Chronicles of Exuro: Prologue
February 26th, 2006
Atlas Park, Paragon City:
The deal was going down perfectly. The guns were being packed into the back of the Hellions van, while the money was being checked by the Warriors who were present. Fifteen automatic pistols, twenty semi-automatic rifles, and another twenty fully automatic assault rifles, were being exchanged for more than two million dollars in unmarked bills. Both had been exchanged in almost complete silence, as the gang members kept a wary eye on the each other. Though this deal had been set up two weeks prior, the mistrust between them was think in the air.
One Hellion, shouldering a shotgun, sighed."Wish these bastards would hurry it up!"
"Why the rush?" asked another Hellion leaning on a baseball bat.
The Shotgun wielder looked over his shoulder and glared at the statue of Atlas holding up the world and snorted. "Cause we are only a 'stones throw' away from a gathering place of 'capes'."
"That all? We can handle it!"
"Plus," added the Buckshot, "I don't trust these guys."
There was a silence as the lead Warrior approached, and smiled."Well the feelin's mutual."
"Are we done here?" asked the Buckshot.
"Yeah we're done. Been a pleasure as usual." the Warrior replied with a sneer.
Both groups turned and began walking back across the large parking lot too their vehicles. They were about thirty feet apart when a gun shot rang out and broke the silence. Both the Hellions and the Warriors spun around weapons at the ready, aimed at each other. The lead Warrior lay on the ground with a bullet hole in his back. The looks on the faces of the members of both gangs was one of sheer surprise. The gang bangers scanned the parking lot warily while keeping theirs guns trained on each other.
Of the four remaining warriors one holding a pistol stepped forward."What the fuck is this!"
"Don't take that tone with me you son of bit-"the Buckshots words were cut off as bullet entered his temple and sent him spiraling to the pavement.
Both gangs turned and saw roughly a dozen men in white jeans and coats getting out of two parked cars, each was wearing a skull mask or paint on his face. What had been a tense stand off now turned into a confused three-way face off. A cocky laugh could be heard coming from one of the Skull's holding a machine gun. "Look here boys! We caught both these pantie-wastes with their pants around their ankles!"
One of the Hellions aimed a pistol. "This is private party! You bitches weren't invited!"
"Not the first party I crashed." The Skull leader replied. "Just give us the guns and the money and we'll leave."
"Go fuck yourself!" a Warrior shouted!
"Aww...and too think I was being polite by asking!"
Gunfire erupted from all sides. The sounds echoed off the pavement and across the parking lot. The Warriors and Hellions fought bravely but numbers and firepower were on the Skulls side. After a two minute shootout, three Skulls had been killed, but all of the Warriors and Hellions lay either dead or dying. Blood was spattered everywhere and shell casings littered the ground.
The Skulls wasted no time moving to each van. They loaded the money filled briefcases into their car and moved too the Hellions van. "Fan out. Keep a watch out for capes or cops!" The gang members nodded and formed and ad-hoc line between the vans and the street.
While they kept watch, the Skull leader began removing the assault rifles first. Before he could get them fully removed from the van he heard a pair of screams from outside. Dropping the weapon crates he hurried out of the van to find both of the Skulls on the flanks of the line writhing on the pavement in flames. The rest of his men were firing at a figure hovering in the air. He couldn't really get a good look at the hovering man for the glare of the sun, but there was no doubt it was a hero. The flying man easily dodged the bullets and aimed his arms at the Skulls and shot streams of fire at them. Three more of the gang bangers went down, and the last two in the firing line made a run for it.
The Skull leader pulled a pistol from his coat pocket and shot each running gang member in the back. "Fucking cowards!" He brought his gun up to aim at the hero but found the hero already was diving towards him with a kick. The heroes boot connected with the Skull in the chest and sent him to the ground. The gun went flying off and the Skull rolled too his feet. As he stood back up he brought a boot knife too his hand. And he finally got a good look at this hero.
Standing in front of him, was white man in his late-twenties, roughly six foot two inches, with an athletic and slightly muscular build. He had blonde spiky hair and a small blonde goatee. His eyes glowed a bright yellow, and they stared right at him. His costume, which appeared to be spandex, was a mix of orange and yellow, and had a pattern of flames on it. It gave off the effect of him being constantly on fire. He wore no mask though.
"I'm gonna gut ya boyscout!" declared the Skull leader. He waved the knife threateningly.
The hero smirked. "Really?"
"You were one dumb bastard to interrupt on my fun!"
"I'm 'dumb'?" the hero laughed. "I'm not the one in a gunfight three hundred yards from City Hall and a large gathering of heroes."
The Skull just sneered. "Come on, and lets do this!"
"Very well!" The hero concentrated for a second and a sword of pure fire formed in his right hand.
The Skull leader hesitated for a moment, but then burst forward in a mad dash. He closed the distance between himself and the hero and slashed at the heroes torso. The hero dodged to the right and let the Skull run past him. As Skull passed him the hero brought down the fire sword across the gang leaders back, causing pain and a deep gash. The Skull fell on the ground screaming and didn't get back up. He just lay there writhing and screaming.
"Consider yourself under arrest." the hero said smiling.
Twenty minutes later the cops had all of the survivors either in cuffs or on stretchers. As they went to help up and cuff the Skull leader, he pushed the nearest cop back and yanked the officers side arm from her holster. In the flash of an eye he had placed female cop between himself and the hero. He had her in a choke-hold and the gun too her temple.
"This isn't over hero! Let me walk or I blow this bitches head off!"
The hero placed his hands forward in a non-threating gesture. "Alright. You win."
"Damn right I win! Now back the fuck up!"
"Look, just don't hurt her alright." the hero spoke calmly and kept his cool. He made eye contact with the female officer and gave the slightest wink. The look on her face went from frightfulness too sudden understanding of the heroes meaning.
"I'm giving the orders here!" the Skull yelled. He pointed the gun from the officers temple and gestured it towards the hero. In that sudden instant the cop elbowed the Skull in the rib cage. He lost grip of the her and she fell too the pavement. That was all the hero needed too launch a fireball at the Skulls head. When it impacted the Skull fell too the ground again screaming and steaming.
The hero walked over and offered a hand too the female officer. He helped her too her feet and handed her back her gun. "Who are you, hero?"
"I'm called 'Exuro'."
"You saved my life. I don't know what to say."
Exuro smiled. "'Welcome to Paragon City', would suffice."