City of Heroes

Birth of the Brotherhood

Disclaimer: I don't own City of Heroes. Though I do own a few of the characters in this fic. By this point I'm not looking for more heroes, but I will accept some from time to time should the need arise.

New Age: 3 of 4

Tempest fired a blast of electricity at Garm as the mutant leapt up into the air after him. The attack hit, causing Garm to roar in a rage as his forward movement carried him right into his opponent. The electric hero barely had enough time to throw his arms out to lessen the impact before the larger man slammed into him. As one they fell, loosely spiraling toward the ground. Tempest began to push away, to get some room to stay in the sky, but a pair of massive hands clamped onto his shoulders. Behind the helmet Tempest's eyes widened in fear as he saw Garm's psychotic grin, followed closely by the madman asking one question. "Going somewhere little man?"

The pair crashed into the side of the cop car, which by some miracle hadn't quite managed to explode yet. Tempest groaned and shook his head slowly in an attempt to shake off the cobwebs. He'd managed to avoid some of the impact but only enough so that he wasn't killed by it, instead he felt the beginnings of a lovely concussion. It would be alright, all he needed was some time to recover; get his second wind and then he could...

A hand suddenly grabbed the back of Tempest's head, squeezing tightly before jerking back and taking Tempest with it as if he weighed nothing. Garm studied the man and cackled before throwing the electric hero halfway down the street. "Come on you purple people eater freak! You're making this way too easy!"

Tempest landed on his left shoulder and let out a gasp of pain while he rolled another three feet onto his stomach. Slowly he pushed himself up and quickly looked back at Garm who hadn't moved from his place beside the now severely deformed copcar. He doubted the fall had even stunned Garm for an instant. To this point Tempest had only been a hero for a few weeks, and the only foes he'd went against were gang members. So how was he going to adapt to dealing with someone that was capable of the things that Garm was..?

Right then his helmet beeped and a small screen popped up and zoomed in on the car just behind the once again cackling mutant. Tempest's eyes narrowed at the readout and then with an effort got back up to his feet. "Wow.. you're tougher then I thought. Garm.. what's the real reason why you're destroying things and causing general chaos? Is it that you're just insane or stupid?"

For the insults that would generally upset those on a powertrip Garm just tilted his head and spoke through a grin. "What is it with you heroes? Just because I choose to use my powers to destroy doesn't make me insane. Why should I waste my time trying to contain my strength when just unleashing it is so much easier! If it makes you feel any better.. criminals don't get any better treatment when I catch them..."

"So you're just stupid then?"

Garm now looked a little irked. "No."

"Funny. From this angle you look pretty stupid to me!" Tempest snapped out his right hand and a crackle of electricity fired from the wing. Garm instictively raised a hand to swat it away like he'd done to the previous blast. Except this time Tempest had another target in mind. The leaking gasoline dripping from the car, two feet behind Garm.

KABOOM!

The car instantly went up in a ball of fire, Garm vanishing in the explosion. Tempest lowered his arm and relaxed. His helm didn't detect any signs of life. He fell to his knees and hung his head. He never thought that it would have to come down to that but if the fight had gone on any longer Garm might have overwhelmed him. Yet another part of his mind was questioning his decision. He saw opportunity and took it, did he need to? Yes, that much he was certain of. Had Garm decided to just rip him in half without playing with him first... well he most likely wouldn't have arrived at this current situation.

"So... you're the mutant causing trouble. Wasted no time in killing that man did you?"

Tempest whipped around and found himself staring at another hero. The man that had just arrived was dressed in a brown leather vest and cloth leggings, along with boots and a matching mask that covered the general area around his eyes. Around his torso from the upper right shoulder to his lower left hip there was a strap that held a guitar on his back. His red hair was combed forward and very short, not that much of it could be seen due to the leather brown hat atop his head that resembled the one worn by Robin Hood. What the man ask sunk into Tempest's mind and he held up his hands. "No! He was the one causing the trouble. I put a stop to it."

The man didn't look convinced, though his expression remained an almost nuetral as he crossed his arms and took a small breath. "Well for that I thank you. However.. murder is never an excuse even if it is not able to be avoided by those who give into their darker sides. You see, I would have been perfectly happy to not interrupt your little victory but Galaxy City is mine to protect. As far as I'm concerned, what's stopping you from suddenly deep frying any innocent civilian who gets in your way?"

For a moment Tempest couldn't speak. What sort of question was that? "Look, whatever you believe isn't my problem. I was in the area, and I tend to stop the bad guys. If I didn't do you really think I would have chose this line of work?"

The leather clad man merely gave a cold smile as he assumed a fighting stance, right shoulder facing tempest with his hands flexing as if preparing to grab something. "You don't understand. It's my destiny to protect the people of Galaxy City destrict from the evils of the world and from themselves. I am Bard and don't worry, I'll sing a funeral ballad for you."

Without another word the blonde haired man charged. Tempest leapt up to his feet, a little too slow for his liking but he was still feeling the effects of Garm's initial attack. The Bard sent a flurry of open palm thrusts and roundhouses, most of which Tempest could only block but not entirely avoid. Tempest eventually caught Bard's right fist and turned on his heel, using his weight to toss the other hero over his shoulder. Unfortunately for him, Bard showed an amazing display of agility as he twisted in mid throw and landed on his feet. In the same motion he grabbed Tempest at the wrist and twisted it before sending a kick straight up into the electric hero's chin. Tempest staggered but sent a return punch that caught the Bard in his right cheek. His head snapped to the side but the Bard recovered quickly and elbowed Tempest in the chest, finally letting go of his wrist in the process.

Tempest drew back, wings snapping out of the bracers and electricity along them. He didn't want to fight this guy but for all his talk the Bard didn't strike him as stable individual. Perhaps if he just left then it would be better. With a leap Tempest went airborn and started to fly away, leaving the Bard to glare at his retreating back.

The Bard clenched his fists angrily while he watched the coward run. He decided then and there that no matter what he would track Tempest down and personally make his death something that other bards would sing of. That man wasn't as adept at hand to hand as he was, but enough to provide a moment's difficulty. The Bard growled and ran for the motorcycle he'd parked at the end of the street so he could go after what he percieved as a threat to his district. If he had not been in such of a hurry, he would have looked back at the flaming remains of the copcar to see if there was anything he could do for the unfortunate victim of Tempest's assault.

A body rose out of the fire and stood straight before it walked out of the gasoline induced flames. All that remained of his clothing were his pants and boots, which smoked from melting against his skin but it would take more then that to stop him. Garm looked around for Tempest and realized that he was no longer in the area. Just then out of the corner of his eye the mutant caught sight of a hero speeding out of the area on a motorcycle. Garm let loose a low, throaty growl, "So he has a little sidekick does he? Well if I follow him then I'll find that purple idiot." The tanker took three running steps before gathering the necessary momentum for another super leap and sprang up into the air.

Thirty minutes of flight brought Tempest to the roof of Galaxy City Tech. He landed and retracted his wings while he collapsed against one of the higher walls. He removed his helmet and took a deep breath of relief. Billy Young let himself feel the ache that was steadily setting in from his encounter with both men. "I.. I think I'm gonna need to start training for encouters with other heroes or villians with special abilities.."

Suddenly he caught sight of Garm flying through the air before he began to fall downward in the distance. Shock was the only thing that kept him from acting immediately. Fortunately he snapped out of his suprised state and quickly put his helmet back on. If Garm still wanted to fight, Tempest would fight and this time he knew what to expect.

Down below in the parking lot the Bard had just pulled up and had gotten off his motorcycle when he heard something hit the ground on the road outside. He turned around and saw the very same man that Tempest had attacked walking towards him, malice in every movement."Where is your little electric buddy? Tell me and I'll let you live pipsqueek."

The Bard scowled. He already had it in for Tempest, but this joker just made his list as well. "He's not my 'buddy'. In fact you're just as much a nuisance. Leave Galaxy City. That's the only opportunity I will give you."

It was a tense staredown between the martial artist and the mutant. Just as it looked like they were about to make a move Tempest flew into sight, drawing their attention. He came to a stop, keeping a good distance from both of them but also keeping an even closer eye on Garm. He'd learned his lesson the first time. "Why are we fighting like this! It doesn't make any sense. Aren't the three of us heroes?"

Garm leapt, once again suprising Tempest but this time he was ready for the mutant. With a burst of speed he shot to the left, leaving the big man to land. At that moment the Bard ran up behind Garm and began to strike him multiple times, mainly focusing with sharp heel stomps into the backs of his knees and elbows to the kidneys. It unbalanced the big man to be sure, but unfortunately it was obvious that it didn't hurt him when Garm turned with a quick back hand that sent Bard flying back onto the ground. With him out of the way Garm turned to Tempest and leapt with his hands outstretched as if he was planning on strangling the electric hero.

This time Tempest was ready. With a burst of speed he shot to the left and electricity arched from his wings, trapping Garm in mid-air as the currents made his body contract and jerk involuntarily. Tempest kept up a steady stream of his power, knowing that even the toughest heroes out there couldn't just shrug off something like it. Though this stratedgy all depended on how well Tempest himself could continue!

A blur of movement suddenly reminded him that there was another person in the area. A shin connected with the side of Tempest's head, and by the impact sent him to the ground below. The Bard cursed as he started to fall as well, having used the roof of a car as a spring board for the necessary height. He twisted in the air, once again showcasing the fact that his reflexes were on a hair trigger. While Tempest and Garm nearly landed on their heads the Bard landed on one knee, and let himself go into a roll to kill the momentum. A second later he was standing and walking over to the fallen Tempest, completely ignoring Garm for all intents and purposes. Deal with the first offender, then the left over baggage.

"Aren't so tough now are we helmet boy.." Bard chided while he stood over his prize, then reached down to unmask the idiot before he killed him so that the accused would at least have a face.

Suddenly a.. well the Bard assumed it was a girl pounced over Tempest's fallen form and hissed at him from behind a thick curtain of black hair that reached her waist. The person was dressed in a crimson shirt that had wide, flared sleeves that hid her hands, and black pants that also hid her feet. On the center of her shirt was the one thing that gave her an identity. The upsidedown hourglass. As the thing hissed at him again the Bard took a small step back. "So.. the urban legend reveals itself.. Widow.."

The creature roughly grabbed hold of the unconscious hero's right shoulder, revealing long dirty nails. She was claiming him as her prey. The Bard's glare became more intense as he started to advance, when suddenly Widow lifted one finger and---

PAIN! The Bard was cut into a hundred pieces, skewered by glass, ripped in half, and slammed head first into the groung ten miles below.

All this happened in the space of a second but it was all the time needed as darkness enveloped Widow and Tempest. She had teleported out. After Widow left the sensation of experiencing his own death lessened enough that he could coherantly think again. The Bard shook his head, hard as he could to clear the cobwebs. He noticed Garm had gotten up and was looking around for the electric boyscout. "He isn't here. I'm just as angry as you big man. Though I don't think he will be alive much longer."

Garm reguarded the other man with thinly veiled hatred but he demonstrated that he wasn't the sort to just smash something he failed to grasp. "Tell me why and I might think of letting you off easy for the sneak attack."

The Bard nodded, and a dark smile appeared on his face. "You see.. the one that took him was called Widow.. I had thought she was just a bedtime story to scare children. The story goes is that she is forever craving the flesh of mortals, a mad creature that takes any man she desires to eat. In other words.. purple wonder just flipped out of the frying pan and into the fire.."

To be continued in... New Age 4 of 4