Chapter 1: Prologue
In the city of New Marais, Cole MacGrath stands overlooking the city. He had begun his life as an ordinary bike messenger in Empire City. One package would forever change him: the Ray Sphere. It activated, creating a huge explosion, causing a city-wide blackout, killing thousands…and granting Cole power. When he had awakened, he found that he had control over electricity. When various gangs and factions rose and tried to take the entire city, Cole stopped them. No matter how powerful the adversary, Cole had never had an enemy that he couldn't defeat…until the Beast. Even with all of his power, Cole couldn't stop the Beast, who had stolen a fraction of his powers and then destroyed his city. Even in New Marais, Cole had no place to run from the Beast, whom was heading in that direction. Cole decided to leap down from the rooftop and onto the streets. He walks over to a store with TVs in the windows. Suddenly, something big hits the news.
Anchorwoman: And now, the news. An unexplained celestial object was discovered and confirmed by three separate astronomical observatories earlier this morning, and is now being monitored continuously by the world's leading cosmologists and experts on astronomical phenomena. The object, which is said to be approximately 15 to 30 feet in diameter, is expected to enter the Earth's atmosphere this evening, which will make it the biggest observed object to strike the Earth in recorded history. Researchers, through an analysis of the object's trajectory and speed, indicate that it is on a path toward Antarctica, where it will likely break up in the upper atmosphere, posing no threat to life or the environment. Stay tuned for further updates on this fascinating story as it develops.
Cole [thoughts]: Just some rock? I have bigger things to worry about.
Cole turns away, jumps onto a power line, and rides across it to his next destination.
The next day, Cole begins to wake up when Zeke puts a newspaper over his face. Cole knocks it off.
Zeke: Whoa dude!
Zeke quickly catches the newspaper, which nearly falls of their roof.
Cole: If you're willing to nearly fall to your death just to get a newspaper, then I guess that means it must be important.
Zeke hands the newspaper to Cole.
Zeke: Go on! Take a look at it!
Cole opens up the newspaper and sees that it is talking about the fallen meteorite, which has been nicknamed Pandora due to its box-like shape.
Cole: So why should I be interested in some rock?
Zeke: Dude, its not a rock; it's Pandora! You know, that Greek box!
Cole: So you're excited about a box that contains all of the world's evils?
Zeke: Come on Cole, it's an alien box!
Cole: Still not seeing the value of it.
Zeke: Well a whole bunch of people have gone searching for it. Fighters in particular. Surely there's a reason why.
Cole: Hold the phone…fighters? What fighters are we talking here?
Zeke: You know…martial artists, warriors, professionals, random street punks…
Cole: Still not interested.
Cole picks up his amp.
Zeke: Seriously Cole? This is the biggest discovery in…well…forever! It's a box that's not from our world! Imagine what's inside of it! Imagine what it's worth!
Cole [frustrated]: The Beast is coming here Zeke! He is on its way here and unless I can find a way to stop him, he'll do to this town what he did to Empire City!
Zeke: Sorry brother. I didn't mean to get you all flustered up like that.
Cole: [deep breath] It's alright. In fact, I'm sorry I snapped at you.
Cole gets ready to jump from the roof.
Zeke: Wait, just a thought, but what if that box could give you more power?
Cole: Sorry Zeke, but I'm not in the mood to be going off on a wild goose chase for some box.
Cole jumps down.
In an unknown location, a shadowy figure watches footage of Cole as he hears a knock on the door.
Man: Come in.
A woman, also covered in shadows, enters the room.
?: So why have you called me here?
Man: Him.
The man points at the screen.
?: Some guy with electrical powers? Why should that mean a thing to me when I've seen people throw fireballs from their bare hands?
Man: Because that man, Cole MacGrath, could be a very powerful asset.
?: So my assignment is…
Man: Your assignment is to go to New Marais and capture Cole MacGrath. So then, are you up for it?
?: Of course. I'll be right on over.
The female leaves the room. As she closes the door, she notices that the man is about to begin communications with someone.
? [thoughts]: I'd better hear what he's talking about to who before I get going.
Back in New Marais, Cole is heading back to the roof. He sees that Zeke isn't there waiting for him.
Cole [thoughts]: Geez, I knew Zeke said he was going to pick up some stuff, but I didn't think he would be this long.
Cole turns on his headset.
Cole: Zeke. Zeke! Hey Zeke! Talk to me!
?: I'm afraid that he can't get to the phone right now.
Cole turns and sees a woman with red hair wearing some kind of business suit. She jumps down from another rooftop and prepares a flying kick. Cole rolls out of the way, but is caught off-guard by fire emitting from her boots.
Cole: What have you done to Zeke?
?: Don't worry, I haven't hurt him, if that's what you're implying.
Cole: Lay a finger on him…
?: And you'll make me pay, right? Let's just cut to the chase, shall we? I need you to come with me, so why don't we make this easy and have you just give yourself up? Come on, for the sake of your friend Zeke.
Cole charges at the woman and goes for a punch, but she blocks it with her gloves.
Cole: Not gonna happen.
?: In that case…
She knocks Cole away and then flies at him with spinning kicks, accompanied by fire. Cole is knocked back and tries to recover from the kicks.
?: Figured you'd have put up a better fight than that.
Cole: Funny you should say that.
Cole throws a shock grenade at the woman, catching her completely off-guard. It goes off, knocking her back and shocking her.
?: That might take out some hoodlum, but it's hardly a problem for me. I'm used to fighting guys like you.
Cole: Oh shut up already.
Cole begins unleashing lightning bolts upon her, which at first seem to get to her, but after a while, she starts blocking them with her gloves.
Cole: Seriously?
?: Well now, let's continue, shall we?
Cole decides to jump off of the roof.
?: Don't tell me you're suicidal enough to…
She then sees that Cole hovers down towards a power line. He then begins riding it.
?: I'm in no mood for a chase, but fine.
She jumps off of the room and begins hovering with her boots. She follows Cole, whom sees her and starts firing lightning bolts at her. Once again, she blocks them with her gloves. She then flies at Cole, delivering another flaming kick to him, knocking him off of the power line. She then starts hovering lower in an effort to catch him. She sees, however, that he hasn't hit the ground.
?: Where did you…
Cole: Up here.
Cole had hovered above her and he kicks her down to the ground. When she lands, she sees that he is charging with energy and makes an effort to get out of the way. Despite this, the thunder drop still manages to hit her.
Cole: You picked the wrong guy to screw with.
?: I did, huh? Well…
She presses a button on her gloves, changing its function.
?: How about some of this?
She slams the ground with her fist.
Cole: Oh, so you're going to make the ground mo…
The ground that Cole is standing on shakes, causing him to stumble. She then charges in and gets a few punches and kicks in before Cole blocks one of her fiery kicks with his polarity wall. He then pushes her back with it and leaps into the air.
Cole: See you around.
Cole fires a megawatt hammer, which barely misses her, striking the ground and creating a small explosion of energy.
Cole: Screw this.
Cole climbs up the rooftop and jumps across the rooftops once again. She uses her boots to hover and pursues him. He reaches his roof when she finally catches up to him and delivers another fiery kick, knocking him straight down to the ground.
?: Can't you just give up already?
Cole: I have a better idea.
Cole picks up his amp and swings it at her.
Cole: I'm going to start playing dirty.
Cole swings his amp, which manages to strike her a few times, but afterwards, she begins blocking it with her gloves and then grabs onto it.
?: Your electrical attacks won't work on me, remember?
Cole: Oh come on!
She then punches Cole and knocks the amp out of his hands.
?: I'm not leaving this city without you.
Cole: I figured by the way your shirt's open that you really wanted me.
?: Oh that's it!
She charges at Cole and throws a punch, but Cole catches it with his hand. She then throws a punch with her other arm, which Cole also catches. She then activates the electricity within the glove, in the hope that it would cause Cole to overflow, but it has the opposite effect.
Cole: Your electrical attacks won't work on me, remember?
?: Damn!
Cole: Now it's my turn!
Cole begins electrocuting her, sending energy from her gloves to her entire body. He lets go, leaving her to fall onto the roof, stunned.
Cole: And now to seal the deal.
Cole arc restraints her, leaving her unable to escape.
Cole: The first thing you can cough up is where's Zeke?
Zeke: Where am I? I'm right here.
Zeke appears on the rooftop.
Zeke: I cannot tell you how long the line was at the store. I'd swear the line was…whoa Cole, I guess you don't need any privacy up here!
Cole: What are you talking about?
Zeke: Who is she? Your date?
Cole: God no! She attacked me! I was under the illusion that you'd been kidnapped! And now it's time for a little talk, missy. So what do I call you?
The woman does not speak.
Cole: Unless you want me to hold your hands until you cook, I'd suggest you start talking right now.
?: Alright, alright! I am the Crimson Viper!
Cole: Well that's a start. So "Crimson Viper", who sent you?
C. Viper doesn't speak.
Cole: Do I really need to intimidate you each time I ask a question?
C. Viper: [sigh] Fine. I was sent here by S.I.N. to apprehend you. They said that you'd make a valuable asset.
Cole: Oh, is that all?
C. Viper: That's not all. The rest of their plan was…
Back somewhere unknown, C. Viper stayed outside the door to listen in on who the man she had talked to was going to contact. At the press of a button, someone appears on the screen, but it's too dark to make out who.
?: What have you contacted me for?
Man: Sir, we've sent our operative to find Cole MacGrath.
?: Once he has been captured, shall we commence our next objective?
Man: Of course. Afterwards, we shall use him as a means to activate Pandora.
?: Perfect! Contact me again once he is here!
The screen turns off and C. Viper walks away, acting like she hadn't heard anything.
C. Viper [thoughts]: I'd better let the CIA know about this.
Cole: So let me get this straight: you're an undercover CIA agent working for an evil organization with the most blatantly evil name in existence, and they wanted you to capture me just so that they could open that box?
C. Viper: Yes.
Zeke: See? I told you brother! That box could be worth a lot!
Cole: Why would that box be worth a thing to anyone?
C. Viper: Because Pandora responds to energy, particularly from combatants in battle. They figured that someone with your powers would open it for sure, allowing them access to whatever is inside.
Zeke: By the sounds of your story, you didn't want that group to get their hands on Cole.
C. Viper: That's right. I couldn't afford to allow them to carry on with their plan. Should I had defeated you, I would've reported you deceased and ended the hunt.
Cole: Well how do I know that you weren't going to turn me over to the CIA instead?
C. Viper stops speaking.
Cole: Your silence says it all. You were going to hand me over to the CIA, who would've done the same thing with that box.
Zeke: Well now that that's taken care of, let's go after that box.
Cole: Just because she and her employers wanted me for that thing doesn't mean that it should have anything to do with me.
Zeke: Cole…you said yourself that the Beast is coming. That box might have something in it to help us: a new power, an alien weapon, or heck, some tablet that'll make the Beast high tail it.
Cole: You're really going to bring the Beast into this?
Zeke: I'm not trying to make you get it for me…I'm telling you that it might just help. Being completely serious here. Honest.
Cole thinks to himself for a moment.
Cole [thoughts]: The Beast'll be here eventually and if this box is alien, maybe it will do something for me. Whether it could be good or bad, I don't know, but…if they went this far just to get me, then it has to mean something.
Zeke: Well Cole?
Cole: I'll go after it.
Zeke: Sweet! So when are we heading out?
Cole: No Zeke, I'LL go after it.
Zeke: Come on brother! I can't just let you go by yourself! You could be in some real danger, if people want Pandora that badly.
Cole: As a friend, I'm asking that you leave it to me.
Zeke: Alright brother. Fine. Go by yourself. I'll just chill out here then waiting for you.
Cole: Well you could keep me informed of anything new.
Zeke: True that brother. Well, are you heading out right this minute?
Cole: Hate to let them get a head start, so I might as well.
Cole grabs his amp and gets ready to leap from the roof.
Zeke: Cole, wait!
Cole: What Zeke?
Zeke: What do you want me to do with her?
Cole: I don't know. Tell her your crazy stories.
Zeke: I'll take your word for it.
Cole: And Viper? You'd better make a run for it once your restraints wear off because if you try to mess with me again, I won't go easy on you.
Cole jumps from the roof and rides the power lines as he heads for a boat out of New Marais.
Cole [thoughts]: Antarctica, here I come!…I can't believe that thought just came into my head.
Zeke overlooks Cole leaving the city. Then he turns to C. Viper.
Zeke: Well I might as well tell you a horror story. Ever hear of Pyre Night? How about Bloody Mary? No? Well on one Pyre Night…
Back at the unknown location, the man is suddenly contacted by the shadowy figure.
?: I grow inpatient! Where is Cole MacGrath?
Man: It seems that our agent has failed to capture her.
?: You know I don't take kindly to failure…especially when I am told that you had it completely under control! So where is he now?
Man: He's leaving New Marais right this instant.
?: Since your agent have failed me, my forces will have to take over!
Man: Your…your forces?
?: Why of course…
The man disappears from the screen and Shadaloo troops enter the room. The shadowy figure appears in front of the man, revealed to be wearing a red military uniform and a service cap.
?: Because when Master Bison wants something done, he will ensure of it himself if need be.