Heroes: Shadows over Millenium

[Cynical Cat]

"I have no idea who my parents are, so I guess I am officer material," said Blackheart. "As soon as I finish getting this done, I will indulge in the joy of one handed typing."

[Agent Fisher]

Ryan nodded. He picked up his rifle case. "Well, have fun with that. Might want to see if you can get hold of one of those dictation software things. Anyway, let me know when the rest of the team shows up for work." He reached the door and turned back. "Though with the way most of them seem to work, we'll be lucky to see them before lunch time. Anyway, see you later Boss."

[Cynical Cat]

It took about half an hour for Blackheart's improvised weapon bracer to be finished. The agent took a few experimental swings. Clumsy, but it would serve. He walked up to his office and checked his email. Low and behold he had a message from an anonymous source. He read it and activated the attached file. Blackheart leaned back in his chair and though about what he had read.

[SirNitram]

The universe ticked along gradually, as it had done for billions of years. The vastness of space was filled with pinpoints of energy, flickers of the greater reality. Gravitas felt the little furnaces in the night, and drew from them. The man.. Perhaps he was more, after that previous day.. was in tune with the universe, meditating in a medical ward while doctors did all they could on his alien biology.

Here and there, if they had been watching very closely, instruments might detect a few spare particles of various types vanishing from the stars, worlds, and the void itself. A supernova remnant lost maybe a pound here. A world here lost a few micrograms of carbon it's blue star would never let it use effectively.

Bit by agonizingly slow bit, Gravitas' arm was being restored. His mind, on the other hand, prodded around. He felt the waves of emotion sweeping over Lei, wishing he knew how to help the woman deal with her tie to emotions, to say nothing of the demonic.

[Dark Silver]

Saibot's night, hadn't gone very well, remarkably better than Lei's, but still not well.

He left Ultimas, and headed home, hoping Lei would eventually return there. He put his ring to recharge, started cooking a quick dinner for them, and waited. He felt the waves of emotion coming back down the link, ate dinner alone, worried for Lei.

She never came back that night, he spent half the night awake in their bed, before eventually drifting off.

He awoke again early the next morning, fixed a quicked bit of breakfast, ate, and took a hot shower.

Awakened by the stream of water, he left to check on his ring, slipped it on and felt the power flood his being.


He though on Lei as he stepped out of the room, hearing the satisfying click of the lock behind him, and headed towards the staircase to a small room on the mostly unused second floor of his apartments.

He didn't turn on the lights, though the pleasent glow of computer monitors and the gentle hum of electronics greeted him. Obviously, someone like him, who worked once with the goverment, with technology and information at their disposal to deal with meta-threats, couldn't divorce himself completely from the convience of the computer age.

While his information network was nothing like what Ultima had access to, he had legacy data gathered throughout the years he couldn't hope to lose - information on old advesaries, and allies, even some information he couldn't hope to find anymore.

He took a seat at one of the keyboards, and began his to search the volumnous database files at his disposal.

[B4UTRUST]

"Sir, team three has failed to report in."
"I see. What is their status?"
"We're unsure, sir. They disappeared off of all of the trackers. Their vitals are reporting, but very slowly. A temporal hold on them of some sort sir."
"Indeed. And Carver?"
"Dead, sir. Or as dead as Carver ever gets."
"So they failed in their mission?"
"Partially. They did manage to secure the genetic data from Legacies. But the rest of the Mirage team captured the clones. Carver 'died' in the attack. Reports state that two of Mirage team were severely injured."
"As soon as we get a fix on the clones, destroy them."
"Of course, sir. And ummm... sir?"
"Yes, what is it?"
"There have been... inquiries going through the channels concerning the clones."
"Not surprising. I even have my suspicions on who might be at the source. I trust very little was learned."
"Nothing of immediate value."
"And just how active is the little spy network?"
"Active enough. But our ratio is well within acceptable limits. There will be little to be gained from us."
"Exccelent."

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

"On capital hill today, a protest rally nearly lead to a riot. Two opposing sides on the debate of mandatory meta registration clashed. With the recent uprise in meta crime, lawmakers have been forced to take a heated interest in this issue.

"Police were quickly able to descalate the issue and broke up the protests.

"Similar protest rallys have appeared from both sides of the issue all over the country, in almost every major city. This particular problem will not be solved quickly, it appears."

[Agent Fisher]

Ryan looked at the TV attached to one of the pillars stretching from the floor to the ceiling. The news was showing video of the protests.

Ryan turned back to his computer, he had pretty much finished his recounting of the bank incident. Now he was typing his thoughts on what went wrong and what could have been done better. Mainly, the need for better intel, better coordination in-team and between local LEO's and their team. He put the finishing touches on it and sent it off to Blackheart and their supervisors.

[Dark Silver]

The image which greeted him onscreen brought back memories, some fond, others painful. The screen displayed the image in 3D, rotating it slowly, showing it in real time, as it where.

"The Guardian Rings...."

The words were spoken softly, almost as if saying them aloud would cause the image to vanish.

Yes, it was the image of the last two Power Rings belonging to the former Guardian Force. The only two, besides his own, known to still be in exsistence. All that was left of his team....

When he had moved over to the West Coast, and begun his work, he had been approached by certain individuals, individuals with a lot of clout, who wanted to create a team for him to lead, a team with powers similar, if not exact duplicates of his own. Considering how those types loved to drag up past indiscretions, he agreed....

It took months for them to duplicate the arcane mechanics of his ring in a technological base. Their best Will-workers and Technophiles were all but stumped at the melding of technology and magick his ring represented, but eventually, they learned how to duplicate it. Once the other four rings where finished, linked to his own ring at first, but eventually separated for control purposes, his team was assembled, and they became the West Coast Guardian Force. The Guardian's where tacitly approved by the government, and began their campaign to defend their streach of the planet, and beyond. They were a hit, a big hit, obviously, and the thought was to expand their ranks, create new power rings, duplicated from Garth's again, even improved upon with what they've learned..

That was until the final mission of the Guardians. The Space mutant that came down, challenged he team..and slaughtered more than half of them. the monster he was barely able to defeat. It was decide then, that another team was needed, with better training, even more funding, and with full Governmental backing. Garth disbanded the Guardian's that day...three of the rings where destroyed when the wearers were disintigrated - proving a weakness not in the original, or perhaps a security feature Garth's own did not have in it.

The first stageof what would eventually become Ultimas was born that day, Garth took the last two rings from his fellow Guardians, who said they never wanted to see the damn things again....ever - he cleaned out his desk, downloaded as much as he could on portable optical media, and managed to get his hands on some of the tech which was to be decomissioned - least they could do for the Leader of the Guardian Force.

He even managed to obtain the prototype rings which would have gone to the new team, wherever they were to be assigned. The higher ups knew he had the rings, they had to. It's not like they would have let him walk out with the five, unless they intended to let him have them. Otherwise, who knows....they might have ended up on the black market, or in the hands of some meta-super genius who could duplicate them, and face a army of men like the Guardians.

No...he had them hidden away, where no one else could ever find them...

Well, except himself, he knew where to find them.

Two of the rings would be enough....but not for the Legion.

They would not need the Rings for the Freak Legion.

Closing the file, and securing the computer down, Garth rose from the chair, and headed for the door, it was time to find his beloved, and then head to the office.

He had some information to give to Blackheart before he went scouting...

[Cynical Cat]

Having finished digesting Taskmaster's intel, Blackheart had to go to the next step, which meant gathering together the menagerie- uh team and getting status reports and a plan. He checked to see who had signed in so far and who hadn't.

His hand went to the phone and dialed. "Come on Blast, pick up."

[frigidmagi]

Blast had been lying face down on his couch hoping for death or his head to split open, whatever it took. He couldn't get any sleep last night, as if he had drank a Starbucks dry. His head felt like a horde of small demons were at work on his skull and his bones ached like an old man's.

With all of this, Blast could be forgiven for screaming in pain when the phone went off next to his head. He fumbled around with his hand wincing in time with the phone rings, finially he got the phone off the hook.

"Yeah?" he rasped in a dry voice.

[Cynical Cat]

"Is your brain on fire?" Blackheart asked dryly.

[frigidmagi]

"Is your brain on fire?" Blackheart asked dryly.

Oh Goodie, he's feeling humorous.

"I'm not honestly sure... I think this is more of a little men with hammers deal. I blame Saibot for this, just on general principal you understand. I take it you need me over there?" He asked. What fucking time was it anyways? He looked bleery at a clock... Oh fuck you're joking. Why him? Why couldn't God go find a Jewish kid to fuck with... Oh wait he had already done that... Several times.... Guess even that one gets old as a past time after a thousand or so years.

He stumbled into his kitchen holding the phone, water, yeah water would do...Something.

[Cynical Cat]

"We're going to attempt this novel thing called a strategy session where we plan to hurt the bad guys instead of each other," said Blackheart. "We're also going to assess status and attempt to make intelligent decisions. I hope we move up from 'dismal failure' to 'mostly incompetent'."

[frigidmagi]

"I think you're setting your hopes up to high. How's your arm?" He asked pouring himself a glass of water. He would have to shower before he went. Maybe he should sip off a little from the toaster or the traffic light? Couldn't hurt, he hoped.

[Cynical Cat]

"It itches like a son of a bitch, but seems like it wants to sprout a new hand so I'll take what I can get," said Blackheart. "You should be careful when sucking on strange batteries kid."

[frigidmagi]

"How the fuck was I suppose to know that supernatural crud doesn't sit well? I'll be down there in a bit. See ya when I get there." Blast said hanging up. Shower, he needed a shower and then to get to work. Man, what happened to the days when agents like jetpacked to work or something?

[Cynical Cat]

Freak Legion, it appeared, didn't have a whole lot of blood on its hands which is why it was so low priority. Physically mutated members and the use of mind altering chemicals seemed to be the norm, along with a lot of strong arm type robberies. Few deaths though.

Well, that would serve. Taking them down would be low risk team building exercise and a public service to boot. Gods above knew that Raising Caine and its manufactured half demons weren't likely to show similar restraint.

Time to get the boys and girls together and see what shape they were in.

[Charon]

Legacies awoke, once again on a medical bed, this time strapped down even more securely with reinforced steel. The silver figure groaned slowly, and it's senses finally noticed that there was someone else in the room. The symbiote's senses focused on the figure, taking a long time to get them into focus.

Carol Zhan looked up from examining Legacies. "Good you're awake. Perhaps you can tell me what's going on here since no one else seems interested in telling me why my patient went berserk, almost killed a dozen people, and then disappeared for thirty minutes, only to come back in considerably worse condition."

The silver groaned again. "Someone stole something of ours, we had to get it back."

Dr. Zhan raised an eyebrow. "And this was worth breaking about a dozen codes, not to mention bones, and risking your death?"

Legacies didn't even hesitate in his response. "Yes."

Dr. Zhan narrowed her eyes. "Well, unfortunately for you I have placed orders that restrain you to this room until I, and only I, release you. Your little stunt managed to not re-fracture any of your bones, but you lost a lot of blood, and," she paused, wondering how to put it best "your symbiote, has lost a considerable amount of it's mass, the both of you were, once again, borderline when you were brought in."

Legacies tried to move some, finding he could not. "We have a mission soon."

This time it was Carol who did not hesitate in her response. "You're not going."

The eyes of the silver figure narrowed at her. In response the doctor put her instruments down and turned her back on the symbiote. "You may not care if you live or die, Legacies, but I do. You're off the active roster until I say otherwise."

With that Carol Zhan walked out of Legacies room, the door closed and locked behind her, and the symbiote drifted back into unconsciencesness.

[SirNitram]

Gravitas' shape was moderately better than he was, and his remaining hand was holding a newspaper. "Protests. And they kicked me off the front page." A mock sigh. "Such is the true sacrifice of heros, the constant denial of their true due." He snickered, moving into the room they were usually briefed in, reading the paper.

"At least the damn tabloids aren't saying I lost the arm to a god-damn bugman."

[Agent Fisher]

Ryan nodded to Gravitas. "I figured you should be used to it by now. We never get front page unless we really screw up. Our job at the bank was page 4 material. Pity that."

[Dark Silver]

Garth stood on the roof of the apartment building, in his hand was a plain looking manila, which had the important information from the file, and in his pocket was a flashdrive with the rest of the file.

He'd give it to Gravitas and Blackheart, let them decide.

He clenched his fist, lifted it up, as the blue glow spread from his ring, down his arm, and over the rest of him, his regular street clothing replaced by his costume.

'Lei....' he thought 'I hope your alright....'

He flew off the ground, and made the short flight to Ultima, leaving a wake of blue energy in the sky, which faded shortly after his passing...

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

He landed infront of the Ultima, and made his way in.

A few minutes later, he was walking into the briefing room, a bit behind Gravitas, pulled the flashdrive from a pouch at his belt, and gave it to the one handed demi-diety.

"Look over that when you have a second....."

Garth threw the folder on the table, the papers sliding out almost as if expected, revealing the contents to those who would examine it... 'Project Guardian Force Power Rings...'

[Cynical Cat]

"What is this?" Blackheart asked.

[SirNitram]

"Guardian Force..." Gravitas said, holding the flashdrive. "I researched them for my book. I used them to discuss how even someone genetically human could and did rise to the challenges of godhood."

He turned the thing over in his fingers. "I thought it was an uplifting chapter, that. But this is about the rings..." A pause. "Are there more rings like yours, Saibot? This is rather important."

[Dark Silver]

"That.." Saibot said, taking a seat at the table, "is a ace in the hole, as the saying goes."

"Guardian Force, my old team, disbanded by myself in the late 90's, after a Space Alien killed half the team, and nearly made me one of those numbers. tacit Goverment sponsorship, they had a hand in helping the team's benefactors in duplicating my ring..."

"March 27, 1999, 0836 hours, Angel's Rest California. That was where it occured, after the fight, the other two handed me their rings, and told me they never wanted to see them again. I hid those rings."

"As for like mines....no...not quiet. They couldn't duplicate mines, but they did learn how it worked, and managed to produce some more, of inferior quality. Half the power charge, gives the user slightly less in the capability department...doesn't have quiet the range of mines, but in the right hands, still a powerful weapon."

"There's also a set of five others, meant for another group, a expansion to the old team, who would have gone elsewhere, under the same authority. I took and hid those also, suppossedly, they improved the energy storage and gave the user abilities closer to mines. Hid those also. Couldn't let the risk that some yahoo would put them on the black market...or learned how to duplicate the ring and improve upon it."

"Fact of the matter is, we won't need them against the Freak Legion, their to smalltime and easy pickings to waste the rings on. But if we're going after those demon-makers, we'll need all the firepower we can get. Multiple team-members with similar powers to my own, augmenting their own metahuman abilities...may be the edge we need."

[Cynical Cat]

Now wasn't the time to talk about whether or not Guardian Force was overrated small time small fry, so Blackheart held his tongue. Besides, he had to admit even if the rings were Saibot light, they would be useful.