I still need to edit the third issue, but I'm already writing the forth. So the third might start going up soon, if I feel up to it.
Self editing is tough, and I haven't been able to let some of the individual handlers check over this. Sorry.
I'd never forget my Standard typical disclaimer: Cryptic Studios owns the rights to City of Heroes, a massive multiplayer online game. Used here without permission. Information on who owns each individual character can be found at the bottom of the document. . .
This would be a good scene for those 60's Batman style fight effects. Pop, zoom, wham. But since this isn't a cheesy (although beloved) Adam West children's show, there are no cheesy cartoony fight effects. Just Stormwind Rider blasting an Embalm-ed- one of the sicker creations of the Vahzian who are more than willing to sacrifice themselves in a blaze of glory to take out a hero- and Aeon Fox parrying one of the tougher, almost human looking Vazh. Eidolons, they were called. A thrust to his chest staggered him. The Eidolon proved to be decisively tough, and quicker than one might think. Still, Aeon expertly avoided his counter attack, and staggered it back with a simple kick to the chest. She smiled, and motioned for it to bring it, again. Instead, it threw it's hand up in the air, although not in surrender. Three dark, ozzzy tentacles sprung from the ground, almost feeling like living shadows, and entangled Aeon, holding her in place, and trying to sap her energy.
Aeon: How fair is this! Stormy, get your butt in gear and bust me out, would you?
Storm: Lil.. busy.. Urgh...
One of the near by Hellions had wondered into the battle. One with a bat, which he'd just nailed Stormwind Rider in the midsection. The air rushed to escape Storm's body as his stomach violently contracted under the force of the bat. Storm immediately fell to his hands and knees. His arms now too weak to support his weight for the moment, Storm fell chin first onto a soft patch of grass. Although this section of town, "The Promenade," was mostly commercial mixed with a few living spots, it did offer surprisingly lush lawns between buildings. None of this knowledge comforted Stormwind Rider, however. He was awash in nausea from the blow from the bat wielding thug, and not anxiously alooking the next shot. There was no way he'd be able to get his arms up in time to defend himself. He winced his eyes in anticipation of a blow that never came.
Storm glanced up, to see the thug slowly advancing towards Aeon, who was still restrained. He held the bat over head, ready to finish her off. She somehow managed to twist her body to nail it with a kick, knocking the bat out from the thug's hand.
Thug: Ohh, you're gonna pay for that one, in a second honey!
Storm: Wanna bet?
As the thug grabbed his discarded weapon for another attack, Storm reached into a back pocket and pulled out a greyish, small looking grenade, which he hurled at the Edilon. It exploded in a tangle of thin, highly durable grey webbing, momentarily distracting and confusing the gruesome mask of black leather and grey skin. Losing it's focus caused the strands of weirdness that had Aeon trapped to vanish into the clouded day. Half a second later, the near unliving had been knocked unconscious by one of Fox's martial arts moves. She turned towards the Hellion, who seemed to be considering an escape option. Storm eagerly nullified that decision by blasting him, too, into unconsciousness.
Storm: Moron. Shoulda finished me off.
Talking so soon after the attack gave Storm a bit of a coughing fit. Aeon looked over, only slightly concerned.
Aeon: You ok over there? Should I activate your emergency medical device?
Aeon smiled as she offered her hand. Storm waved it off and forced himself to his feet, coughing once more.
Storm: Fine, peachy. Just need a second to catch my wind.
Aeon: Yeah, you really look fine. Not.
Storm: Oh, brilliant comeback.
Aeon fox laughed.
Aeon: Someone who went one on one with a bat is ripping on me, huh? Next time, you might wanna let me handle the real fighting, and just kinda.. stay out of sight and just cheap shot them.
Storm: little annoyed Yeah, yeah... anything you say, cat freak.
Aeon looked offended. Fox plopped down on a nearby dark green oak bench. The smell of smog was thicker in this part of town, although no where near overwhelming.
Aeon: I am NOT feline! I'm Kitsune. They're foxes. Not cats.
Storm: So what's next, fox freak?
Aeon: Let's stick to Aeon and.. oh my forest spirits, is that who I think it is!
Storm: I don't know. Who do you think it i- Hey!
Aeon bounced off into the distance, moving in a manner fittingly similar to a fox in chase. Storm sighed as she bound over a nearby steel mesh fence, and bounded between two buildings to the main street in chase of her foe. Storm forced himself to his feet, and sprinted after her.
She was in the street waving down another trio of heroes across the road. One of them immediately recognized her. You guessed it- Even, Shelly, and Lexa.
Aeon: Even, is that you! Wow, I almost didn't recognize you. Fortunately, you stand out in a crowd.
Storm: Look who's talking.
Aeon didn't listen. Even looked her over a few seconds, then nodded.
Even: Ah, right. Aeon Fox, you call yourself these days? You used to live in the town, right?
Aeon: And you stuck to the forest with your sister and everyone. I still think you missed out on a lot, it was a nice town.
Even: It was that, indeed. But I was comfortable where I grew up. Even paused Your parents were town dwellers, too, right?
Aeon: Mom was. Dad ran with the packs most of the time. Moved to town when it started getting dangerous for foxes. Real ones and Kitsunes alike. But where the hell are my manners! Let me introduce you to my new friends? Aeon looked Stormwind over, appraising him like a piece of meat Don't let the baby cute fool you; he's a pain in the butt. Who's your friend?
Lexa giggled, looking him over.
Lexa: I don't know, he kinda looks cute. Hi! I'm Lexa, wanna be friends?
Aeon and Storm kind of stared at her blankly. Shelly tried not to smile, and was only mostly successful.
Storm: Uh- sure?
Lexa: Coolies!
Storm: Riiiight. I'm Stormwind Rider. I know he's Even, and you're Lexa.
Lexa: Cheerfully Sure am!
Shelly: And you find yourself wondering who I am, right? She glanced politely towards Aeon You first.
Aeon: Aeon Fox, Kitsune. I grew up near where Even did. Except I lived in the town- he was one of the forest dwellers.
Storm: I grew up in these streets, although I haven't seen much of them in a few years. Or much of anything. Long story.
Storm frowned at some dark, unknown memory, the intensity of which almost made Shelly visibly shudder.
Storm: You weren't thinking of going through that pass, were you?
Shelly: Why? What's on the other side of said intracity passthrough? I assume nothing good.
That much was easy to tell from the serious look on his face, as he turned to face her.
Storm: Good assumption. Steel Canyon has some nasty works in it, nothing any of us are ready far. Not much of a stretch to say you're probably still new to the city, so you might wanna turn back.
Lexa: Oh, cool, good point! Hey, I got me an idea.. why don't we join up? Make a big team? It sounds like you'd be better conversation than these two. Er, no offense, Shelly and Even.
Even: Yeah, ok.
Shelly: None taken, of course. And we could use your help tracking something down. A little problem with the mystical menace of the Circle of Thorns.
Aeon: Oh, really? This sounds juicy.
Shelly: We're trying to track down a Circle of Thorn meeting point with some Hellions. Not really sure why, other than it revolves around some mysterious figures who I couldn't put a trace on. I've been scanning the minds of Hellions, trying to find where they'd meet the Thorns. We're pretty sure..
Storm: Don't waste your brain thinking about it. I know where to look.
Storm smiled for a second.
Storm: It ain't close, but it's a good place to start. Hellion strong hold, and close to the Perez Park security gates, anyway. The police drones are hard to sneak by, but hardly impossible. So yeah- I saw we start there. Fight anything on the way between us that deserves a fight, and check it out.
Shelly: How do you propose we get in? Force our way?
Storm smiled a knowing, confident smile.
Storm: Leave that one to me.
Even: I'll do it, if you're up for it, Lexa.
Aeon: Sounds good! Catch up with old times, huh, Even?
Even nodded.
Lexa: Let's do it!
Shelly: Sounds like an acceptable plan, although I'm going to need more information. Like how do you..
Lexa interrupted, excitedly.
Lexa: Ohh, more Clockwork! Dibs on first shot!
The others watched, confused for a second, as Lexa eagerly charged into melee range on half a dozen, Clockwork. Shelly muttered a "Nevermind," as the four of them rushed to keep Lexa from being zapped into a hospital.. nicely ending our chapter..
Check out the epilogue for a taste of the next exciting chapter!
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Lovable standard ownership information.
Mine: Even, Shelly Hollins.
Other COH players, used with permission: Stormwind Rider, Aeon Fox, Lexa Fallon.
City of Heroes/ Villains IP: Embalmed, Vahzian, Vahz, Eidolons, Hellions, The Promenade.