RKMBs Forums .::Important::. Writer's Block Hero Revolution [The Metagene] #1

A man travels down the darkened streets of Downtown Chicago, his trench coat falling to the wet street at his feet. Leaning over a bum on one knee, he picks up a newspaper, which was formerly used as a blanket.

quote:

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They Attack Chicago!
- Chicago (10-19-01) – In a very strange turn of events, a battle between what appeared to be an undead man and an angel, who was along with other unknown men, possibly metagene holders, occurred on October 15, 2001. The “angel” and his team of “Revolutionaries” escaped while the Zombie-like creature was apprehend by the Chicago Police Department. Only a few hours later, ninjas attacked and killed the officers bringing this creature into custody, it is unknown if they were working with or against the “zombie.”

In very similar news, an innocent labeled by Chicago Police Department as a “metahuman outbreak” occurred at O’Hare International Airport. A spectacular show of lights and color filled the sky. It is unknown even at this time if anyone was injured or killed as the FBI have cut off all media access to the scene, also closing down the airline. CNN was able to get some good shots of the scene before being removed forcefully by the Feds. – Continued on Page 10A

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The man thinks to himself; bold print, a triple headline, cover story, the media is really eating up these crazy occurrences. He continues reading what had happened. Heh. Too bad they have no idea that this it is going to kill them all.

“Hey, that’s mine!” The bum had finally woken up and wanted his “blanket” back. The man in the trench coat smiled and disappeared; the newspaper fell to the ground. The bum’s eyes widened and seemed to almost pop out of his head. With out blinking, he took a sip from his bottle and went back to sleep.

Footsteps could be heard walking away from the homeless man, as puddles splashed as someone walked across them, only the person was nowhere.

Chief Bibbowski continued his mission at hand, and boy had it been quite a few days of surveillance.

Sitting alone in his cabin, he concentrated on the laptop in front of him, it’s light illuminating the room with a light flicker. He was able to learn and catalog much about each of the outlaws, their powers and to some extent, their personal alliances.

Edulcore Cicciotto, The Eurostar
-A very powerful young man, who is much less rash than the others. Appears to be most comfortable in a team atomasphere [this is probably due to his experiences in the Olympics]. His powers seem to have expanded at a great rate as suspected since his “manifestation” some night’s back; he still has super-speed, but also flight of some sort, intangibility, and super-strength. Opposed to Malvan X, he seemed very worried about injuring the very people hunting him down.

The MCCA. They seem to be worse than even years past. Taking such rash action to secure Cicciotto, or even kill him. What reason could they have for this? The old man in charge seems to really have finally gone off his rocker. Sometimes I wish that I were never involved with the cover-up to begin with. But past mistakes aside, I just hope that I don’t have to clean up an old mess and cause an international conflict of sorts.

Tobias Christopher, The Speedster
-The first unknown ally of Cicciotto has finally been identified as one Tobias Christopher. He has super-speed and potential for much more, possibly another Alpha Class Meta. Only time will tell. He is very rash and vengeful. Definitely a wild card in the mix of bigger things.

This young man really does have something to be mad about after all. It appears his wife(?) was killed by the MCCA only a short time before this occurrence. He was tortured for his short time in captivity. I’m pretty impressed than he didn’t mass murder the MCCA Agents, lord only knows what I might have done.

The Gentleman and the Animal Man
-A man with a top hat has been appearing all around the states, causing men to be transformed into cow-like creatures. He is not any known meta-human [according to Malvan X or even the MCCA’s records]. Another unknown person has been dubbed the Animal Man by local news. He seems to hold a power to transform different parts of his body into that of a select animal.

There is much more to this “gentleman” than what meets the eye. He seems naive and acts almost like he is trying too hard to be human. Have to keep a special eye out on him.

The “Angel”
-As much as we had first thought that Cicciotto had the highest power levels of any known meta-human, we might have been wrong. This guy seems to take the cake. Powers include what appears to be every listed power known to man.

Wherever he goes, chaos follows. ‘Angel of death’ would be a better title. He seems to switch sides attacking his allies at times and even innocent people.

Chief Bibbowski closes the laptop and takes a deep breath.

When they make their next move, I’ll be there! Watching, waiting.

Dr. Walker stood, not fully sure what he should do next. In front of him were three others, much like him to his dismay. All clad in similar uniforms, each with a little bit of a distinctive feel, a small symbol or letter on the left arm that is their own, while a very similar symbol lines each of their right arms.

Bold on this symbol stood the letters, EPS.

Walker is silent; almost waiting for the loud ring that follows next. The technology around him buzzes, almost like a small child lights up on Christmas. A very powerful man with the Megagene has been located, due West 50 Miles. An Avatar of great power, if you will.

Ok, here we go again...

When the group of metas came to this place, Mister Mxy thought he had found a place to stay while the threat he was here to take care of didn't arrive... He had the impression this little group would last, even after their current problems were solved. He was surprised when he sensed that some of his new friends didn't feel like that... He is not a mind reader, but he "catched" a thought in the air, about how this was only temporary, about how it would last only until things got more normal... He doesn't know who this thought belongs to, but there's one thing he knows for sure; its not Edulcore.
The feeling Edulcore, The Eurostar, has about this group of metas is so strong, Mxy couldn't help noticing it. He is sure this will last, even if the members aren't always the same. Even if it is in a subcouncious level.
When the time passed, and things started getting more tranquil for the guys in the hideout, Mxy feared one of the guys would leave, precisely because of that... but now, from one moment to another, things have changed.
Naecken "exploted", filling the place with a weird energy that reached everyone in there, and splitted himself into five different beings...

As the confused metahumans observe the five beings that are now where Naecken was, one of them breaks the ice...

Tobias: Feds, possesed metahuman racers, more feds, and now this...

Eurostar: Guess that means we're meant to be the ones dealing with this kind of things!

Mxy smiles to himself.

quote:

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Nevada

A man sits alone, his body pressed up against a hard steel wall, sweet slowly dripping from his forehead.

A broken monitor lays only feet from his body, the low hum of a computer can still be heard.

Files and papers line the floor, thrown from their home in a wild fashion.

The man, with a million thoughts running through his mind, tries to cry but can't. He can bearly breath as he looks foward, his mind adrift.

He is able to push a few words out of his still shivering mouth, "...I don't exist..."

---

Lightingburg

A man walks down a long steel hallway, stopping at a security door. He swips his card down the lock, after a few seconds, a small green light glows and there is a low hum of the door unlocking. The name on the card reads "Agent Turner."

Nevada... To Chicago... Back to Nevada... And now, Lightingburg. Boy has this been a LONG fuckin' week. The "good" Doctor better be in, or I'll make sure he doesn't have a Lab to return to later.

Agent Turner doesn't even acknowledge the guard as he passes, his eyes fixated on the office across the hallway. He stops for a brief moment, glazing his eyes across the golden plate that reads “Dr. Knell.” Veins rip throughout Agent Turner’s arm as his fist tightens.

In the Office

Doctor Knell, also known as Doctor Klone, is at a long table. Sitting upon the table is a little baby, smaller than most, his hairs stand up on end, almost like little snakes. His eyes a light hue of green. Knell takes a little sample of blood from the baby with a small needle. He holds it up to the light and smiles.

“You are developing better than suspected buddy. Much better…”

Before he can even finish, the door flies open, almost breaking off the hinges. Standing in the doorway is Agent Turner. He takes a few steps towards Doctor Knell, who tightens up.

“Oh, Agent Turner. What a pleasant surprise.”

Agent Turner takes out a cigarette and lights it, taking a few more steps closer to Knell.

“Oh, Mr.Turner, you can’t smoke in here, you can contaminate the samples.”

Agent Turner is still silent. He takes a deep breath and blows a stream of smoke at Knell, much to his dismay. Then, Turner puts out the cigarette directly on the counter.

“What is the meaning of this visit? No one from the MCCA notified me that you were coming. You know that I desire at least a 48 hour warning so I can fit my BUSY schedule around your ‘meetings’.”

“I am not here on… Business.”

“Than what can I help you with? I am very BUS-“

“Shut your mouth.”

“What, how dare you…”

Agent Turner lungs at Doctor Knell, grabbing him by the collar and slamming him over the counter top. The little baby giggles and claps his hands in delight.

“You piece of trash. Doctor Knell, you piece of fucking trash! You were in on it. You were the lead Doctor. Why? You piece of trash, why?”

“Well, I guess secrets can only be held for a short while.”

“Cut the talk, why? Who am I? Why was I… Made.”

“First, get your hands off me. If it wasn’t for me, you would still be a sample in a jar somewhere.”

“Bustard.”

Anger overcomes Agent Turner as he throws Knell over the counter and onto the hard floor, breaking through some glass containers. Agent Turner’s eyes begin to glow a light hue of red, as anger takes over his body.

“So, it’s true than. The files weren’t lying.”

“No, they weren’t.”

Doctor Knell gets to his feet and gets a file out of a cabinet.

“The date was May 12, 1997. That was when the process was finished, and in many ways you can say you were born. For months afterward, you were kept suspended and aged rapidly.”

“You than planted the false memories. Ritchie Stevens, no such soul. All my memories were fake! School! The academy… They were all fake right?!?”

“Yes, they were. It was essential that you had no memory of the clonation. We didn’t want you going all CRAZY or anything. That’s just what we needed, the perfect AGENT going crazy.”

“What do you mean, the perfect Agent? Who was I made from?”

Red energy surges from Agent Turners eyes, sending things all around the room in a circle around his body.

“Who?”

“It looks like I have witnessed the glory first hand. We new it would take some time, years even… But it is perfect. This is perfect, you are perfec-“

“WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?”

Doctor Knell smiles and points his hand upward. Agent Turner looks around, vials and papers are flying all around. Red energy is crackling around his head, coming from his eyes.

“I… I… You mixed a sample of the Metagene in my body… You fucking piece of shit! I SHOULD KILL YOU! I’ll ask one more time, who am I?”

“Your “father,” is the MCCA Head of Operations, Richard Stephen Turner…”

Agent Turner was silent, the tiny connections were so dumb and subtle, how did he not notice.

“Why was I created?”

“I don’t know. You would have to ask the man him self that. They give orders, and I follow. That’s how it works.”

“Well than, I guess I have an appointment to make.”

Agent Turner turns and begins to walk away. He stops and swings his head around.

“Oh, just one more thing doctor…”

The small blood filled needle sitting next to the baby, who was unharmed, lifts into the air and flies across the room striking right into Knell’s neck. It injects into his neck.

Knell rips the needle from his neck and falls to his feet.

“No, what have you done… vhat have you done…*”

Agent Turner closes the door behind himself.

...I guess this means BACK to Nevada...

Looking over the room, I noticed several people strewn across the floor. Some of them were my teammates, and it was utterly unremarkable that they were there, as they had been there a moment ago.

However, where Naecken was seconds ago, there were five new people, and this kind of freaked me out...

An old man.
A woman who appeared to be... what? An angel?
Something that may have been a demon... a bloody demon...
A man covered in some sorta robot parts.
And a young guy.

"What the hell just happened here?!" I yelled.

Nobody seemed capable of providing an adequate answer.

Danny: Wow, they are fast...

Mxy: Saying "The Eurostar" is fast is redundant... He's famous all over the world because of that.

Danny: I had the impression you knew as little about this world (or time in my case) as I do, Mxy...

Mxy: Oh, no, I'm not Mxy right now... I'm Mick. Nice to meet you.

Danny: ...yeah...

Danny focuses his attention on Eurostar and Tobias...

Eurostar: I want to know who are you and what have you done with Naecken, and I want to know it now!

Tobias: Yes!

Tobias ran out the door and vibrated through the opposite wall.

"Whoa," Tobias said. "I've just been to the Great Wall of China and back."

"Yeah, well your clothe's powers weren't boosted." Mxy said as Tobias noticed his clothes were burned and shredded.

"Yipe," Tobias said as he ran out the door and came back in a blue armor like costume with a lightning bolt on the chest. "That's better."

The five dimensional being, which has just "returned" inside the body of Mick, smiles, and says: "I can provide armor-like costumes for all of you":

"But how much time they will last?" I, Eurostar, ask.

"Ehm, until I leave the mind of Mick to regain control of his body..." he explains.

"And that happens..."

"...every two hours at last..." adds Mxy.

"You means that in two hours I will be naked again?" asks Tobias.

"Yes... sorry!" says Mxy, with a malicious smile.

"OK, no costumes from Mxy" I laugh. I open my shoulder pack, and take out my old runner vest: "Tobias, this is a special Olympic runner dress. It should do just fine for you, until we can access some sort of advanced technology. I bet when we'll find a way to attack the Tri-Vex compound we'll find what we need".

"Yeah, right, when we'll we go there?" asks Tobias, while putting on my old wear.

"Patience, young friend. You are the one who had his vengeance. Now we have to make a plan..." I say, and then stop to see how Tobias looks powerful in the red costume. "A plan. But first we have to find who are these peoples".

On the floor, the five persons who replaced Naecken still lay uncounscious...

Mister Mxy: Wha...? Are you doing this... Mick--

The moment he says the name of his "host", the light in his eyes dissapears.

Mick: What? I'm back in charge of the body? What's going on, Mxy--

The light appears again.

Mister Mxy: What the hell? What's going on, Mick--

And so on.

Mick: I don't know, Mxy--

The rest of the team watch amused as this situation is repeated a couple of times, until one of them finally pities Mxy/Mick and says...

Danny: Mxy... or Mick whatever, I think it's pretty obvious what's going on here...

Mxy: It is?

Danny: Yes. Whenever you say the word "Mick", Mick takes possesion of the body. And whenever Mick says "Mxy", you take possesion of the body.

Mxy: OK, OK, I'll ask him... Mi-- Uh, M-I-C-K asks if that means we're doomed to share this body forever... Hey, what do you mean "doomed"?

Danny: Well, I don't know... Maybe. You would have to ask Naecken...

Eurostar: And that brings us back on subject... who are these five people?

Tobias: We can't know if they are hostile or not... I suggest we keep them locked until they regain counciousness(sp?).

Eurostar: Good idea. Lets go.

The team start taking the five bodies to a place of their temporary hideout where they could keep them locked. Meanwhile, somewhere else...

All he sees is darkness. And he likes it that way.

His new ally has been asleep for about half hour. Good. His thoughts were starting to annoy him.

Suddenly, a bright light blinds him.

"Insolent human! How dare you distrupt my rest?" the man says. The top of the dumpster he was resting in has been lifted, and there's a man (with a convenient shadow in his face that hides his indentity from us) standing out there, looking at him.

He is ready to blow up his head, when the shadowy man says "Eduardo Frederico... or should I say Mister Ktl?... I have a proposition for you..."

[ 11-21-2001: Message edited by: I'm Not Mister Mxypltk ]

Goon1:"Who da fuck are you?"

NM:"That aint important,whats important is that you guys dont move,you got it?"

Goon2:"Fuck you!"

NM:"Now that aint a nice thing to say to some one who if your not careful,is gonna kick your arses!"

Goon1:"Waste the fucking moron!"

Both the guys pull out guns and begin shooting at Nowhereman!
Nowhereman just shakes his head & then starts running straight at the two gunmen!

Goon2:"Shit,what is this guy made of?"

Goon1:"He must be one of those super hero guys,we better get the hell outta here!"

As they try to run Nowhereman catches them easily & hands out a vicious beating until both men lie unconcious on the floor!
After searching both men & finding nothing,he decided to enter the old fire house!
Once inside he begins tearing the place apart until under a pile of papers on a desk in the office,he finds what he is looking for!
Nowhereman reads the file to himself:

Ok guys,here is the plan.
I need guys like yourself to participate in a little scheme I have been hatching!
While I cant go into too many details here,I will say that the benefit to guys like us,will be immeasurable!
All I can say is,the downfall of the MBL must be something anyone in our business,would be proud to take part in!
You know the time,& you know the place, M!

NM:"Oh shit,Howdy was right,I cannot believe I`m gonna have to work with the MBL again,I`ve tried so hard to put all that shit behind me,but I dont see I have any choice!

With that,Nowhereman leaves the building,returns to his car & drives off into the night!

quote:

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“Hey, that’s mine!” The bum had finally woken up and wanted his “blanket” back. The man in the trench coat smiled and disappeared; the newspaper fell to the ground. The bum’s eyes widened and seemed to almost pop out of his head. With out blinking, he took a sip from his bottle and went back to sleep.

---

And while it was the slumber of intoxication, powerful images brisked by his poor soul. Eyes of onyx and perfume persuaded a sigh of pleasure, as they wrapped past the corner of his dreams with raven hair that swallowed light. Cold hell raked against his chest, screaming letters of the alphabet...taunting his lack of fear...toying with his tears. Stalwart jaws set hard as law, bracing against the coming storm....a hurricane of definition explaining the end of all that was, everything that was not to be.

His crumpled, tired form tossed and flinched with the emotional spasms of delirium and fatigue; the wrinkled newspaper crackling against his every protest.

He heard voices of allies and friends. Being born so swiftly, and dying so slowly. He felt the warmth of acceptance and loyalty, echoed through expansive halls, and castle chambers. He smelled the electricity of excitement and fervor, yearning for the next day...pleading with intrigue, danger, chaos.....

....and exploration....

His heart swelled for those he loved, and could not remember. For those he needed, and lost. For the parts of his heart that had braved the unknown, bleeding all the same. Loving all the same. Dying all the same.

And somewhere, a god was laughing at him.

He missed them. His friends. He missed them, without ever having known them. He loved her, without her ever having existed. And for some strange reason....for an inexplicable gap in his soul....he missed.....

.....a coat....?

The homeless vagrant awoke with a shuddering jerk, his eyes wide with shock. His chest panted, and heaved for a few minutes. And, as with everything else about him, the dreams slowly drifted from memory. His past lost to him, the man with no name sighed and pulled from a brown-wrapped bottle.

Then, with a grunt of curious sadness, he pulled the newspaper against him, curling along the hard, alley wall. A small breeze waifted through the dank area, tittering his flowing beard....

...tickling his bald head.

And he began to sleep again.

To dream again.

For, in this life.....in this world....it was all that was left him.

Something was missing. Something was wrong. But, for now, it didn't matter.

But one day, it will. One day.

For now, though, all he could do was sleep, and let his mind dream of lost strangers that could have been his friends, old enemies that he will never know....

....and a dead world that he would miss forever...

THE END

“Headquarter? You mean this hole on the bottom of the lake Michigan?” I say, laughing.

“It’s not a laughing matter… in an hour the water will run inside these rooms!” says Mxy.

“Merda!” I exclaim in Italian, and you can all imagine what does it means. “If we come back on the surface, the MCCA will find us, while if we stay here, we all do the end of the mice?”

“Uh?”

“We all die drowned!”

“Ah! So, what do you suggest?” asks Mxy, and both Danny and Tobias watch me waiting for an answer.

“Ehy, who has made me leader?” I shout. “I haven’t a clue to how resolve this situation!”

“Well, you are the oldest of us, the one with the experience…” says Tobias.

“Experience? Just yesterday I discovered that there is a conspiracy to enslave all the metahumans of the Earth and maybe to sold the planet to invading aliens, and today I should lead a superhero team? This is just plain crazy!”

“We’ll, this is not crazy, I can assure you!” says Danny. It’s on the History Books!”

“What? Oh, right, you are from the future!” I exclaim. If the guy says the truth, like Naecken said to be, so he knows what will happen. “Danny, if you know what it’s going to happen, it’s the moment to speak”.

“I don’t know if I should. That could cause maybe some sort of time paradox, don’t you think?”

“Danny, this is reality. If you speak, I assure you that no robot from the future will come to shout your mouth. Come on, tell us what you know!” I say, with an imperative lok that somehow seems to reassure the boy.

“Well, it’s not much. I didn’t have a formal education, I never really read an History eBook. But everyone in my time knows about the Revolution of 2002. It was started by six men, known as the Ghost, the Gentleman, the Speedster, the Angel, the Animalman and the Mad, which was their leader. What happened after I don’t know, I know of them from a fairy-tale for kid, but my mom said that they were real…”

“Good. Obviously they are us, those names describes us perfectly. So, we have to start a revolution! Good, it was just what I needed to hear.”

“But who is the Mad?” asks Tobias.

“Are you joking?” I ask, a bit harsh. “ Everyone of us could be rightly labeled like the mad”.

“But he should be a sixth person. The leader you don’t want to be. Maybe the experienced person we need”.

“Experienced? At what? The superhero game? Should I remember you that superheroes have never existed before us? If we can call us superheroes, and that it has to be proven, yet.”

Mxy intervenes: “ OK, OK. The first problem first. What do we do now?”

I watch them all. “Please, go all in the other room. I need to be alone to think.”

When they all have exit, I turn toward the center of the room.

And there, the five beings are standing on their feet, looking at me right in my eyes.

“Eurostar, sit and pay attention to us. We will not repeat our warnings” says the human one, a man on his mid twenties.

“I are Naecken” the blue little man says. “After the battle, I were so tired, that split in my former selves to regain energies. Soon the process will be completed, and Naecken will be one. But for now, I are tired, and must sleep”.

“Don’t fear for this hideout. It will last, and it will grow. The forces of Hell, Heaven, and of reams you have never heard of, are at work here. Don’t fear, it will last”, says the demon.

“You are good, Eurostar, but you can’t lead these man. A man of experience is needed, a warrior from many battle, one whose sight tap in other realities. Find him in Chicago. Just follow this sphere” says the old man, producing a ball of energy that floats from his right hand toward me, positioning itself just above my head.

“Last, Eurostar. Call youselves the MBL. These letters mean nothing for you, but bear a great meaning for the gods that watch over you and your kind. One day you’ll find a sense for those letters. Until then, just accept this name. Now going back to sleep. I are still too tired…”

And with those words, the five beings sit and then lie on the ground of the cavern, each one back to sleep.

I leave, and join my comrades. “Guys, I am going to find the Mad one. The five sleeping beauties in the other rooms are Naecken. This sphere of energy will bring me to our leader. Also, soon Naecken will be back in his former appearence. Until then, don’t fear for the cavern, it will resist. Actually Naecken said it is growing into something new.”

“So, are we ready to go?” asks Tobias.

“No, I’m going alone. I am basically invisible, so the MCCA will not suspect anything. You stay here, watch over the five Naecken beings, and you, Danny, try to remeber that fairy tale. Maybe we can find something useful about our immediate future. Now I go.”

The sphere of energy leave, and I follow it.

How strange how many weird counselors I had met in the last few days. First those strange gods, then the backward talking dwarf, and last the old bearded man with the leather coat. And now, these five freaks. I bet I am going crazy…

The sphere is heading right to the outskirts of the city. Parking lots, old buildings, a dismissed railway… the energy ball point toward a unused apartments building… and phase in the ground.

I follow it… and find myself inside an underground garage. There is an old Ford Fiesta , surrounded by tons of garbage… stuffed animals, toy guns, old Halloween costumes, an inflatable dinosaur, a big poster with the picture of a penny. And a long line of portraits, hanging from one of the wall.

I go toward them. It’s the same photo, each one altered slightly in a different manner with a felt tip pen. One of the man has a pair of moustaches, one a seventeen century wig, another a domino mask, and so on.

“Eurostar! I was just looking for one of you!”

I turn back. There is a man on his late twenties or firsts thirties, his accent clearly British. How can he see me?

“You know, I don’t like to work with a team anymore, but the MBL needs me now. I know certain things…”

The sphere has disappeared. This is the man I was looking for. Oh mamma!

“Where is the headquarter, now, Euro? Still in Thunder, or in one of the old places, like the moon or limbo?” he asks.

What the heck is he talking about?

“Hey, Euro, how is the kid? Still eating all those rats every day?”

I don’t know what to say. This is clearly a disturbed man, but his condition applies perfectly to a man known as “the Mad”. Just I would like to know how could he be useful for…

“I heard you died, Euro. But it’s the same story, no superhero stay dead forever… do you remember that time in 1900 Russia, you, me and Agent 57? There was also the Time Trust… You were trapped in the Phantom Board, and I, Nowhereman, rescued you from your evil clone…”

Nowhereman. A superhero name. Two days ago I would have turned my back to this man without a second tough, but an angel has said me to find him. And what he said? His sight can tap into other dimensions?

“Yeah, Nowhereman, I’m Eurostar. And sadly, my son is in danger. The whole MBL is in danger, and we can use your help.” Have I really just said these words?

“OK! My Nowheremobile will bring us to the Headquarter in a matter of minutes” he says, jumping inside the Fiesta.

“No!” I shout. “I mean, the new Headquarter is below water. It’s better if I bring you there…”

I touch him, and, turned both into ghosts, we rise to the star filled night sky, and, on the breath of the wind, we flies toward the lake.

I turn slightly denser, and our descent into the lake begins. Deep down, the darkness embrace us. Then, we are in a long tunnel, its walls made of fire. The tunnel ends over a lake blue as the sky. In the middle of the sky, an island of white clouds, and on it, a temple made of golden marbles.

We fly there. On the front stair that leads to the temple, five beings awaits us. Naecken, the blue angel with little horns, white glowing eyes and silver wings, wearing a cyber suit adorned with arcane symbols. Mr. Mxy, in a tailcoat dress with a top hat. Tobias, wearing a blue armor with a silver lighting bolt across his chest. And finally Danny, with a cool looking black leather suit.

On the pediment of the temple, only three letters engraved in the marble: MBL.

"Hmmm. Not as classy as the old one..." says Nowhereman as he looks around the place "I don't see any crime fighting gagdets or super computers... not that I miss any of that shit"

Nowhereman remembers he doesn't want his old teammates to realize he's in here for his own reasons, and he changes the subject.

Nowhereman: So, uh... You must be Tobias... something... I've heard about you... Saw the Warriors in action once, y'know

Tobias: Uh, yeah...

Nowhereman: And you must be...

Danny: My name is Danny.

Nowhereman: Right, right... from TOMB, right? And... Mxy? Is that you?

Mick: Well, not right now... but if you want I can call him...

Nowhereman: You and your jokes... I like the new look. Good to see you got rid of that fuckin' dwarf look... it was getting on my nerves... y'know what I mean...?

Mick: Yes, yes! Haha!

He turns to Danny and Tobias.

Mick: He is mad.

Eurostar walks by and says in a low voice...

Eurostar: Exactly. Just play along...

He goes to Nowhereman and they walk to other part of the Temple.

Tobias: He is suppoused to be our leader? Maybe he's powerfull, who knows... but he is insane!

Danny: ...like the man that leaded the group that started the revolution. I say we trust Edulcore and let "Nowhereman" lead us.

Tobias: I agree. I don't know why, but I think things will get pretty rocky from now on... if anyone's planning to leave, this would be the right time to do it.

Mick realizes he is right...

Mick: Yes... Please excuse me now, guys... I have to be alone with M-- you know... the guy whose's name I can't say.

Danny: Sure.

Mick walks to a quieter part of the Temple and closes his eyes to concentrate in comunicating woth the fifth dimensional being inside him.

"Mxy... are you there...? I'm always here! You wanted to talk, Mickey? Don't call me Mickey... look, I don't want to be rude or anything, but... GET OUT OF MY BODY! But, Mick! C'mon! I need a place to stay! I'm serious, I want my life back! C'mon, we're doing great here! No we are not! This is a group of freaks! Tobias was right, who knows what will happen next? I want out, now! C'mon... Mickeeeey... No! If you don't leave my body, I'll quit the team! Don't do that, Mick-o! I want to help these people! Then do it in someone else's body! Look, the truth is... what you said earlier is right... because of the power we absorbed from Naecken we are "doomed to stay together forever", as you putted it... Sorry... But... you have powers! You can--"

Eurostar: Mxy, Mick! Hate to interrupt you guys, but our new leader wants to have a meeting! He wants us in the meeting room in 2 minutes! Whatever the meeting room is...

Mick: OK, I'll be there... This conversation is not over, Mxy...

"Hey," Ron replies, "what's so bad? No one will expect anything this important going down here, plus we have a little fun...they did have fun where you come from, right?"

"Don't patronize me. You got what I want?"

"Yeah, I got it. Have I ever let you down?" Ron handed a gigantic pile of folders to Kristogar.

"You mean other than those three incidents in August this year?" Kristogar browsed through the contents.

"How is your knee, anyway?"

"Well, I need deep-tissue massages six nights a week that are utterly excruciating, but otherwise it's great. Jeez, can you be more descriptive about these people?"

"What do you expect? You say 'I want all information down to the tiniest detail of every possible metahuman in existence today', I deliver."

"Any of them know you?"

"Not a one. But one did know you."

Kristogar looked up. "What?"

"A Brit named Nowhereman. I don't recall who he was talking to, but he said something about you two making a guest appearance on a talk show once. Listen, I know your business ain't my business, but I question your choice of who to trust in this matter."

"I don't know any Nowhereman."

"Seriously, the guy's nuts. He ain't healthy."

"Listen," Kristogar was more than a little flabbergasted, "I don't know what you're talking about, but..." He stopped himself before he got too wound up. "Whatever. Thanks for the info." He got up to leave, but Ron stopped him.

"What will you do with it? Y'know, the information?" Ron asked.

"Well, nothing at the moment. But if any of them try to start an alliance, I'll be a founding member."

"You're kidding me. How the hell would you join a group of metahumans? That lame ass costume you got? That might've worked for the little blue people but it won't impress jack shit here."

"We'll see..." Kristogar trailed off. "You know, you should join their community, too. What was it that we used to call you? Tick--"

"Speck."

"Yeah. Well, I'm off. Give the school teacher my regards," Velo referred to one of the strippers. As he was walking out the door, Ron called out one last thing to him.

"I got it! You could tell them that your big ass knee brace has special powers!" Kristogar responded with a very traditional gesture.

In the middle of the room large as a cathedral, stands the little rounded wooden table where we met the first time, in the log cabin near the Michigan lake. On the rough surface, the letters M B L burn of an inextinguishable fire.

“Too new age for my taste, but, hey, this is the XXI century, right?” says Nowhereman, who, since the moment he has crossed the main entrance of the temple, sports a costume dark as the night. The same thing has happened to me. I have now a fitting red costume, with white flaming trunks and a little white cross over my nose and eyebrows, decorating the full red mask that cover my face.

Nowherman stand near the table, while the others take the seats. I sit near the angel. In a low voice I ask: “Where did all this crap came from, Naeken?”

“The fire from Hell, the clouds from Heaven. The building from the Quadnik quadrant…”

“Quadnik?”

“A realm, or dimension, high above you and your planet. You are three dimensional, Mxy is five dimensional. The Quadnik dimension is described by a complex number. Should I…”

“No! Don’t talk to me about mathematic. I had a friend, Brian is his name, good at this sort of thing. Me, not.”

“Please, silence. You with the wings, are you the Changeling?” asks Nowhereman.

“My name is Naecken” responds the hybrid being.

Nowhereman raise one eyebrow. “Another newly arrived? But where are the powerhouse? The Indestructible Man, Zod, Rypta, Kristogar Velo?”

“I don’t know who the others are, but I am here!”

We all turn to the entrance, where a masked man in a green armor has just appeared, radiating a iridescent energy from his gauntlets.

“Kristogar Velo at your services”.

“Kristogar, old friend!” shouts Nowhereman, greeting the stranger. “Where have you been this two years?” he asks. “After that fiasco with the evil KidBucket, I though we would have never seen you again!”

The man watches Nowhereman with wide open eyes, that looks at me and move his lips to form the words “Who is this loon?”

I smile, and speaking louder, suggest: “Ehm, Nowhereman, I think your friend must have travel a lot to arrive here, maybe he need some rest before the meeting”.

Nowhereman thinks for a moment, and says: “Yes, could be better. Eurostar, you are a cook, prepare some meal for everybody. In the meantime, the angel will show me the features of this new Headquarter!”

Naecken stand up, and go toward a big door, followed by the Brit. “Angel, where is the Gymn?” asks Nowhereman, and the word echoes in the vast chamber.

Mxy guide me to the cooking facility, bigger than my own restaurant in Italy. Funny, it’s the first time I think of it since I left my place that night…

While I begin to check pots, pans and dishes, I talk to Kristogar: “So, how the hell have you arrived here, man?”

The tall man seems to think, and then, slowly, responds: “I was looking for you. I have seen the news about your two fights with the feds, so I tough it was the moment.”

“What moment?”

“The moment the metahumans of this country will raise their heads and breaks the chains of slavery…”

“And how have you found us?”

I have fled to Chicago, where you were spotted last, and while I was above this point of the lake, a vortex has appeared on the surface. It was the moment you and your friend were arriving. Ijust followed you.”

“My friend? So, you don’t know Nowhereman?”

“I haven’t met him before, but I know something of him… and of many of you. I have done my homework.”

“It seems a total lunatic, but we have some… information, that says he will have an important role in whatever we are going to do. And now with what the angel has said about you… I don’t know what to think.”

“What do you know?”

“Ahh, it is nothing, really. Danny is from the future, and remember history notes about ourseves…”

“Mhhh… the future is not yet set in stone, Eurostar. What the boy remember, could never happen”.

“Ah, good. Well, one last question, Mr Kristogar. Who are you?”

[ 11-26-2001: Message edited by: T5 ]

[ 11-26-2001: Message edited by: T5 ]

Two guards, Christopher Thomas and Derek Patrick, are walking down the empty hallways of the New Thunder Museum. The night shift. One lights a cigarette while the other just keeps his flashlight steady as they walk to the source of a silent alarm that has been set off, the cameras picked up nothing.

“Derek, you know you can’t smoke in here man! Put that shit out.”

“Dude, chill out.”

Uneasy the man replies, “You might take this job as a joke, but I need it. I got a wife and newborn that I gotta take care of.”

“What the FUCK is that?” Derek stopped short, almost pushing Christopher forward into the man only feet away from them.

“Hello…?”

Christopher shined the light over the disfigured man; who was just shy 8 feet, his nails appear to have been uncut for years, his arms – huge, while his muscles rip with veins from head to toe.

Christopher reaches for his nightstick-like weapon and backs up a step, right into Derek. Christopher turns as a laugh comes from Derek. Derek lifts both arms over his head and the shift into metal blades. Reacting on instinct, Christopher wacks Derek across the face and hauls ass. Derek looks up to the huge disfigured man from his knees.

“What are you waiting for, GET HIM!”

*Grunt*

The huge man swiftly moves across the room as his arms hit the ground in an ape-like motion. Christopher runs across the empty museum, which is lit only by the flickering exit sign and small lights which are above the active cameras. Christopher moves behind an old suit of armor, as the huge man runs right by and into the next wing of the museum. Christopher moves out from behind the armor and takes the ax. He slowly walks through the darkened hallway. In a short distance he sees his grounded flashlight. Derek is nowhere to be found. Footsteps can be heard all around, appearing to be from all sides. The sound of glass crashing sends shivers throughout his body. Then, everything is silent. His breathing breaks the silence, folowed by a simple footstep. He moves his hand over his forehead and makes the sign of the cross, Help me God-

He than makes a run for his flashlight, shutting it off once it is in his hands. He whispers to himself once again and turns it on; finally shining the light over the room.

The room is empty. The light glows as it moves over broken glass over the far side of the floor. There is a spot of blood over a broken case, an ancient bowl was stolen.

The fisherman´s wife had been faithfull for years, never a harsh word or a broken dish.
The obsidian eyes betray no emotion at all when she rams the shovel in his face.
She keeps on laughing at her blows, when they produce squelched brain and blood all over the kitchen.

London: Subway

The man was annoyed at the sight of dirt on his jacket. He had to get it drycleaned...right after he tied the last kid to the track.
The screams of the four kids didn´t bother the obsidian black eyes of the man...soon the train will come.

Top Secret Army Supply Base: Oregon

The 600 kilos of explosives he attached to the sleeping quarters went of as he laughed at the sky with his obsidian eyes.

"So..." says Danny, trying to break the ice "Where are you from, Kristogar?"

Kristogar: Oh, you know... here and there...

Danny: Oh. Cool.

The awkard silence once again fills the room, for about a minute.

Danny: I'm from the future, you know...

Kristogar: You are?

Danny: Yes, yes...

Kristogar: That's cool...

Danny: Yes...

The awkard silence comes back once again, in spite of Danny's attempts to prevent that from happening.

Mxy, bored, starts playing with a pencil. It makes an annoying noise. Edulcore takes it away from him.

These are men of action. They can't be kept in a room without doing anything.

Tobias: So... who wants to go to the Training Room?

Danny, Edulcore and Kristogar: Training room???

Tobias: Yes...

Mxy: Training room???

Tobias: Yes, I was saying, I saw a room with a "Training Room" sign on the door earlier...

Danny: Lets see what it's about!

Kristogar: Yes!!! Please!!!

The five men go to the room, almost running. When they get there they see a huge empty room, and something that looks like a control panel in the entrance.

Edulcore: Hmmm... It looks like Naecken made this room so we could train... like the name of the room suggests... I guess this "mode" buttons are here to select wich enviroment we want to train in, so the room can imitate it.

Kristogar: Oh yeah? What kind of enviroments are there?

Edulcore: There are plenty... so let the games begin!

Although I'm still not sure where exactly all this stuff comes from. Including my new clothes...

Black t-shirt. Leather jacket. Leather pants. Black boots.

That's all well and good... and rather stylish, if I do say so myself... but I still have no idea where it all came from.

Ah, well. Living with a group like this is bound to be an adjustment.

I find what I'm looking for. Scissors. Big ones. With an orange handle.

"Perfect," I say quietly.

I slip off the jacket and drape it across the desk. I then take off my new t-shirt, feeling the soft material with my fingers. I almost feel bad ruining it like this... but it'll be much easier like this in the long run.

I take the scissors, and stick them into the back of the t-shirt. I jerk my arm upwards, leaving a slash about five inches long across the right shoulder blade. I create a second slash on the opposite side of the shirt.

I hold it up and look at it.

Not really as neat-looking as it was before. But much more practical, Hal says.

"Right," I say, nodding. It occurs to me that a second brain inside my own head can't really see me nodding. I do it anyway.

I slip the t-shirt back on, and put the jacket on over it.

Moments later, I'm in one of the building's many hallways. I walk slowly and hesitantly... I have no idea where I'm going.

"...hello...?" I say.

No one responds.

"Hello?" I say again, slightly louder.

"Danny?" Naecken says, turning a corner ahead of me, with Nowhereman in tow.

"Hey. Uh... I've gotta ask you something..." I say to him.

"Yes?" Naecken replies.

"You said that there's a... time space portal thingie... somewhere over the ocean. That it could take me back home. Is that still there?" I say, softly. I almost feel like I'm betraying my new teammates just asking the question. As if going home would be abandoning them, in the midst of the crisis they've found themselves in.

It's as much my fight as it is theirs.

Naecken's head drops slightly.

"I'm sorry to say, Danny, that it has since closed. These things are unpredictable... unfortunately, we were attacked before you could take advantage of the opportunity," Naeken answers. His usual relatively expressionless voice betrays a certain measure of sympathy.

"It's... gone?" I hear myself asking.

"Unfortunately, yes."

"Is there another one? Anywhere?"

"Not that I know of. It could be years before another one appears. As I said, these things are-"

"...unpredictable, right..."

I'm nodding again.

"I'm sorry, Danny," He says.

Nowhereman listens to this exchange, remaining silent.

I walk off, slowly, leaving them to the tour.

It suddenly hits me.

I'm stuck here. Forever. No more home. No more two thousand eighty-three.

That sucks, man.

"Tell me about it, Hal..."

I decide to follow the others to the training room. I promised them I'd meet them there. Even though I'm not in the mood to train...

(See the MBL Training Room thread, let the traing take place there so we can have space here for the story) (train there and come back for adding on to the story)

Swarms of giant mobile suits piloted by ugly aliens were shooting at us, but we managed to fight them as a well oiled team. Nowhereman gave orders, and we all performed perfectly, Kristogar using his power gauntlets, Mxy his magic, Tobias his supervelocity, Danny his morphing abilities. And me changing my density from superheavy to ghost form. In the end, the battle was won easily.

When the virtual settings wore off, we were all cheering each other. Nowhereman was smiling, and Kristogar shook his hands, saying: “Just like our first time, battling the Boulls in the Crock of Ages!”

I didn’t noticed those words. I was so happy then.

When we returned to the meeting room, we weren’t ready for what was waiting for us. Dozens of people. All dressed in colourful costumes, there was even a giant. Kristogar and Nowhereman seemed excited. “Jack Eimann! Dan E. Boy! Tora! Llance! Zod!” and many other names. They were at last sixty. Sixty metahumans, amles and females.

And then, Kristogar took off his mask. And his eyes were all black, like obsidian. He turned to me, and smiled. And then, all the metas took off their mask, and all had obsidian eyes.

I felt that was the end. They attacked.

Nowhereman was not one of them. He was surprised like us, even if not scared like me. We battled. But this time it was not like in the virtual room. This time we were inefficient, bumping each into the other, aiming badly at our enemies, hurting ourselves. We were losing, succumbing to a sheer power hundreds of time stronger than us.

Until.

Until the temple began collapsing over us.

I managed to arrive near Naecken: “Is your doing?” I asked.

“Too much evil” he said, with a suffocated voice, while he was irradiating energy from his whole persona.

Mxy was shouting at me: “I feel KLT! But he’s not alone!”

And then all went black.

We awoke on the sand of the lakeside. Naecken, “Nowhereman”, Mxy, Tobias, Danny and me.

Now we are still on the coast, looking at the lake. Of the “MBL Headquarters”, the only thing that has survived it was the old, battered wooden round table. The only real thing that was there.

Naecken seems sad. It’s the first time I see him with an expression like this.

“Kristogar was not the true one, if such a meta indeed exists on this plane of existence. Like the others metas. They were all normal persons, seduced and transformed by an higher, evil power. And I had to kill them. All.” Says the angel, with his (her?) female voice.

“It was either them or us” I notes, but that causes a tear to run down the blue cheek.

“Was the headquarter to attract that evil, Naecken?” I ask.

“I… I am sorry” he replies. Just I was suspecting.

There is a piece of an old newspaper ashore on the sand. “This planet is worst than Hell, Nae…” I say, pointing my finger to a picture of the war in Afghanistan.

There are children playing on the sand, very far, but their laughs arrive here. “…and holier than Heaven. We can’t change it. We can only help it to change itself.”

Mxy is talking with Danny and Tobias. The fancy costumes are gone, we are back to our tattered garbs. “We must find KTL. He is growing powerful with every day that passes. And, also, are you sure he should be our leader?” says Mxy, pointing to the Brit, which he is standing in front of the lake. He is talking to himself, with different voices. Split personality, it seems. One is called Howdy, the other Jack Nasty.

What happened down the lake, in that magic refuge? Heaven, Hell, Space and Time conjured up a fancy Universe where being lead by a fool seemed very cool.

But now, under the sun all is different, all is so real. The truth, for how much I hate it, is that our group needs someone to give directions, to coordinate our wish. And it seems that the best suited, God help me, is indeed me.

“Tobias, scan the place and find a deserted house or factory, or, best, a disused mine. We need a true resting place, possibly secure from the eyes of the satellites”.

Then I go near “Nowhereman”. “The headquarter… destroyed… the MBLeaguer… all traitor. It’s horrible. I needed the MBL, there is something…”

“Later, Nowhereman. They were not traitor, they were… villains…. disguised. But we are still here. Maybe we are not the best, maybe we are few and untrained. But we are here. Just don’t call us MBL. There is no MBL, and never will.

TRI-VEX CORPORATION WORLD HEADQUARTERS, THUNDER CITY...

Dr. Walter Curie walked into the building, whistling happily as he winked at the voluptuous red-headed receptionist who sat behind the large mahogany information desk. She smiled as waved playfully as he walked past.

Curie swipes his keycard, the elevator doors opening to whisk him safely to the third subbasement - home to his genetics laboratory. An odd thing happened in the elevators, once they hit the subbasements. The lights got dim and tiny lasers located in the elevator security cameras scanned the body or bodies of the person or persons in the elevator. The lasers took a copy of the genetic make-up of the person in the elevator. If it didn't match with the recorded DNA with the name on the keycard, the lasers would turn lethal, burning holes in the person(s) eyes until the "life functions" ceased.

Security protocol.

One of the many "goodies" Tri-Vex had pioneered in its years of research.

The elevator doors opened and Curie stepped out and into his laboratory, passing a number of gifted scientists as they tinkered with strands upon strands of DNA sequencing and coding. Stepping into his office, Curie poured himself a hot cup of coffee, pouring in a bit of sugar and cream and slipping into his high-backed leather chair.

Turning toward his computer, he placed his Styrofoam coffee cup next to his mouse and began his day by checking his inter-office e-mail.

The first message was from Knell. Figures, he thought, rolling his eyes. The message said that Knell wanted to see Curie at his earliest convenience. Curie looked at his watch. 9:11 AM. He could put it off for at least another half-hour.

The second message was from Jasmine, the first-level receptionist, wanting to know if they were still on for this Saturday night. Curie smiled as he sent his assent to the suggestion.

The third message was from Dr. Walker. Curie smiled broadly as he read the message, not having heard from Walker in weeks. However, Walker didn't have much to say. "Always was the all-business type," Curie whispered as his eyes scanned over the message:

quote:

---

Walt~
I need a favor. I'm not at liberty to say what it's for, but I need you to do it for me, just the same. Attached is a schematic for a unique form of metahuman DNA I've found. I need a test run on it. I need details. What can it do? What is it capable of? I have an idea, but I need to hear it from someone I trust. Give it to your best man... or do it yourself. I don't care. Just get it done. Thanks, Walt. I owe you one.
~ Walker

---

"Oh, so, we're counting now?" Curie said, opening up the DNA schematic. At the simple sight of it, Curie's mouth dropped open. "What the...?"

It was unlike anything he'd ever seen before. It was methuman DNA, all right. The only difference between it and the other types that he had seen was that this strand was concentrated. Heavily. Dozens of peptides and hydroxyl groups were bunched together where only one should be.

"This is insane!" Curie whispered to himself. "Whoever this metahuman is, he's one of the most powerful I've ever seen..."

Shaking his head to overcome the initial shock of his find, Curie quickly distributed the job to his best man on the floor, telling him to have the results on his desk by the end of the day. From there, Curie walked back to the elevator, setting his location to Knell's office.

Upon arriving on the correct floor, Curie was greeted by Knell's frantic secretary. "Oh, thank GOD! It's about time you've shown! He's been asking for you every five minutes since I got in at five this morning! There's something not right about it, Walt! Something not right!"

"Shh!" Curie put his arm around the woman reassuringly. "Calm down, Nancy. You're hysterical. Let me go in and assess the situation. Everything's going to be fine."

"Be careful, Walt!" Nancy called after him, falling to the floor in a sobbing heap, her arm reached out for him. "Be careful!"

Curie looked back at her briefly and opened the door cautiously. A gust of stale air hit him in the face as he walked in, closing the door behind him. The lights were out, shades drawn, making the room incredibly dark. As Curie’s eyes adjusted to the shift in light, he picked up on an odd scent. Leather. But not normal cow leather. It was odd, to say the least…

“Dr. Knell?” Curie asked quietly, straining to make something out something in the dark room.

Then, he heard it. A grating hiss of a voice answered him. The voice was deep, brusk, and guttural, yet oddly familiar.

“Walt? Walt, is that you?”

“Dr. Knell?” Curie ambled aimlessly in the direction of the voice, but still couldn’t make out where it was coming from.

“Yesss, Walt,” the voice answered, as Curie heard the sound of movement around him. Heavy movement. When it ceased, the voice was on the other side of him. “It’s me. Dr. Zachary Knell.”

“Y-you wanted to see me… Doctor?” Curie asked, confused.

“Yesss, I did.” the grating voice grew harsher as it bore down on Curie, drawing closer and closer to his ear as the conversation continued. “I want you to make me an anti-gene.”

“A what?”

“An anti-gene. One designed to counter the effects of the metahuman gene to reduce it back to the human level.”

“But, sir, that’s morally… ethically un—“

Curie’s statement was cut short as a massive clawed hand gripped him by the collar, lifting him high into the air. Raspy gasps of hot air hit him in the face, the stench of which was awful. Small droplets of saliva hit his face. As they collided, he felt the spit begin to bubble and his skin begin to burn.

“I DIDN’T ASSSSK ABOUT MORALSSS AND ETHICSSSS. I SSSSAID I WANTED IT DONE!!!!”

The fear that had aroused in Curie’s heart began to subside when he heard the sound that came next.

Crying.

A baby’s tears.

Curie’s body was tossed into the wall like a ragdoll as lumbering footsteps walked across the room to the opposite corner. Curie heard the voice of who he could only presume to be Dr. Zachary Knell hissing and cooing at the crying baby, who was obviously the snake-headed child of Knell’s own creation.

As his eyes having started to adjust, Curie could now make out the shape of his employer and attacker. A hulking figure, standing at about seven feet, stood hunched over a small crib, holding a metahuman clone of a child in one enormous taloned hand.

“D-doctor Knell… w-what happened to you?” Curie asked quietly, shying away as glowing yellow eyes turned to meet his from the distance of the room.

“I had a visitor yessssterday at about five thirty. After everyone elsse had gone. He injected me with sssome of the blood sssample I had taken from Eddie here.” The voice paused, as its keeper toyed playfully with the child by waving a large claw before it’s face.

“The pain was… excruciating,” the voice continued pensively, as if recalling his own personal Holocaust. “I recall writhing in agony as my ssskin began to peel and flake away and as this hard leathery hide I have now took itss plasssse. The horror as my clothes began to rip and tear, as large talonsss began protruding from my fingerssss, ripping my fingernailsss off. The only thing that kept me from killing myssself wass Eddie…”

The monster that was now Zachary Knell, head of genetics research at Tri-Vex Corporation, trudged over to the door, placing his hand on the lightswitch.

“And now…” Knell said.

A blast of light hit Curie’s corneas, causing him to cover his face. As his eyes now adjusted to the light, he realized that he didn’t want to look at the “man” before him. But, he had to. Not for Knell’s sake, and certainly not for his own. But for the sake of science.

Curie slowly uncovered his eyes as they took in the full image of the figure before him.

And, like every good scientist, Curie did the only thing he could do in the given situation.

He fainted.

[ 11-30-2001: Message edited by: Chewy Walrus ]

Dr. Charles Walker sat pensively drumming the keys on his keyboard, looking at the DNA schematic before him. This is just too weird, he thought to himself as he continued. Pressing a key on a nearby recorder, he began his latest journal entry.

“EPS Leader’s Log. Supplemental Entry.

“The new meta we picked up not two days ago is a conundrum, indeed… and that’s putting things mildly.

“The first words out of his lips were ‘Where am I?’ When we refused to tell him, the young man then proceeded to cause the earth to shake, leading us to believe that his metagene allows for some telekinetic control over the earth’s tectonic plates.

“After sedating him, we were able to procure a DNA sample, which was much more complex than we had anticipated. It seems that his metagene is concentrated, making him what we believe to be not just an Alpha-class meta, but an Alpha-Plus, possibly the most powerful metahuman known to man.

“What is more disturbing is that I.G.O.R. has been, as of yet, unable to ascertain any information of this… metahuman avatar. Genetic records have nothing on him. He has no identification or any way of us learning anything about him. It will be an incredibly difficult task getting information from him as he will have to learn to gain our trust, which means that we will have to become trustworthy. An incredibly difficult task, considering our present situation.

“Once the meta comes out of his catatonia, I shall attempt to procure the information I need from him and introduce him to the rest of the team – the Enhanced Procurement Sanction. The EPS.”

Walker clicked off the recorder and went back to studying the DNA schematic. Damn, this guy’s powerful… Walker thought to himself, rubbing his temples with the palms of his hands. We may need a back-up, just in case he’s not… “willing” to ally himself with us…

“I.G.O.R., initiate search program,” Walker called out, as a faceless head appeared on his monitor.

//Please specify the nature of your search.// the emotionless voice of I.G.O.R. stated from the screen before him.

“Metahuman,” Walker said, getting ready to narrow his search. “Criminal record.” Walker paused for a moment, dwelling on the thoughts of the members of his current team. A sneer spread across his lips as the words escaped his lips. “Insane asylum inmate.”

//Search initiated.// came I.G.O.R.’s unquestioning reply. After little more than ten seconds, the mechanical voice resounded again. //Search completed. Displaying results.//

“Excellent,” Walker muttered, pressing a name on the screen to review for eventual procurement. “Now, what’s the status on our latest procurement?”

//John Doe is an estimated four minutes from awakening. Would you like me to administer more sedative?//

“That’s a negative, I.G.O.R. I want to talk to this kid. Have the rest of the team meet in Briefing Room Alpha. I want to arrange our first ‘mission’ of sorts.”

//Understood.// I.G.O.R. said, his “face” disappearing from the screen.

Walker rose from his seat, making his way into the infirmary area of the elaborate bunker. As he walked, he passed by rows and rows of housing for his team members, a kitchenette, a recreational/game room, and Briefing Room Beta. Walking into the infirmary, Walker walked up next to the unconscious form of “John Doe,” quickly setting up a force field, making it impossible for him to at least escape his confinement area.

As the man’s eyes opened slowly, the dawning realization of where he was and who was staring at him became evident to Walker. Sitting up as hard as he could, the man’s head was smacked against the coursing energy blocking him in, slamming his head firmly back onto the bed where he lay. His jaw clenched and muscles visibly tightened.

“Where. Am. I,” he asked, repeating his earlier question, fully expecting an answer.

“You're safe,” Walker said, staring the man directly in the eye. “That’s what this place is… a ‘safe-house’ of sorts.”

“Really?” the man’s expression softened a bit, but he still looked hardened.

“Yes,” Walker said, nodding his head in assent. “However, in exchange for your safety, you are required to do some work for us.”

“What sort of work?” he asked, eyes glaring like daggers at him.

“Covert government work,” Walker answered honestly. “Our goal is to procure metahumans or metahuman DNA in order to better map and research the metahuman genome.”

“Am I one of your ‘procurements’?” the bitter young man asked.

“To be totally honest, yes. Yes, you were,” Walker answered honestly again. “However, we were hoping that we could gain your assistance. Use your metahuman abilities to help us in our endeavor. In return, we will provide you with this safe haven.”

The man appeared pensive for a brief period of time. He then propped his head up, being careful not to bump it again and whispered softly, “I agree.”

“Excellent,” Walker said, bringing down the force field, surrounding the man’s body. Extending his hand, Walker lifted the man from his bed, bringing him to his feet. “The name’s Dr. Charles Walker.”

The young man simply nodded, showing no interest in giving his own name. Walker simply shrugged, leading the man into Briefing Room Alpha. Around the table sat three people, all incredibly different, yet ironically the same. Each wore a one-piece jumpsuit, each a different color, with three letters emblazoned on their right shoulders. EPS – the Enhanced Procurement Sanction. Each had a criminal record, having committed various sundry crimes.

The first member at the table was a larger man, whose dress was totally white, which was, ironically, the color of his hair. He wore over his jumpsuit a tan vest, which complimented him rather nicely. On his head, he wore a wide brimmed white hat, on his finger, a platinum ring, and in his mouth, a fine Cuban cigar. His name was William Tweed and he was one of the most notorious crime bosses in Chicago.

Next to him sat a slender beauty, whose long blonde hair was wrapped sensuously around her head. She wore a pale green jumpsuit, which complimented her pale green eyes. Her long red fingernails tapped impatiently on the table as Walker walked in with the new arrival. However, the moment they walked in, her eyes widened, her mouth curled into a smile, and her tongue danced seductively across her lips. Her name was Vidalia Owens and she was a Chicago prostitute charged with the murder of eleven of her male clients.

The final member of the group sat backwards in his chair, so that it’s back faced the table. His jumpsuit was colored deep navy blue, in order to match the bandana around his head. He was undoubtedly the youngest individual on the EPS, obviously no more than seventeen. He had bizarre stubble growing on his upper lip in a failed attempt to look aged. A 9mm was strapped to his leg – the only weapon he’d insisted on keeping. His name was Andy Reynolds, tried as an adult for gang rape, assault with a deadly weapon, battery, drug dealing, and multiple other crimes.

Each one was a metahuman. Each one had been hand-picked, tested and trained by Walker himself to undergo this important mission. And now, with his added bonus of this new stranger, he had his ace in the hole. He was ready for what needed to happen next. Once his contact got back to him, it would be smooth sailing. He knew his EPS was ready… and he couldn’t be happier...

[ 12-01-2001: Message edited by: Chewy Walrus ]

For the first time in days, I think that maybe I should have listened to Quantos. Be an operative of Malvan X. Moneys, luxury facilities, exotic locations.

And instead of all that, I’m here. In an abandoned mine, with the five strangest beings I have ever met.

I stand up, and go near the “angel”, Naecken. “I need to know, Nae. What was exactly the beings that attacked us?”

“Evil”.

“Evil, OK. But what KLT has to do with it?”

“KLT was only the channel for it to arrive on this plane of existence. Now it has left Frederico”.

“KLT?”

“No, the higher evil. KLT it’s still inside Frederico, but he is somewhat sleeping now. But the higher evil is free, somewhere out there”.

“Why it attacked us?”

“Because Nowhereman is another magnet for it. The mind of Nowhereman is set on a different dimension. Actually, the shadow of a dimension that is on the verge of cancellation. He has used Nowhereman mental patterns to adjust to this world, and now it’s free to wander everywhere, without the need of a channel. Do you understand?”

“More or less, yes. It is harmful for us, now?”

“Not really. He is looking for victims, to enslave. But he fears me, and fears Mxy, so he will not attack us, until we try to fight him.”

“Which is exactly what we’ll not do now”

“What? It’s our duty to stop that evil! No other ones will do it!”

“No, Naecken. Our first duty is to find a way to eat at last two time a day, and to sleep in a dry place. I know there is a human being inside you, you should let him to drive your mind, if you want to understand this world”.

“Maybe you are right”. The voice of Naecken jas shifted from an angelic female tone to the normal tone of an Earthling boy.

I stand up and says, loudly: “OK, guys, tomorrow we will look for a circus. It’s the only place where we could find some works”.

In the white floor and against one of the white walls a man lies uncouncious. Something or someone we can't see watches him-

The man in the floor doesn't give any sign of being alive, until he suddenly opens his eyes.

Darkness comes out of them. We recognize him as Eduardo Frederico, Mister Ktl's host and ally.

He slowly stands up, and looks at the person we can't see.

"So, you decided to come back didn't you?" the person says.

"I did not leave for my own will. Something used me--" Eduardo/Ktl answers

"I DON'T CARE! YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE LEFT!"

"How dare you speak to me like that???"

"You may think you know who you're talking to, but you have no idea, you pathetic little being..."

"You little 3-D mortal!!! You ask for my help and now you insult me??? I will not take this any longer!"

Ktl looks at the person we can't see with an angry look. In a second, his expression changes, to something he thought he'd never feel... terror.

"This is..." Ktl says, as he nervously steps back "This is not possible... Your head... should have exploded... Your head should have exploded!!!"

The look of horror in Ktl's face is enough punishment, the person we can't see thinks.

"I contacted you because I can't do this on my own. Later, I will contact more people, but right now, I need you. If you don't want to participate, that is OK with me. You can leave whenever you want. But never try to hurt me again. Do you understand, Ktl?"

"Y-Yes... Yes I do"

"Now tell me about your time out... where did this force that 'used' you take you?"

"To the place where my other half and his friends where hiding... It was destroyed, then he freed me and I came back to Eduardo's body... They may be dead, I don't now..."

"I don't care much about that group... as long as they don't interfere with my plans"

"W-What??? But, you said you would help me get rid of Mxy! You said--"

"I know. We will do that when it's absolutely necessary"

"What?? How much time will pass until I can confront him?"

"Months. Years, maybe. You don't have any problems with that, do you?"

"..."

"I asked a question. It's polite to answer when you have been asked a question, do you know that?"

"No" Ktl says, walking away "I don't have any problems"

"Yes, a circus. Is the only place where we can stay" Eurostar replies.

"I agree with Edulcore" Tobias says.

"Then lets get moving" Danny suggests.

As the group starts moving, Mxy stays there, confused...

"...what's a circus?"

Meanwhile in New York,the man looks at the object glowing on his wrist & speaks into it:
Cap:"What do you want now?"

NM:"Cap,things are worse than we imagined,is Jack with you?"

Cap:"Jack`s ehh....taking care of a little business!"

Captain Howdy glances over & see`s Jack Nasty beating on some less than savoury looking individuals!

NM:"Look,the shit has really hit the fan,& much as it pains me to say this,I need you two to back me up on this!"

Jack finishes beating on the hoods & strolls over to Cap!

JN:"Yo Cap,what does HE want now?"

Cap:"Heh,he`s actually begging for our help!"

NM:"Look,enuff of this fucking witty banter,you know as well as me,that I did not wanna work with the MBL again,but you got that tip off that someone was out to get them!"

Cap:"Sounds about right!"

NM:"Well it would seem there`s a bit more to it than we knew!"

Jack:"What the fuck you rabbiting on about?"

NM:"None of the MBL appear to recognise me,& dont seem to remember many of their past adventures!"

Cap:"They`ve got bad memories,so what?"

NM:"It`s more than that,they dont seem to see things as they really are either!"

Jack:"What do ya mean?"

NM:"Well for a start,the Nowheremobile is a one of a kind hyper tuned sports car,but they seem to view it as a family saloon car!"

Cap:"I might hate your guts,but one thing I`ve always liked about ya is your taste in cars,no way is that beauty a family saloon!"

NM:"Exactly,somehow I believe reality has been altered!"

Jack:"And what are we sposed to do about this exactly?"

Cap:"Come on Jack,even I can work it out,if we are the only ones not affected by this reality warping thingy,that must mean we are impervious to whatever caused it,right NM?"

Nowhereman is stunned,Cap is finally getting some intelligence!

NM:"Right,now I need you two guys to meet at the Chicago HQ,then contact me when ya get there!"

Cap:"Shit,here we go again!"

NM hangs up,then rejoins the erstwhile MBL!

No.

This metagene is a gift. I can use it for good, or I can hide it, but nobody can judge me for what I am.

I don’t know why the American Government is capturing many, maybe all the metahumans. They say they are crooks, but Tobias, for sure, was not. The land of the free, they say. It doesn’t seems the case.

We found the circus late in the morning. I presented myself like the manager of our theatre group, and told the circus owner a complex fake story about us, ending asking for a job.

The owner examined our abilities, considered our potential, and finally asked me to go into his office, a big caravan parked on the opposite side of the camp from the lions pens.

“At first I had the impression you were metas on the run, Mr. Sardella” he said, referring to the fake name I gave for myself. “But” he continued, “no metas on the loose would travel the country with a trained cat. It was your Lil’ Jo to reassure me. The job is yours”.

So, thanks to Tobias’ stinky cat, we have a job, a shelter, and hot meals every day. We are adjusting greatly to the circus life, and now we have also fancy costumes of real material, that will not fade away when Mxy sneezes.

The only thing that bother me is Nowhereman, and his split personality.

On the bright side, today I have discovered that soon the circus will leave the Chicago, heading for Thunder City. Where my son is kept prisoner.

"That we don't have to make it a good show because this people won't come back anyway?" says a short clown with a cigar in his hand.

"Exactly. We will use the newbies so the rest of you can start resting for the first Thunder City show" he then turns to Eurostar "You better get your group ready, Sardella, cause the show's in two hours!"

Eurostar (to the rest of the group): OK guys... you heard the boss... get ready!

Tobias: But... We have never performed in a circus before...

Nowhereman: Speak for yourself!

Eurostar: Come on guys, its not that hard... just show your powers! You should thank God for being here.

Nowhereman: Where are you going?

Eurostar: Eh... I will be with the owner if you need me... good luck!

One hour and 58 minutes later...

The circus is almost filled with people waiting for the last show in Chicago to start. Among them, a 20-something girl sits next to a huge fat man with a hat and dark glasses.

She is Shirley, the girl Mxy met during his first hours in Mick's body.

Shirley: Why did you take me here, uncle Otto...? Looking at those caged animals only gets me more depressed for losing my job...

Uncle Otto: I was just trying to cheer you up, honey! C'mon, give it a try, you'll love the show!

Shirley: OK... Lets watch the show...

The owner of the circus stands on the middle of the stage and says: "Ladies and gentlemen... welcome to the amazing English Circus! Now, in their first night... THE AMAZING SARDELLA BROTHERS!"

Danny: "Sardella Brothers"?

Mxy: Edulcore's idea...

Nowhereman, Danny, Tobias, Mxy and an incredibly awkard Naecken go into the stage and start showing their powers in a dissorganized choreaography...

When it's over, the group goes to the tent where they are staying. As soon as Mxy hits the floor to rest, Mick's voice appears on his head... "We have a conversation to finish..."

Mxy: Oh, come on!

The voice in his head insists: "Lets go outside! I wanna talk!"

Mxy gets outside the tent, and closes his eyes to concentrate in talking with Mick.

"OK, what do you want? I made you a question before, I want an answer! What question? You said that the energy that came out of Naecken's body fusionated us so you couldn't leave my body... is that truth? I... Yes...? OK, I lied! I knew it! I noticed that the energy from Naecken's explosion had boosted Tobias' speed powers, so I took advantage of that to make you think we were fusionated so you wouldn't force me to leave your body! I KNEW IT!!! YOU MISERABLE PIECE OF INTERDIMENSIONAL SCUM!!! GET OUT OF MY BODY!!! No, I don't wanna! Why don't you just get into someone else's body?! That wastes too much energy! I have to be on top conditions! I don't care! Get out, now! Look, I will go to the uncouncious part of your mind for five minutes and leave you alone so you can think about this, OK? No! Get out alredy! OK, see ya in five minutes...

Mick: Get out now! Hey, wake up! Oh, great!

Mick looks around and notices the people come out of the circus are looking at him because he was yelling at himself... then he sees a young woman he recognizes arguing with one of guards.

Shirley: I have to see him!!!

Guard: Sorry, ma'am... you can't go back there.

Shirley: But I must see him!!! I--

Mick: It's OK, Alonso... I know her.

Guard: 'K...

The guard leaves, as Shirley looks at Mick, amazed.

Shirley: Hi.

Mick: Hi. You wanted to see me?

Shirley: Yes... I... wanted to apologise for what I said the other day in the street... I was really pissed because you made me lost my job...

Mick: Oh... what made you change your mind?

Shirley: I saw you in the news the other day... fighting the feds in Lake Michigan. Now I understand what you are.

Mick: Y-You do?

Shirley: Yes. A hero. It was about time someone challenged the goverment. I think it's horrible what they do to your people.

Mick: My people?

Shirley: Metas.

Mick: Oh, yeah...

Shirley: You don't have to be ashamed. One of my uncles is a meta. The poor guy has to hide his face to go to the street. You are a hero, you don't have to be ashamed. Now, I understand this circus is leaving town today... but I hope to see you again.

Shirley kisses Mick in the cheek.

Shirley: Bye.

Mick: B-Bye...

He watches Shirley walking away and then closes his eyes.

"Mxy! You made up your mind? Should I start packing? No. I decided I was being selfish. These people need us, goddammit! That's my boy!"

In the circus Naecken sits down and asks?
Was that "oooing" noise the people made a way of showing appreciation?
Tobias with a cup of tea in his hands groans and says;
"Not exactly, Naecken...ooh why don´t you ask your human self instead?"
"Good idea.".......
Suddenly a man crashes through the window and falls straight on top of Neacken.
Naecken taken by surprise falls in Tobias lap, making him topple backwards with the chair.
The tea cup flying through the room, landing on Danny´s hand.
A very irritaded Danny grabs the man by his collar and looks him in the face.
"Who the f...!"
His words stop when he sees the black eyes staring back and the horrid smile on the mans face.
"Look out!" screams Naecken and rips the man away from Danny´s hands just in time for the black vomit coming out of the mans mouth, to miss him.
Naecken takes him outside and engulf him in holy fire.
The man screams in pain...but soon the force leaves him and starts to hover away.
Naecken prepares to fly after it, when suddenly a pure white beam shoots the entity into pieces.
The team comes running out of the tent, just in time to see a twenty-something blond girl with red jeans shorts, yellow vest, round sunglasses, red boots and golden wristbands emerge from behind another tent.
"Looked like you needed some help there man." she says while chewing a gum and rewarding the fellows with a sunshine smile.
"The name´s Crasher, I hope you´re allright. See ya some time." She runs of into the shadows and Naecken asks;
"Do you know who...?"