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.
Author's Note: I know things seem to be a little fast paced and confusing at this point but I'm just trying to get my proverbial shtuff in a pile. So, please have patience, perservere, and review.
New Age: 4 of 4
His name was Billy Young, a.k.a. Tempest. He had grown up in a quiet little town called Rambleton which was a mountain town in the foothills of the range north of Paragon City. From his early teen years he had known there was something different about him, something on the inside. It felt alive.. electric.. and that was what it was, Billy had been born with the powers of electricity. However a strange defect in his blood prevented him from using his powers without hurting himself and others, the electricity was just too untamed.
So after much studying and the help of a man who studied robotics, the winged bracers were made to help him conduct his destructive powers in a more productive manner. In time came the suit, made purple since that was his favorite color, which let him flux the electrical currents over his body and ultimately allowing him to fly. The helmet was itself a powerful mini-computer console that let him pull up information, and most importantly, informed him when his bracers were in danger of overloading.
Said helmet was now beeping incessantly, bringing him back to full awareness and a headache that almost made him pass right back out. "Ugh... where am I...?" Billy wondered aloud as he sat up, one hand against his helmet to try and steady his hazy vision.
When he was able to Billy looked up and took in his surroundings. He had been laying on a church bench, that much was certain because you couldn't have those things anywhere else.. not in his mind.. it was just.. not cool. Billy's eyes traveled around the massive, high roofed building he was in now. It was a church, a very old one bordering on ancient. He also noticed that there wasn't any sunlight at all comong from the windows that were blown out, displaying solid rock face. A quick check with his helmet revealed that he was underground.. way underground, below the sewers.
Tempest suddenly became aware of the fact someone was there with him, but he had a hard time of finding them. Though the churched seemed to be lit somehow it was still too dim to get a good look around. He decided to try something that never worked very well when he was trying to seek out gang members. "Hello..? Anyone here?"
A slight grunt answered his question and a mass of darkness detatched itself from the wall. The person came strolling over with the most leisurely walk imaginable. Then a split second later the person bounded over, startling Tempest into falling on his back again. Suddenly it was over him, one foot on the bench back and the other planted on his chest. Before he could react the girl standing on his chest hissed and whipped out a tampered hand with wicked looking discolored nails. When the hero didn't move she slowly withdrew her hand and tilted her head. Even from this angle Tempest couldn't see through the mass of hair that went all the way to her waist. Her face was completely hidden. For a moment he laid there, trying to think of an effective way of getting some distance from her. Though with her foot firmly planted on his chest it didn't seem like such a good idea to try anything rash.
"Alright Crystal that's enough. I think you scared him enough." Came a cultured voice from somewhere near the front. Widow pushed off with the foot that was on the bench and leapt off of Tempest, landing in the aisle. He watched her carefully a moment before sitting back up and looking for the source of the voice.
His eyes fell onto a tall woman in a pristine white robe with black trimming. Her arms were crossed, vanishing in the large sleeves and her colorless white hair ended just above her shoulders, making her porcelean complected skin all the more pale. While her eyes were entirely white as well, her eyebrows and lips were a black of the darkest kind. The woman inclined her head a little, just enough to acknowledge Tempest. "Greetings young hero and welcome to my sanctuary."
The first thing that struck Tempest was how.. old she sounded. However the lady seemed a year or so younger then him physically. While Tempest was pulling himself together she continued to speak. "I am Eden Rolt, and I took it upon myself to send Crystal to save you.." The girl known as Widow in the word above have a non-commital nod of the head. "She has been my.. is sidekick the word they use..?"
Tempest looked at the strange girl hesitantly before giving a nod to Eden. "Not that I'm unhappy you saved me.. but would you mind if I had asked why?"
A coy tilt of the head as Eden gave the young man a long measured gaze. Then, matter of factly she began to speak. "Over the centuries the world has always needed heroes.. be it in one form or another. Ultimately however even the greatest of them all shall be torn down. This is necessary for the cycle of humanity to continue. That time is now, back in his early days the hero Statesman was a beacon of shining hope for everyone in this city. He cleaned it up and made it safe once more. However the sun has set on his legacy. It is time for new heroes to become great, to protect the city."
It took a minute for Tempest to fully grasp what Eden had just told him. "So.. I'm supposed to be this new hero?"
His question actually got a laugh out of the woman, and something similiar from the other creepier girl. "Goodness no.. there is not a person alive that can fill the role Statesman left on being captured. However.. a team of heroes.. would do a satisfactory job." Eden turned to the massive stain glass window behind her as it lit up with four distinct individuals. One was Tempest. "For some time now I have been looking for heroes to form such a team.. though you are new, Tempest, you have been chosen. If you accept then it will take me one step closer to preserving Paragon."
Tempest frowned in thought as he mulled over what Eden said. "What if I turned down your offer?"
Eden bowed her head. "Then you may leave, I am not forcing you into this but Paragon City does need us Tempest."
A tough decision. On the one hand he wasn't sure about working with others, too many team mates could mean too many egos prone to exploding. However, he did want to truely help the city endure in the absence of the Surviving Eight. "Alright. You've talked me into it. What do I do?"
Eden smiled and turned her gaze the the stain glass window again which showed several different heroes. "For now we wait and watch for potential individuals."
Just wait..? It was an odd advice. Though as he waited, Tempest couldn't help but watch.
Who will be chosen for this group that's supposed to be able of filling in the vast space Statesman left? Only one way to find out. Stay tuned for the next arch in the Birth of the Brotherhood.