SUMMARY: This is the story of two rookie heroes in the midst of the United States' new expansion effort to revive the ruined city of San Francisco, after the Rikti invasion, given the success of Paragon city. Follow their misadventures as they face every trial a hero should, and lesser known perils such as paying the rent and food poisoning. Rating for future violence, drug references, language, and other reasons.

Legal information: Neither author owns anything, and we are poor. So if you must sue us, expect to obtain our livelihood: An expired public library membership, and a ratty pair of running shoes.

By now, most of you should know the story of Paragon City. The amazing city, brought to be the last hope of western civilization through the combined efforts of 'super heroes' everywhere, thanks to the statesman's call for super powered assistance. Paragon City's relief efforts have been so successful, and the heroes have multiplied in such numbers, that a new program is being set up, to spread relief and order across the united states. This follows the first city to receive this 'Stimulus package' consisting of several highly ranked heroes, along with many rookies and initiates, and everything they need to create an armed fortress in the heart of San Francisco's crime-plagued ruins, and begin administering order. Which, if paragon city is any indicator, involves administering great deals of violence to criminals and wrongdoers.

Named after the central hub of 'super' activity through Paragon city, this fortress was titled "Neo Atlas Park", and armed more like a military installation than a humanitarian effort. A modular building defended by steel plates, razor wire, and machine guns, this installation saw action within moments of deployment as mutants, freaks, fiends, and looters flocked, and those who attacked were viciously cut down by the defenses and heroes. Afterwards, the heroes came out like skirmishers, slowly, steadily, and violently pushed the 'undesirables' backwards, creating a safe zone, block by block, street by street. Soon, they began to hire local workers, repairing damages, fixing electrical and plumbing systems. Around the 'ground zero' of the relief effort, life came to resemble something almost normal. There was clean, flowing water, jobs, offices, even banks as people became able to return to their normal lives after almost a decade of the lowest form of anarchy. This has been just one neighborhood though, and a whole city, and more, awaits for those willing to make a name for themselves fighting the good fight…

With the initial area secure, forces move outwards, the most powerful heroes fighting on the raw edge, forcing all the vile powers that be back a step at a time, reclaiming, and securing new territory. This leaves the central areas a seeming prime target, devoid of the toughest soldiers and powerful heroes. But just as with Paragon city, the Neo Atlas Park station began issuing new licenses to all willing to fight as superheroes, and with this, comes certain benefits, and a basic stipend. Thus, the central areas are always swarming with those newly licensed and just waiting to test themselves, and other vigilantes who refuse any kind of registration.

Powers

What are you gonna do nowadays folks when you can barely walk down the streets without getting mugged? She happened to be minding her own business and walking home from another unsuccessful job interview. Some people were just prejudice nowadays. "So I have arms and legs that ran on electricity. Honestly it should be counted as a disability, but of course I can walk fine, talk fine, and can use every inch of my arms and hands." She thought to herself. It took quite a bit of willpower to keep from letting them figure out how easily she could use it for violent means. Which, if you weren't paying too much attention, meant that she was a cape. You know, a cape. Slang for superhero. Meaning she kicks bad guy ass. But, she didn't register as an official one, so it also meant she wasn't paid and the compensation really sucked working outside the system. The name? Well she didn't have a super name because all the good ones were already taken. So she just went by Johnny B Good or Johnny Appleseed, as the situation merited. She didn't care that it was a boys' name she was born with, what she cared about was that she was out of a job. Without being an official cape, she was on her last ounce of cash trying to live in a shitty two bedroom apartment with a good friend of hers, so job hunting was crucial but none of them wanted a super to deal with part time; it just meant more targets for villains.

But I digress, back to the mugging thing. Being peeved as hell about not getting the job, she needed to unleash a bit stress. So she had been walking home, to shout, bitch, and moan about people to her friend when of course thugs had to pop out of literally the woodwork and see what all men wanted to see. They saw a girl about 5'6 with black hair with neon green highlights that went down to her shoulders. They saw slim curves in places, slender legs, and arms that were tone, they saw vulnerability beneath the white hoodie she wore. They didn't see the hands or the arms that held the circuitry that was fused into her flesh and marrow, what they saw was black fingerless gloves with nails that were trimmed, more tools for perversion. Blue jeans had little tears and were defiantly worn but it wasn't design it showed hard work, for them just another obstruction and where they wished they saw heels they saw converse. They saw something weaker than them; something to use and throw away. The eyes had such a deep green forest to them as if you could be lost in them. She seemed to have a bit of Asian in her a slight tilt of the eyes but. The way her body held itself showed tension and the light curling of her hands into fists. Her face was soft with a small dimple under her right eye her lips seemed to curl into what would turn lesser men away it held confidence the slightest hint of rage turned into joy.

What she saw was punching bags. Trash to be taken out and scum to punish for ever thinking they could do what they do without consequence. She didn't have it in her to play the scared victim she had a long walk home and even longer session of working off frustration on these guys. She twitched just a second and smiled serenely. The thugs chuckled as they started to circle her some licking their lips and others having itching fingers. "You all alone out here? Huh girly you all alone… Lookin' for a good time?" The guy laughed and so did the others. He turned and then Johnny looked kind of pumped as she bounced a little back and forth on her toes and took a couple swings with her gloves on. "Yeah… I need a good time you gents mind showin' me what you got?"

Johnny had quite a feat ahead of her with at least 6 of them she could end up in rough shape by the end of this fight but that's not what mattered it was more that she could soak later. She inhaled and closed her eyes and the exhaled she had lowered her center her gravity for her combat. The guys moved in a loose semi circle, they weren't necessarily stupid but they weren't pro's either. She figured he who attacks fist wins, so she literally threw herself at the combat. She put on a small burst of speed and lowered herself dodging a wild jab. As it went past her shoulder, she rammed her shoulder into the guys chest and he got a rather unpleasant shock as the man convulsed a little in her arms and went down. The men did not wait for her to get up as one ran up and kicked her side the other either pulled weapons or went right after her. Johnny hit the ground and rolled with it and when she had landed on her feet she swept out a kick and nailed one guy in the kneecap tripping him, his head deftly making a satisfying crack on the ground. One of the men pulled a combat knife from his boot and pointed at her and another man broke a bottle against the brick building. The slums themselves seemed to have it out for her. With the sun dwindling down more of the night filled with sounds of grunting and flesh being devastated one bruise and punch at time. By the end of it she had 6 of them unconscious some worse for wear but they'd get up.

Johnny had been through the ringer her white hoodie was covered in muck and grime, her jeans had officially torn at the knee's she had lost one of her gloves when she had gotten slashed at. Wires and circuitry showed on her palm and the back of her hand. Her hair had a small twig in it and she had a couple bruises. With the fight she could feel the ache in her body after the workout she wasn't quite up to par with super standards but the hell she couldn't handle herself decently in a fight. She looked up at the sky holding her arm and smiled as she headed home.

It didn't take long for her to reach the apartment, technically owned by her friend Price, but shared by the both of them. They had been through thick and thin together in Paragon city, and he was nothing but supportive of her trying to be an unregistered hero, and went with her in the mass-move to San Francisco saying he needed a "change of scenery." She used the key she kept with her at all times, and entered the apartment. Inside, the apartment was sparsely decorated, but clean. Her friend Price sat with his large somewhat nerdy glasses, neatly cut short brown hair, and hazel eyes at the kitchen table where a number of Chinese food boxes sat, as he was nursing a large cut on his arm, and seemed to be favoring his right side.

Johnny had seen a couple things since being here that involved Price. Random accidents that she was never there for and Price being usually messed up. She had learned that he valued privacy and she could respect that, especially since he had been so understanding about her going to San Francisco that he even came along for the ride and helped her out with rent and such. She bit her lip as she looked at him and went with her usual comment "What the hell happened to you?" she said as she slid her hoody off to reveal that she had on only a black tank top under it with her bra straps showing as they hung around her upper arm. She lightly kicked off the converse and walked towards her room as she opened up her laundry basket and tossed the white hoodie now covered in grime in muck into and went back jumped over the couch and landed on her but as she took off her fingerless gloves and discarded them somewhere. She stared at Price and sighed the guy wasn't necessarily a mystery just got into strange accidents sometimes. But he had brought Chinese and her curiosity oddly vanished as her stomach growled at her and she flushed a little and grabbed a bowl and spoon.

One of the things you would notice about Johnny was that technology ran down the length of her lower arms and across her fingertips circuitry that sparkled in blips of red and neon green. It looked like a little light show but sometimes skin peeked out through the mess of electrical power. The same could be said for her feet she was very much a cape and it showed through the enhancements on her arms and feet. She lightly twirled the spoon between her fingers as she started to serve herself some of the chicken and some fried rice. "So, what happened to you this time?" She asked once she had her food, and flopped back onto the couch. "Bike messenger, clipped me on the way back." He said, not rudely, but dismissively, as if it wasn't worth his time to consider the problem. Johnny paused at that, thinking. "Isn't that a quote from a movie?" Price just shrugged. "Dunno, but it fucking hurt. Talk later, lo mein now." He finished, taking a new serving for himself.

She sighed softly and shook her head softly as she let the matter drop as she looked at him "What'd you do today anyways?" She said. Price actually took a moment from his lo mein to organize his thoughts, staring into space as he did when he actually had to think hard. About two seconds later he said "Not much, I'm looking for a dojo, or maybe a swordsmanship school. I mean after all, you may be a knight in shining armor, but you can't be around to save me all the time, can you?" She nodded deftly and started to much on her food. "True that, true that."

Earlier that day, a similar brawl was occurring, but for (slightly) less selfish reasons. A fairly young girl found herself in a similar position, without the advent of super powers to keep herself safe. It was a fairly simple sob story, thugs come up behind her, scare her, easily herd the frightened girl into a secluded alleyway, and start to move in for the kill. They had surrounded the young brunette when they heard the guy they had guarding the entrance tip them off to a problem. He didn't call the safe word so much as gurgle slightly, but it was enough. They turned to find Jim impaled on a European sword of some kind, the whole thing looking silvery and ornate. At the other end of the sword was a young man in a large, suede black leather jacket. Underneath was an olive green vest, and white T-shirt, with bluejeans and black combat boots. He had long blonde hair, and his eyes were hidden by a pair of gaudy red sunglasses, and his lower face covered by a red bandanna. He drew the sword out in a smooth motion, and kicked Jim backwards, where he lay. Now, heroes weren't supposed to be free-wheeling killers, but the job had to be done, and very few people gave the capes crap for giving the criminals 'just incentive.' Now, these criminals, being partially high, partially drunk, broke, and angry almost as much as their comrade's death as the interruption of their fun time, made the decision to rush the intruder, hoping to deal with this obviously rookie cape who couldn't even afford a costume. There was four thugs to one hero, not very good odds, considering they were rushing a man with a sword when they had brass knuckles and switchblades. The bum-rush ended poorly for everyone involved. The first man went down with a horizontal slash to the gut before he went down, the second hitting the rebound and going down with a deep gash in his chest. The third and fourth went in while our hero was recovering from these strikes, and as one bashed him in the chest with his spiked brass knuckles, the other clipped his arm with his knife, drawing a great deal of blood from the painful, but mostly superficial cut. With a curse and a roar, the blonde physically kicked the offending puncher away, and brought his sword down to bear on the unlucky knife-wielder's head, and moved to kick the last man who had only been stunned, into unconsciousness. Stained with blood, bruised through his Kevlar vest, and bleeding from his arm, he grunted a bit, before turning to the girl as he sheathed the sword in a scabbard on his back. "Are you all right, ma'am?" He asked, and she nodded mutely, before running off. People got used to all sorts of things, but even this took a while. "Sir Percival," as he liked to call himself on duty waited for a few moments to make sure the girl was gone. He then moved his wig, revealing short, neatly cut brown hair, and wiping the sweat from his brow. Then he moved over to the dead or injured thugs, and began to go through their personal effects, wallets, jewelry, social security numbers, etc. It made for a good paycheck after all. All this time, he was muttering darkly as to what he'd give to actually have some powers…

Authors' note:

Shiney: Well, here is the story jointly created by myself and The_Tramp_Truffle, hope you enjoyed our first attempt at posting something publicly, please read & review, as there's no point making a good story if we don't know how to make it better. ^_^

The_Tramp_Truffle: So… Here we are. Hi. Nice weather we are havin'….. Tough crowd. So yeah our first story and many more to come even if I have to scoop the creative juice dregs from my ear!