Topic: RPG-Superhumans

((LOL!  NEED COFFEE.  I need it or I'll splode.  I do that sometimes.  Waiting for either Netty or MA here.))

"Alright then, we got a job to do Kaylene. Harry must be stopped." Tanis rose and extended his hand towards Kaylene.

She took it and smiled up at him. She rose and stood next to him, handing him the black bundle that was his cloak. He relaxed his body and closed his eyes. Kaylene never released his hand.

All the hair on his body fell off and he winced in agony. His eyes began to glow and his eyelids shot open. THey became pure light. Silver liquid was excreted through his pores and it covered his body, converting the flesh into metal. He exhaled and breathed deeply.

"Thank you." Chromium told Kaylene.

"Of course."

He looked down at his silver body wearing civilian clothes. Kaylene giggled. He took them off and draped them over his arm after putting on his thick black cloak. He took Kaylene in the other arm and looked around the park, checking to see if anyone had jsut seen what had transpired. No one.

He flew to the house they took the clothes from and he placed it back on the clothes line.

Then he grabbed Kaylene with both arms and he blasted into the sky, heading towards Mission City.

Haze and Chromium landed only minutes later, back at Happy Harry's. They hadn't really discussed where they would meet up with the others.

"Drat, I should have said to meet back here." Haze said as she walked around some of the rubble.

"It's common ground, I'm sure they'll return." Chromium replied.

Then Haze had an idea, she could try calling Vandal telepathically. It was a long shot considering that she herself was not that powerful when it came to telepathy, but Vandal might still hear. Vandal, we're back at Harry's. Can you hear me?

There was a moments silence, Yeah I hear ya. We found ol' spiky. We're in a warehouse at the moment. It's odd though, no one's supposed to be here but I think someone's in the warehouse opposite. Vandal voiced back.

Should we come to you? Haze asked.

Nah, we've finished with Noxious for now. I think it best to try and track down Harry. Vandal replied.

Well you're the best one to do that. Haze told.

Yeah I know. Though Flame could be handy too. Vandal admitted. We'll meet you there, give us about 20 minutes. Vandal said.

Haze turned to Chromium, "They're coming, they'll be about 20 minutes. They said they've finished with Noxious. I can only assume he's going to help us."

Although Desdemona did as Jack asked it kind of contradicted her reason for being there. If Void lived she would not reach her quota, at least not for a while. As Jack and Darklight squabbled Desdemona looked at Void, who was panting heavily as he tried to catch his breath, and then she looked at her own hand that was not nearly as translucent as it had been.

A crazy thought went through her head. If she killed Void than she could be human and stay with Jack. She quickly shook the thought away. To do such a thing was a breach against her contract with Death and there were worse fates out there than her own.

As Darklight suddenly began to comprehend what was going on, Void launched himself at Desdemona. His hands clutched her throat as he threw her against the concrete floor. Desdemona did not scream and not did she struggle. She felt no pain at Void's violence as her body returned to its ghost like form, she easily evaded his grasp until he realised the shadow within.

((Hey Net, whe you say realised do you mean come to the realization of the shadow within Desdemona or that he released the shadow within?  I'm going to go with realised.  I'll edit if you meant differently.))

Jack heard the shuffle and turned around to see Void in his human form slam Desdemona into the ground.  Jack was over there as fast as he possibly could have been and had Void smashed into the wall creating an indent in the cement.

"Touch her again and I kill you."

Something flickered in Void's eyes.  "Remember Jack, I go, he goes.  And look at this, poor little Jack has found someone to love.  How cute.  But it makes you wonder Jack, does she love you back?"

Jack did the first thing that came to mind.  He smashed Void's face into the ground.  Specks of blood formed on the pavement.  Jack bent over and whispered in his ear.

"Like I said.  Touch her and I will make you pay.  You know I can't kill you.  But myself being one who can withstand pain knows the thresholds of it within the human mind.  There are some fates worse than death Void."

((It was supposed to be released, but hey realised works too))

Desdemona walked over to Jack as he held Void to the ground. Desdemona let her hand dematerialise enough that she could sink it through Void's outer surface and into his mind, "Jack doesn't lie. Let me show you the fate that awaits one such as you."

Desdemona gave Void a flash of his current future when he died. She let him see the way his soul would be sucked away into the depths of hell where he would receive tortures beyond his imagination. She also allowed him to feel a touch of the pain they'd inflict. She removed her hand before he passed out. "Remember that Terry." She said coldly.

"What did you do to him?" Darklight asked as he watched his brother twitch rapidly.

"As I said, I showed him what would happen to his soul if he stayed on his current path." Desdemona said.

"What are you?" Darklight asked.

"I'm a soul eater" Desdemona said.

Darklight immediately went on the defensive. "We met one of your buddies, his name is Drakeus."

"Drakeus is an agent of evil. I serve Death, I merely deliver the souls by being the vessel. Drakeus destroys them because he enjoys it." Desdemona said to clarify. "If Drakeus is loose then you must not let Void die. I can protect you while I'm in this state."

Darklight looked confused, "What happens to you if Void dies?"

"I collect the last soul of my quota and become human, at least until I die again." Desdemona pointed out. "But I'd actually prefer to live as a human for more than a few hours." She looked at Jack and gave him a wink.

Flame watched the very big, very dark, and very very conspicuous guy walk into the cafe. "Oh, hell, not agian." he said to himself. He jumped off the roof, and started to run across the street.

Ronin stood outside the coffee shop, cloaked, when the tall dark figure entered the shop. Aw, crap... He thought.

---------------------------------------------

Harry ,still disguised as Officer Simms, had received word of a scuffle going on in  a warehouse thanks to the officer's surprisingly helpful police radio. Upon arriving, he noticed that Jack was inside, as were 3 other individuals. He decided to see how this would pan out.

Jericho strolled into Starbucks and proceeded to order.

"Can I help you?"

"Yeah, Let me have a Carmel Mocha Frappuccino."

"Is that all?"

"Yes."

"Your total is four-"

Jericho had sat his Desert Eagle on the counter, as it was in the way of the pocket where his wallet was.

"I- uh...N-Never mind, It's on me...heh."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, n-no problem...Let me make that for you."

Jericho shook his head and chuckled as the teenager was all shaky while he made the drink.
He picked up the Frappuccino and almost was out the door when a tall cloaked figure stood in the doorway.

"Oh God, please not again..."

"I have come to devour your soul and send it straigh to Hell...prepare yourself, mortal."

"When I die, I'm not going to Hell. Keep that in mind, so prepare yourself, Demon.

Void stopped his twitching.  They say darkness loved darkness, and pain enjoyed pain.  WHat he ahd seen was terrible, but he knew that Nick couldn't avoid a similar fate.  They were bound, he and Void.  As much as Void hated the fact.  And besides, even if he couldn't rid himself of Nick, maiming, or reducing to a vegetable meant dear old brother was still alive, right?  He smiled darkliy, and stood up.  He had had enough of his unpowered form.  He concentrated, and let his physical form go, quickly replacing it with the comfortable form of shadows and darkness. 

Ah, such freedom.  Finding the nearest shadows, he extended a tendril, touched the shadow, and sucked his essence through his tendril and into the darkness.  He shadowstepped to freedom...otherwise known as the other side of the warehouse, where he watched and waited.

Drakeus ignited his hands and arms in a black-blue flame, and launched two streams of fire at Jerico. But the mortal quickly dodged out of the way, fliping up one of the tables in the store for a shield (and spiling his Carmel Mocha Frappuccino). The flames quickly burnt away the table, melting the table like wax. Jerico then went on the offensive, pulling out his Desert Eagle and puting a series of rounds into Drakeus form. The wraith howled in pain, but shrugged off most of the damage. Drakeus then prepared a mass of dark energy in both his hands intending on vaporizing half the store...

"Jeez, freakin' Starbucks should really be more careful as to who they hire." Ronin said, appearing behind Drakeus, wristblades unsheathed.

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Harry saw Voidhunter slip out of the warehouse, and decided to try and coerce the shadow being to become a ally with him.
"V-Voidhunter." Harry called out. The shadowy villain turned around transforming his hands into blades just in case.

"I have no quarrell with you, my friend, as so I will let you walk away if you stand down." Voidhunter said, noticing the policeman who was speaking to him.

"Hmm? Oh-oh yes. Of c-course." Harry, realizing the misunderstanding, transformed into a like-shaped shadow being. "My n-name is Harr-Harry. I think we h-h-have similar goals. Would y-you like to wo-work t-t-t-t-t-together?"

((ok, I froget: Whos Ronin?))

The man who appeared behind Drakeus, distracted him just as he was about to release his bomb. Instead of vapping Jerico, it vapped a whole corner of the store along with several citizens. The unlucky victims fell to the ground as blackened skeletons. Drakeus whirled around to face his new enemy, conjuring his twin katanas from his forearms as he did so. "Does your soul wish for burning also?" Hissed the demon.

((Ronin is "the villain formerly known as Oni" as Adeptus put it))

"Not really." Ronin said, answering Drakeus's question. "Nice katanas." As Ronin said this, twin compartments on his thigh plates hissed open and Ronin removed two of his own katanas, cybernetically enhanced to cut through nigh anything and withstand amazing force. "How d'ya like mine?"

Void thught the proposal over.  Harry had high ambitions, and was a powerful super.  However, his nihilistic ways were slightly over the top.

"Would you mind if I took ome time to think about the proposal?  I can give you an answer by tomorrow, at midnight.  I'm sorry, I just have a lot on my plate at the moment." 

He morphed his arms back into hands, and shadowstepped away, leaving the "Void"/policeman behind him, nodding in agreement.  This would make things very interesting, if they did indeed join forces.  He just hoped that he could get the point across to Harry that Darklight was NOT to be killed, under ANY circumstances.  An event like that just wouldn't do...

Flame stepped into the cafe. Nice fire, interesting coloration... Flame voiced to Drakeus. "But I can do better."  Flame ignited his hands, then, to prove his point, he rapidly changed the color, from the normal orange to red to pink to a violet, then blue, and many others. It distracted Drakeus for a moment, then the fire snapped back to the original color, and he swung his fistt at the demon.

As Void changed and switched into his shadow form Jack began clawing at the shadow as it dissappeared. 

"Aww darn he got away.  It's not like I don't have any sort of bondage with him due to his sword he gave me."

Jack again closed his mind and focused on the presence in the back of his mind, "He's just outside.  Shall we pursue Darklight?"

Darklight turned to Jack, grinned, and put his mask, cape, and hood back on his face.

"Let's go hunt the Void."

Jack ran outside and ran into Void.  But it wasn't.  He was sure Void had ran away.

"H-h-hello J-J-Jack."

"Void" changed into Jack then a police officer.  Then he morphed into Harry.

"Ah Harry, long time no see. You wouldn't happen to be here as a travelling bartender?  I'm parched."

Drakeus ignored Oni, and turned to face the Flame weilding lizard, who apparently liked to show off his powers. Drakeus scoffed at Flames coloration changing, and cut a deep gash across his forearm with one of his katanas, as the lizard tryed to punch him. Drakeus relished the pain he had caused and steped back so he could face both of his opponents at once.

Void witnessed Jack emerge from teh warehouse.  Itappeared Harry had him taken care of.  As for now, Void needed some rest; the events of the last few days had been hectic.  He would return, Darkligth wasn't getting away that easily.  And when he did, he would make SURE that he won.  "Nick, ol' boy, you'd better watch your back, because one of these days, I'll be right there behind you."  And then Void vanished into the shadows.

Desdemona followed the others but she knew where Void was. As her quarry, she would always know where he was until it was over. But Void had changed his fate for now.

Desdemona studied Harry, his time would come but he was not assigned to her. "Watch that one," Desdemona said quietly to Jack.

Vandal, Acero and Frost decided to leave Noxious to thaw out in his own time. They were about to leave for Happy Harry's when they saw the familiar figures of Darklight, Jack and initially Void but then he shape shifted and they instantly knew who it was.

"Perhaps our trip will need a detour." Vandal suggested as she watched the exchange.

Fire quiclky sealed off the cut.  The skin was raw and waould scar, but at least he wasnt blading any more. Back up Jericho

"What?" Jericho hissed, clearly not used to voiceing

"Just do it" Flame hissed. Jericho did. Flame looked up at Drakeus. "Ah, a chalenge?" The demon said. "I am born of hell-fire! You can not hurt me!" 

Fire whirled around Flame's legs, rising to his chest (Like the area attack for fire in Jade Empire) He held his arms down at his side, but his forearms out, palms up. "What makes you so sure?" The fire flew forward,  whirling around civilians, redening their skin, but not harming them.

Leting one of his katanas vanish, Drakeus conjured up another bomb, smaller this time, so he could hold off Flame. While at the same time fending off Oni, with his remaining sword. Things were getin hectic.

As Haze and Chromium stood waiting they heard the ruckus from a street over. "That doesn't sound good," Haze said as they both turned in that direction.

"Maybe we should have a look?" Chromium suggested.

Haze wasn't sure, they were to meet Vandal, Acero and Frost but chances were that trouble would head their way. Haze was about to try and reach out to Vandal. Haze touched Chromium's arm so he could hear into the conversation. Since being joined as one, Chromium was able to 'hear' through Haze without having to expose his skin.

Vandal beat Haze to the punch. Haze, we've found Harry. He's near us.

We've got some sort of disturbance here. Haze replied as she felt the familiar presence of Flame near by.

Well what do you want to do? Defeat Harry or go play somewhere else? Vandal asked.

Haze! A little help would be great! Flame was having a bad time, the demon was throwing bomb after bomb at him. He began to punch at it, his unnatural strenght seemed to have little effect.

Haze's mind was made up, Harry could wait. We'll come as soon as we can. She told Vandal.

"You want to help Flame, don't you?" Chromium asked, he had heard Flame's voice through Haze.

"Yes, I do. He doesn't deserve to die." Haze told.

"I never said he did." Chromium replied as he melded himself over her and they became one again. They flew to the cafe and spotted Mr Hungry.

"Oh great." Haze said out loud as she grabbed Drakeus with her mind and started throwing him against building walls. "He drains our powers, so I figure I better beat the crap out of him while I can."

Harry had hoped he wouldn't have had a confrontation so soon, but he doubted Jack could do any real damage. He transformed into Acero and landed a haymaker on the hero, cracking his jaw.

"Mnuh! Aw, yuh hit muh in muh jaww!" Jack muttered, his speech impeded by the blow. Harry knew the healing factor would kick in soon, time to end this. Transforming into Chromium, he tangled Jack up in a cocoon of silvery strand with one hand as the other transformed into a giant spear.

"Tell S-S-Starbright I said h-hi."

Flame tried to burn Drakus as he was throw through the air. It wasnt easy. He didnt argue with Haze's tactics however, they seemed to hurt Drakeus quite nicely. The only problem was that his fire seemed to have no efftect. Oni continued to slash at him, when he was close enough.

"It is not his time," Desdemonda told as she rose in the air, her blonde hair whipped around her as she drew on her power. Harry was bad news and he was not going to take Jack from her.

Desdemona put her hands together and then ripped them apart, this affected Harry's current form as he was suddenly ripped off Jack with such force that each quarter of him splattered against a wall. "Leave now." Desdemona commanded. Harry could do nothing to her as she was already dead. She however could make him feel a whole new world of hurt.

Haze decided that the buildings had copped enough abuse and changed tactics. She now threw Drakeus at the ground, pile-driving him with each blow. Next she decided to pull an old trick. She flew into the air with Chromium's power and looked downward she saw the train station and grinned.

"Are you going to do what I think you're going to do?" Chromium asked, while still being part of her.

"You betcha." Haze said as she picked an empty carriage and lifted it with ease. She stopped her pile-driving with Drakeus and threw him inside the train carriage. Next she squashed the metal walls of the train so the windows were squashed closed along with the doors. "Let's see how this baby flies." Haze said as she and Chromium flew as one as high as they could go before Haze threw the train carriage into space.

"Do you think that fixed him?" Chromium asked.

"I doubt it," Haze replied, "but it'll give everyone time to recharge."

(Houston...we have a problem)

Drakeus conjured his katanas again and sliced threw the steel, with ease. He looked back to earth, while he floated freely. He yelled in frustration, but none could heard him. He then begain his desent back to earth, this time homing on the soul that killed him last time.

((You mean Jack, right?))

((right))

"Thanks" Flame said. He walked over to a coffe machine, and grabbed an unhurt cup. He turned the thing on and it filled the cup. He took it, and took a sip. "So, we need to go see Vandal now?"

Haze and Chromium had landed gracefully and parted, going back to individuals. The walked into the coffee shop after Flame. "Yes that is the plan," Haze said to Flame's question. "It might be best to leave now before Drakeus returns."

"You don't have to say that twice," Flame replied.

Jericho and another guy approached, "Where's Oni?" Chromium asked.

Flame pointed at the newcomer, "Meet Ronin aka Oni reborn."

"What's with the change?" Haze asked genuinely curious.

(its hard not to make another "Artist formerly known as Prince" joke)

"Its so no one recognizes him." Flame said. He finished the cup of coffe (Realy, A lizard drinkg coffe, how weird can this place get?) Then set it on fire, the paper dissapering quickly. "We should leave, soon before gravity does its job"

Haze nodded, thinking it weird that Oni changed his name and appearance. But stranger things had happened. "Well then I suggest we get to the industrial estate as fast as we can. I believe Harry's there."

Jericho and Ronin got into Jericho's car while Flame, Chromium and Haze flew. As usual Chromium held Haze while he flew. "Do you think we can defeat Harry?" He asked.

"I don't know, but let's hope so." Haze answered.

"So did the others find Noxious?" Flame asked.

"Yep, though I don't know what they're up to." Haze replied.

The three supers landed to see Vandal, Acero and Frost watching something. "Hey were is Noxious?" Flame asked.

"Shh," Vandal hissed. "Harry's just tried to kill Jack. Some floating chick just took him on instead."

Jack saw Harry began pacing around Dessy who was standing still.  Jack pulled out his uzi and began filling the now Void mimic with lead.  He immediately changed to Jack and began healing.  Jack was prepared for this.  He pulled out a small dart of poison he had.  THis was the only known poison that his healing factor was useless against.  It put his healing power into overtime and konked it out.  It also screwed up brai functions which may inhibit Harry's shapeshifting abilities.  Jack threw the dart at the Jack Harry.  It hit him square in the chest.  He fell to his feet gasping for breeath.

"Yah, I almost learned the hard way this stuff is pretty lethal.  Can you feel it working throughout your system?  Pretty fast huh?  I have always carried it with me.  I intended it to be used on me in case I had some military secrets that cannot be given out.  THen if I get caught it's light's out for me!"

Desdemona found this odd.  "So you carried a poison lethal to yourself with you at all times?"

"Oh don't worry, I keep it in a very safe place."  Jack smiled mischieviously.

((Sorry guys I just realized I totally ruined your entire noxious poison plan.  Shoot him with that too. :P))

Desdemona tilted her head and watched Harry fall to the ground. She lifted her head as she felt another soul eater coming. She turned briefly and spotted the other soul eater, it was Lilith. Desdemona looked at Harry, "You're going to die soon." She said simply.

Lilith landed by Desdemona's side. "Long time no see."

Desdemona gave a nod of greeting, "Yes it has. At least two centuries."

Lilith shrugged, "Who's counting."

"Is he going to die now?" Jack asked.

Again Lilith shrugged, "Possibly. If not now it will be soon enough."

Desdemona turned back to Jack, "So where is this safe place that you keep the poison?" She asked not understanding.

"You don't want to know.  Really.  When people say stuff like that people usually imply it is hidden in a very private place..."

Before Jack could alliterate further he noticed a dot approaching his position.  Fast.
"This can't be good," Jack muttered to himself.

Desdemona looked up. "It's Drakeus."

Lilith raised a delicate eyebrow, "I didn't realise he was out."

"Apparently he is," Desdemona said calmly.

Jack grabbed her hand, "Can he hurt you?"

"Only if I become human," Desdemona told.

Jack immediately turned to Darklight. "Get out of here and find Void." Jack didn't say anymore as he didn't want Harry to know about the Darklight/Void connection just in case he survived.

Lilith turned to look at Jack, "Drakeus only wants you. The others can stay."

"Oh great. Let's get going Dessy." Jack said as he pulled her along behind him.

Lilith's voice echoed behind them, "Your duty is to release Void when he dies."

Desdemona paused, "My duty with Jack is not done yet." She replied.

As Harry lay dying, he tried to shift into a form capable of warding off the disease. Chromium, Acero, Frost, Voidhunter, he kept shifting into these forms, even old ones he had'nt used in awhile, like a woman he met who could become either invisible or invulnerable. The others seemed to pay him no attention and departed. With a poison still ravaging him, Harry tried with all his might just to stand up, his body subconsciuosly shifting itself into any form he had. Harry, now seemingly melting, could do nothing but slink away into the shadows.

((He'll be back.))

"Quick question does jacks healing ability cover decapitations?"

((I don't think I'm going to go that far.  Unless he get's medical attention immediately, like within 5 minutes he's a dead man.  His isn't quite like Deadpool.  I'm still debating the extent of his healing ability.))

(Alright then i guess we can use that against Harry then)

Chromium watched Harry disappear into the shadows while the rest of the group walked away.

Harry didnt seem to die.

"You ok?" Kaylene asked as she came and laid her hand on Chromium's shoulder.

"Yes, but Harry will return."

"Maybe...we'll keep Noxious close then."

"Yes we should. Let's get out of here."

Chromium and Haze caught up with the group.

"What now?" He asked them

Harry, using Voidhunter's powers, appeared in front of a hospital, focusing with all his might in order to turn into Officer Simms. He stumbled into the front door, coughing up pools of blood.

"Oh my god! Lance, get this guy a stretcher-stat!" Yelled the receptionist. Within moments, "Officer Simms", was being wheeled into the ER. Under the oxygen mask they placed on his face, a slight smile could be seen.

Vandal, Acero and Frost came out to meet Haze, Chromium and Flame.

"Well looks like Jack stole our angle," Vandal said looking slightly annoyed.

"Hey if it gets rid of him why sulk?" Flame shot back.

Frost noticed Darklight for the first time, "Geez pal are you alright?"

At that moment Ronin and Jericho pulled up. "Oh this might not be so good," Haze said realising that Darklight was likely to try and bust the villains.

"Uh..." Ronin held his hands up to show he ment no harm. "Hey...hey, Darklight. How's it going?"

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Harry awoke, he wasn't sure how long it had been since he entered the hopsital. An IV drip was sticking into his arm, a counter-agent to the poison being pumped into him. A police man was sitting waiting for him to stir.

"Hey, Johhny. What happened to ya?"

"I..." Harry hesistated, pretending to be recalling what had happened, while in fact making it up. "Jack. That vigilante Jack was resisting to gather with the other heroes. I tried to reason with him, but he resisted arrest and rammed something into my chest."

"We're already looking for Jack and the rest of those super-yahoos, but we'll make sure we catch Jack. Take care, Johnny." The cop left "Johnny" 's room, and next a nurse came in.

"Well, Mr.Simms, it looks like you're on your way to a full recovery. I gotta say though, whatever infected you sure was something strange. You're blood was like nothing we'd ever seen before, like it kept changing blood-types. We were able to stabilize it, so you should be fine."

As she left the room, Harry's face became pale. His blood. Of course his blood would be different, his abilities would have made his blood incredibly malleable. They had stabilized, she said. Did that mean...

Yes. Harry could feel it. His power of super-mimicry was gone. It ws like part of him had died. He had lost the power to duplicate powers. Hopefully that was all he lost.

Harry looked at his hand, and attempted to transform into Jack.

Nothing happened.

Haze. Nothing. Vandal. Nothing. Flame. Nothing. Chroium. Nothi-

No. His hand, and the rest of his body, were covered in silver substance like Chromium. He did not look exactly like the hero, but the powers had been duplicated. Then Harry wondered. Perhaps they had only cured his shapeshifting and mimicking...Perhaps he still had retained his mimicked powers.

Returning to human form, he focused on the powers of Sunburn. To his delight, an orb of fire appeared in his hand. Lifting his other hand, he was also pleased to discover that, when he focused on Frost's power as well as Sunburn's, his hand was covered in ice while the other hand stayed enflamed.

It was like part of Harry had died...but another part was reborn.