
“Just hit the intercom button.”
Lorcán offered a sheepish smile before approaching the small black box and holding down the red button. Above them, a blinking light appeared on the camera as Lorcán took a step back and eagerly waved while Cass did his best to look unassociated with the long-haired surfer.
“What have I done to deserve a Roth darkening my doorstop?” The irritated voice asked from the otherside of the intercom.
“Uh, well we’re here to ask about Mather Memorial,” Lorcán stated, “Specifically the deed?”
A long sigh could be heard from the otherside of the intercom before an electronic buzz echoed. The gate slowly swung open before the intercom crackled to life again.
“Come in.”
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Lorcán stood in disbelief at the house in front of him that dwarfed the Administrative Building back on Dundas Island. A wall ran the outside perimeter, splotches of newer paint covering obvious graffiti from a time when the ‘hype’-hunt blamed all the Hyperhumans in the town on Vanessa following her murder and had strived to drive the remaining members of the Bordeaux family out of Crestwood Hollow.
Still, the Estate and the family endured, with Viktor and his wife; Sarina or ‘Sally’ as she was more commonly referred to, collecting the majority of their weather from the Bordeaux Orchard and Vineyard that was situated behind the Estate and stretched into the fertile Orlaith Valley.
“I guess we just hit the intercom?” Lorcán suggested approaching the gate while Cass sized up the perimeter wall.
“Could always jump it and knock on the front door.” He replied dryly before watching as Lorcán took a hold of the wall. Realizing his sarcasm had been missed, he moved quickly to pull his young cousin off the wall before giving him a light cuff to the back of the head.
“Just hit the intercom button.”
Lorcán offered a sheepish smile before approaching the small black box and holding down the red button. Above them, a blinking light appeared on the camera as Lorcán took a step back and eagerly waved while Cass did his best to look unassociated with the long-haired surfer.
“What have I done to deserve a Roth darkening my doorstop?” The irritated voice asked from the otherside of the intercom.
“Uh, well we’re here to ask about Mather Memorial,” Lorcán stated, “Specifically the deed?”
A long sigh could be heard from the otherside of the intercom before an electronic buzz echoed. The gate slowly swung open before the intercom crackled to life again.
“Come in.”
| Several Weeks From Now
Lorcán clenched his side, grimacing at the long shallow cut that had managed to penetrate his borrowed armour. In the fray, he had been separated from the others, their party attacked. Lorcán had managed to fend for himself, but he was hopelessly lost now.
They had come here, to this accursed place to save Amma, to rescue her. But now he was in need of rescuing and more than ever, he was worried about Aurora. What if those things had gotten her? If Ellara could be caught off guard here, then were any of them truly safe?
The crimson light of the eternal hunter’s moon bathed everything in a sanguine glow. He looked at the damp glove, the dark ichor that stained it was his own blood. He wasn’t used to seeing it, not like this. A warm wind whistled down his spine sending every hair on his body on edge, the scent of his own blood wafting past his nose and sending this damned place into a hungered frenzy.
Lorcán may as well have just rung the feeding bell.
The underbrush shocked, the trampling of leaves accented by snapping twigs as something moved towards him. Lorcán gripped the gun firmly between his hands, leveling it before it was quickly dashed out of his hands.
The familiar odour of death filled his nostrils, threatening to gag him as the corpse-like creature came towards him. A vorpal sword from his hip arched in front of him, as Lorcán reacted on pure instinct, the iridescent blade went snicker-snack before Lorcán pulled it back. Then one and two, followed by through and through and the beast toppled like a sack.
Scrambling for the fallen firearm, Lorcán heard the Wendigo rise again. The scream the creature made threatened to turn the blood in his veins to ice. His hand trembled, fear forced upon him by his foe. His hand began to loosen, despite Lorcán inwardly protested, his body surrendering to its seemingly inevitable fate.
Then in a blur of black and white the beast was driven back.
From the brush, Rothschild struck, led to Lorcán by a fiery ball of light. The brilliant glow cut through the darkness, pushing back the vermillion lunar glow. The border collie struck, its form malleable and morphing as it became humanoid. Saliva dripped from his angry maw, before teeth dug into the Wendigo’s neck and piercing claws penetrated its ribs. Innards spilled atop the native flora as Rothschild’s lupine form ripped the Wendigo apart, and pushed it further into the darkness before the screams and growls were replaced by a deafening silence.
A cold sweat clung to the back of Lorcán’s neck before his knees suddenly buckled. Catching himself, he slowly moved backwards as Rothschild happily trotted out of the underbrush.
Pausing, he sat in front of Lorcán before speaking.
“Boy are you lucky I showed up.” Rothschild laughed as Lorcán stared back at the dog, “Good thing your guardian sister called me.”
Lorcán’s eyes widened as the dog continued to speak, the word sister barely registering before his eyes were drawn upwards, the brush parting before another spoke.
“Come, brother,” A female voice emitted from the orange ball of light as he returned, hovering between the boy and his familiar.
“There will be more if we linger.”
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________They had come here, to this accursed place to save Amma, to rescue her. But now he was in need of rescuing and more than ever, he was worried about Aurora. What if those things had gotten her? If Ellara could be caught off guard here, then were any of them truly safe?
The crimson light of the eternal hunter’s moon bathed everything in a sanguine glow. He looked at the damp glove, the dark ichor that stained it was his own blood. He wasn’t used to seeing it, not like this. A warm wind whistled down his spine sending every hair on his body on edge, the scent of his own blood wafting past his nose and sending this damned place into a hungered frenzy.
Lorcán may as well have just rung the feeding bell.
The underbrush shocked, the trampling of leaves accented by snapping twigs as something moved towards him. Lorcán gripped the gun firmly between his hands, leveling it before it was quickly dashed out of his hands.
The familiar odour of death filled his nostrils, threatening to gag him as the corpse-like creature came towards him. A vorpal sword from his hip arched in front of him, as Lorcán reacted on pure instinct, the iridescent blade went snicker-snack before Lorcán pulled it back. Then one and two, followed by through and through and the beast toppled like a sack.
Scrambling for the fallen firearm, Lorcán heard the Wendigo rise again. The scream the creature made threatened to turn the blood in his veins to ice. His hand trembled, fear forced upon him by his foe. His hand began to loosen, despite Lorcán inwardly protested, his body surrendering to its seemingly inevitable fate.
Then in a blur of black and white the beast was driven back.
From the brush, Rothschild struck, led to Lorcán by a fiery ball of light. The brilliant glow cut through the darkness, pushing back the vermillion lunar glow. The border collie struck, its form malleable and morphing as it became humanoid. Saliva dripped from his angry maw, before teeth dug into the Wendigo’s neck and piercing claws penetrated its ribs. Innards spilled atop the native flora as Rothschild’s lupine form ripped the Wendigo apart, and pushed it further into the darkness before the screams and growls were replaced by a deafening silence.
A cold sweat clung to the back of Lorcán’s neck before his knees suddenly buckled. Catching himself, he slowly moved backwards as Rothschild happily trotted out of the underbrush.
Pausing, he sat in front of Lorcán before speaking.
“Boy are you lucky I showed up.” Rothschild laughed as Lorcán stared back at the dog, “Good thing your guardian sister called me.”
Lorcán’s eyes widened as the dog continued to speak, the word sister barely registering before his eyes were drawn upwards, the brush parting before another spoke.
“Come, brother,” A female voice emitted from the orange ball of light as he returned, hovering between the boy and his familiar.
“There will be more if we linger.”
| 2006
“You’re having twins.”
Aiden gasped with surprise before squeezing Tori’s hand as he leaned over and kissed her belly. His heart felt like it would jump out of his throat at any second, the overwhelming happiness caused tears to well up in the corners of his eyes as he turned, beaming towards his wife.
“Oh no you don’t,” She cautioned, her voice cracking as she tried to disguise it with a laugh, “If you cry, then I’m going to sob, don’t you do that to me, Roth!”
“I’m just so happy, Tori,” Aiden replied, leaning in as the couple shared a quick, tender kiss, “Can you tell us the sex?” He asked, looking to Tori, who nodded her agreement before the doctor continued.
“Now, this is never a hundred percent accurate, and the little ones have to cooperate,” The doctor warned before continuing the ultrasound, “But it looks like you have a daughter…” His voice trailed off as he tried to find the other twin.
“And… another…” He paused, quickly correcting himself, “No, I apologize, you have a daughter and a son.”
“Fraternal twins,” Tori exclaimed as Aiden’s eyes widened happily, a wry smile crossing his face before Tori shot him a look.
“Don’t you say it, Roth.”
“C’mon,” Aiden pleaded, “How can we have fraternal twins and not name them Luke and Leia?”
“Because last I checked, I didn’t take the name ‘Skywalker’ when I married you.”
“Then we’ll name him ‘Kenneth’ after your maiden name.” Aiden offered, “And name her ‘Kendall’.”
“Those are both terrible,” Tori laughed, “Thankfully we have time to think of some actual good name, personally I’ve always liked Gaelic names like yours.”
“I’m not opposed.” Aiden smiled as he helped Tori to his feet, “We could even-”
“We’re not giving him the middle name ‘Buchanan’.”
Aiden gasped with surprise before squeezing Tori’s hand as he leaned over and kissed her belly. His heart felt like it would jump out of his throat at any second, the overwhelming happiness caused tears to well up in the corners of his eyes as he turned, beaming towards his wife.
“Oh no you don’t,” She cautioned, her voice cracking as she tried to disguise it with a laugh, “If you cry, then I’m going to sob, don’t you do that to me, Roth!”
“I’m just so happy, Tori,” Aiden replied, leaning in as the couple shared a quick, tender kiss, “Can you tell us the sex?” He asked, looking to Tori, who nodded her agreement before the doctor continued.
“Now, this is never a hundred percent accurate, and the little ones have to cooperate,” The doctor warned before continuing the ultrasound, “But it looks like you have a daughter…” His voice trailed off as he tried to find the other twin.
“And… another…” He paused, quickly correcting himself, “No, I apologize, you have a daughter and a son.”
“Fraternal twins,” Tori exclaimed as Aiden’s eyes widened happily, a wry smile crossing his face before Tori shot him a look.
“Don’t you say it, Roth.”
“C’mon,” Aiden pleaded, “How can we have fraternal twins and not name them Luke and Leia?”
“Because last I checked, I didn’t take the name ‘Skywalker’ when I married you.”
“Then we’ll name him ‘Kenneth’ after your maiden name.” Aiden offered, “And name her ‘Kendall’.”
“Those are both terrible,” Tori laughed, “Thankfully we have time to think of some actual good name, personally I’ve always liked Gaelic names like yours.”
“I’m not opposed.” Aiden smiled as he helped Tori to his feet, “We could even-”
“We’re not giving him the middle name ‘Buchanan’.”
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Location: Melville Island - Dundas Islands, Pacific Ocean
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Human #5.035: Knights of Cydonia
Interaction(s): None
Previously: Madness
“You wanted to meet?”
Maya stood barely illuminated by the moon above the trees, tablet in hand as she turned to the source of the voice. She brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear, before flashing a shy smile at the man before her. His brassy baritone voice was recognizable anywhere, even without his trademark armoured suit.
Tight silver curls stood out starkly contrasted against the darker hues of his complexion as James Robert King towered over Maya Eve Almassian.
“We could have chosen a better location, perhaps one with more visibility.” James stated as Maya sheepishly smiled back.
“Sorry, Steel Shell, Sir, I just know how those H.E.L.P. types are about their technology.”
“There really isn’t a H.E.L.P. to be concerned with is there?” James replied with dry amusement, “It’s more the government we have to contend with.”
“What do you make of H.E.L.P. using anti-Hype technology though?”
“Frankly, it should be destroyed before it can be used against any of us.” The older man motioned for Maya to follow him. “My abilities allowed me to build a suit that augments my physical state to rival that of my teammates. I don’t employ weapons that make anyone less than what they are. Nothing sporting about that.”
“I thought all was fair in love and in war?” Maya retorted while looking down at her tablet.
“Last I checked, we were neither in love nor in war.” James replied before spinning around on Maya and ripping the tablet from her hands. His eyes widened at the correspondence he read on the screen before words seethed through his teeth.
“You treacherous witch.” He waved the tablet in Maya’s face, “Who are you corresponding with? I am not a bargaining chip to be bought nor sold!” Indignation and rage were laden in his tone as he took a step towards Maya.
“You will not touch me,” Maya replied defiantly, “You have no idea what’s coming, first they’ll take you so-called heroes and show the world you bleed, then they’re coming for all these insolent brats you’ve conveniently gathered together in one easy target.”
“Your ignorance blinds you, you’re as Hyperhuman as I,” James retorted, “They’ll come for you all the sa-” His words were cut short as a bolt flew from the darkness, burying itself in his chest. James dropped to one knee, reaching to his belt only to stop as the bolt suddenly expanded before spinning and burying itself deeper.
His anguished cry fell upon deaf ears as the armoured pair stepped into the limited light. Maya felt her stomach turn as her eyes were drawn to the glowing lights on both sets of pauldrons. Waves of nausea washing over her as the power inhibitors built into the suits nullified both her and James’ abilities.
“My debt is paid, I have delivered as promised.” Maya stood tall, doing her best to appear fearless in the presence of the pair of knights. The one holding the crossbow turned his helm’s visor towards her and nodded slowly. She turned to leave before the other raised his hand and stopped her.
“But your allegiance is so easily bought,” The filtered voice stated, “Was it not merely weeks ago you sold students to the one known as Daedalus?”
“I-” Maya stammered, “That was different.”
“It led to the creation of that beast, Hyperhumans are already an affront to what is pure, and your actions directly led to further monstrosities. You are not to be trusted.”
“No, I am loyal to you, I can bring you more like him, please I-”
Her words hung in the air, only seemingly dissipating as her head hit the ground with a dull thud before her body crumpled alongside it. The steady hum of the glowing blade danced until the moon’s pale light before the two knights turned back to the former Steel Shell.
“Get. It. Over. With.” He growled as the one holding the sword raised the blade above his head.
“As you wish.”
His head rolled along the ground, coming to a stop beside Maya’s before the pair looked to one another and then towards the abandoned compound left behind by H.E.L.P.
“Secure the weapons, the Grand Master’s plans will surely be accelerated by this quantity.”
“Help me..” A faint voice suddenly interrupted the pair as they looked between the two deceased bodies before locating the source in the bush surrounding them. Branches snapped and leaves crunched before the frame of a young girl came into view. She looked up at them with weary eyes before they glowed red. Salvia began to drip from her mouth, her jaw unhinging as her yellowed teeth gave way to a maw full of long, piercing fangs.
“Delicious.”
And then she pounced.
Maya stood barely illuminated by the moon above the trees, tablet in hand as she turned to the source of the voice. She brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear, before flashing a shy smile at the man before her. His brassy baritone voice was recognizable anywhere, even without his trademark armoured suit.
Tight silver curls stood out starkly contrasted against the darker hues of his complexion as James Robert King towered over Maya Eve Almassian.
“We could have chosen a better location, perhaps one with more visibility.” James stated as Maya sheepishly smiled back.
“Sorry, Steel Shell, Sir, I just know how those H.E.L.P. types are about their technology.”
“There really isn’t a H.E.L.P. to be concerned with is there?” James replied with dry amusement, “It’s more the government we have to contend with.”
“What do you make of H.E.L.P. using anti-Hype technology though?”
“Frankly, it should be destroyed before it can be used against any of us.” The older man motioned for Maya to follow him. “My abilities allowed me to build a suit that augments my physical state to rival that of my teammates. I don’t employ weapons that make anyone less than what they are. Nothing sporting about that.”
“I thought all was fair in love and in war?” Maya retorted while looking down at her tablet.
“Last I checked, we were neither in love nor in war.” James replied before spinning around on Maya and ripping the tablet from her hands. His eyes widened at the correspondence he read on the screen before words seethed through his teeth.
“You treacherous witch.” He waved the tablet in Maya’s face, “Who are you corresponding with? I am not a bargaining chip to be bought nor sold!” Indignation and rage were laden in his tone as he took a step towards Maya.
“You will not touch me,” Maya replied defiantly, “You have no idea what’s coming, first they’ll take you so-called heroes and show the world you bleed, then they’re coming for all these insolent brats you’ve conveniently gathered together in one easy target.”
“Your ignorance blinds you, you’re as Hyperhuman as I,” James retorted, “They’ll come for you all the sa-” His words were cut short as a bolt flew from the darkness, burying itself in his chest. James dropped to one knee, reaching to his belt only to stop as the bolt suddenly expanded before spinning and burying itself deeper.
His anguished cry fell upon deaf ears as the armoured pair stepped into the limited light. Maya felt her stomach turn as her eyes were drawn to the glowing lights on both sets of pauldrons. Waves of nausea washing over her as the power inhibitors built into the suits nullified both her and James’ abilities.
“My debt is paid, I have delivered as promised.” Maya stood tall, doing her best to appear fearless in the presence of the pair of knights. The one holding the crossbow turned his helm’s visor towards her and nodded slowly. She turned to leave before the other raised his hand and stopped her.
“But your allegiance is so easily bought,” The filtered voice stated, “Was it not merely weeks ago you sold students to the one known as Daedalus?”
“I-” Maya stammered, “That was different.”
“It led to the creation of that beast, Hyperhumans are already an affront to what is pure, and your actions directly led to further monstrosities. You are not to be trusted.”
“No, I am loyal to you, I can bring you more like him, please I-”
Her words hung in the air, only seemingly dissipating as her head hit the ground with a dull thud before her body crumpled alongside it. The steady hum of the glowing blade danced until the moon’s pale light before the two knights turned back to the former Steel Shell.
“Get. It. Over. With.” He growled as the one holding the sword raised the blade above his head.
“As you wish.”
His head rolled along the ground, coming to a stop beside Maya’s before the pair looked to one another and then towards the abandoned compound left behind by H.E.L.P.
“Secure the weapons, the Grand Master’s plans will surely be accelerated by this quantity.”
“Help me..” A faint voice suddenly interrupted the pair as they looked between the two deceased bodies before locating the source in the bush surrounding them. Branches snapped and leaves crunched before the frame of a young girl came into view. She looked up at them with weary eyes before they glowed red. Salvia began to drip from her mouth, her jaw unhinging as her yellowed teeth gave way to a maw full of long, piercing fangs.
“Delicious.”
And then she pounced.
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