Chapter One
A Hero is Born
It was another quiet day in Metropolis, except for the protestors for the Vigilante Registration Act today was the day a speaker speaking against the act was stepping forth to speak. He was a business man from Texas and everyone knew his face as he was the face of Lionheart Industries a mysterious company that had appeared over night some ten years ago. People where shouting against him saying "Burn in hell." Others were even throwing rocks on the stage but the man in the back did not care because unlike most who spoke out against the registration act he had the money to get results and results he expected. He stepped out on stage and said, "Good Afternoon, I Drake Lionheart want to raise my support of the Vigilante's. Everyone needs a hero and for some people who take on the mask they risk it all their family and friends. Some even risk their lives everyday just to protect you the people." Drake was about to continue but then a brick was thrown at his face and he ducked and said, "Very cute, answering your words with violence and you expect heroes to come out of the shadows to make themselves known." Just then a shout ran out into the crowd and bullet took out Drake, as he fell to the ground. The one thing going through his mind was that he was glad he had worn his prototype armor to the rally. He got up and said, "No bullet, no man or woman will stop me from stopping the VRA from passing." He got into his car and drove off.
That night Drake sat in his office and stared at the city below, he removed a book from the book shelf and entered the secret elevator that led directly to the subbasement of the complex, something that only he knew about. He walked out of the elevator and the lights in the sub basement turned on revealing a secondary living quarters, but different that his penthouse on the top floor of the building. He walked and each display case lit up, displaying a priceless artifact of the past. Paintings on the wall lit up to reveal portraits of different men throughout history, or stone tables depicting a great Pharaoh of Egypt. He walked past the TV and it displayed security schematics for the local VRA office, he had studied them for weeks and he knew that tonight was the night he made his first strike. He walked past the giant computer screen and it turned on and the computer said, "Good morning Mister Lionheart, are we going out tonight and should I start your bike?" Drake said, "Yes I.O.N, and I am going to test the new armor tonight. Now that I know the bullet can be stopped, and not pass through it. Is the helmet operational yet?" I.O.N was his A.I intelligence that ran his important projects and most classified projects, I.O.N ran the whole building but no one knew that the Interactive Operating Network was based off an alien design. I.O.N replied, "Yes, but sir, is it wise to fight the government given that they will know who you are?" Drake smiled as he pressed his hand on the scanner and said, "Yes, I want them to know who I am and why I am fighting them. It's time for the Undertaker to be remembered as a hero and not a government assassin, the Undertaker will once again strike fear on those that do harm to others." I.O.N replied, "But is it also wise to fight the heroes as it will most likely be them who figures out your true past?" Drake took off his shirt and tie and vest, leaving his undershirt. He then proceeded to step into case and said, "I.O.N, I do not think they will figure out my past. Open up the chest plate."As Drake said that the chest plate opened up, the front separating from the back and he stepped on to the plate from. As soon as he was on it the pieces came together on him as his arms were outstretched the armors arms side on his. Then the helmet lowered and rested on his head and as soon as all the pieces where together, I.O.N locked the pieces into place. He the downloaded part of his programming into the suits computer systems, and said, "Sir, I am fully downloaded into the suit and will be able to tell you about police activity and criminal activity within the city." Drake then used his special ability to charge the suit, the suit was fit on his body like a second skin as he did that the eyes in the helmet turned on and he grabbed his leather trench coat and put it on. He smiled and said, "If this does not scare them nothing will." He walked to the table and picked up several mags filled with .45 caliber bullets locking them into the reloadable device he placed in the armors arms. He then grabbed his M1911 pistols two, and as he tilted his hand down the mags pushed up into the base of the gun loading it. He said, "I might have to rethink how I do this I don't want to tilt my hands down in combat and the mags shoot out. Perhaps if you control that device as well." I.O.N quickly configured the device so that he would operate when reloading would happen and said, "Just tilt your hands and I will monitor when the guns need reloading." Drake once again smiled and grabbed a Cowboy hat putting it on, black just like his suit except for a red emblem that glowed on his chest plate that marked his symbol. He then got on his motorbike and sped off to the first target.
For Jim Mason it was just another normal beat for him, given the number of vigilante problems and the fact that the VRA issued a curfew the police force have been told to make sure that no one is on the street. As he passed by the VRA office for this sector of the City the sound of a motorcycle could be heard in the distant. Until it sped right by him and stopped in front of the VRA office, being the dutiful cop he was he ran over to the man in the Cowboy hat. As the man turned all Jim could see where the glowing eyes of a skull, and the red emblem of heart with a sword through it. The creature just said, "Good evening officer." The sound of its unearthly voice was all Jim needed he drew his gun, but the creature just reached out and bent the end and said, "Have a nice day office." All Jim could do was nod and run off to the ally and watch but also reporting the incident. As the creature neared the door two VRA officers ran out with guns drawn but when they fired, the bullets bounced off him as if he was made of steal. They kept firing and the creature reached into his coat and pulled two M1911 pistols and fired one shot each at the men, who dropped instantly. Jim could tell by their chest that they were alive, but could tell by the way the men shook that they were in a lot of pain as if they were being electrocuted. The creature walked inside but was back out in an instant with a can of gasoline, which he poured. From where Jim was he saw that he was pouring it like the exact emblem on his chest the creature made a fist and fire shout from his fist and set the gasoline a blaze. The creature then stepped on to his bike and drove off. Jim stepped closer and then was blown back by a giant explosion from the VRA office, which knocked him out. The last thing that Jim Mason heard before blacking out was the sound of other cop cars reaching the scene; he also knew that tomorrow he was putting in for retirement.