Chapter 4: The War Machine and The Lone Warrior
Authors Note: Thank you again everyone for your reviews. It isn't just me that makes this story its everyone of you. So thank you Tonycakes, DigitalEmperor001, AgedZen-01, The Illusive Mann, Spartan S-999, Newcomer, Zombie D-Mann, Daniel Wilks and JedieMasterChris1. You all rock.
Okay two more for ya let's get started.
Disclaimer: I don't own Batman just my oc's the rest go to their respective owners.
The group of heroes stood in their in their penthouse standing watch over Phoenix who was currently unconscious. Jason was lounging on the couch while Jayden and Sam stood ready for when he awoke. Ally was sitting on a recliner bored and worried out of her mind when she saw her Russian friend leaning against the wall. She got up and walked over to him as he remained stiff as a board.
"Hey, are you alright?" She asked.
"Da." He replied. (Yes)
"Um…by the way what's your name," She asked cautiously. "I'm Ally, the boy over there is Jason, the guy with the gauntlets is Sam and the guy wearing black is my boyfriend Jayden."
"My name is Marcas Valitov," He replied. "Codename Red Crosshairs."
"That's a nice name," She said sweetly. "Wait, Valitov wasn't he a general for the Russian army?"
"Da, I'm surprised someone as young as you knows." He said in a slightly amazed tone. "When I was young Russia was changing thanks to the fall of communism. My father tried his best to move with the changes but times were still hard on him. The also got worse when my mother was murdered by one of our Politian's in hit and run accident. Though it was no accident he murdered her to weaken my father which he did. When my mother died my father died, he started drinking and beating me to the point where I thought he would kill me. I was four at the time."
Ally looked at him with pity as she knew what it was like to be abused by her parents.
"Before I knew what or how it had happened I had taken my father's gun and killed him." He said as Ally's throat went dry and her heart had stopped. "I thought my life couldn't get worse but I was wrong. The man who killed my mother had me sent to a secret Russian military program. They had injected me with some sort of chemicals and for half of my life tortured me in ways that ensured I would never be normal again. They trained me, experimented on me and reeducated me by strapping me to chair and holding eyes open with metal hooks. Then your government came and shut down facility, but the man who ran the experiments Ivan Makrov took me and the rest of his research to China where they continued to experiment on me. I was sixteen."
"My god," Ally gasped as everyone else had been listening. "Why did he do this, how could he do his?"
"He was hoping to create the perfect weapon for Mother Russia and he got his weapon." He said with a small hint of amusement. "In time I could shoot tiny shot glasses fifteen hundred miles away, I was as strong as three rhinos and my intelligence for the field was ninety nine percent accurate. When Ivan got home he thought he would be hero instead the Kremlin had him arrested and executed for crimes against humanity." He said with a twisted grin. "Afterwards, they had me sent to mental hospital but my vehicle got into a traffic accident in which everyone died. One old lady I don't know who, gave me ticket to Gotham and passports and sent me away. That was a few months ago ever since I have been living in tenements beating down purse snatchers and car thief's."
When he had finished no one in the room said a word. Jason and Ally both had tears rolling down their cheeks and Sam and Jayden didn't know what to say.
"I feel your pain man." An unfamiliar voice said.
Everyone looked to the middle of the room to see that Phoenix had awakened. Sam and Jayden immediately got to their feet as they approached the boy.
"Hey, look who's awake," Jayden said sarcastically. "Now why don't you explain what it was you thought you were doing tonight?"
"I don't have to explain shit to you!" He snapped.
"Yeah you do." Jayden replied in a cocky tone. "Unless you don't want your power taken away."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Phoenix grunted. "No one can take my power away!"
"Actually I can," Sam said. "Believe it or not I am the Demigod of Fire I can absorb it, manipulate it and even create it. You on the other hand have fire power which was good from what I've seen but not great and it's mostly a chemical product I sensing probably from the same shady bunch who did it to our new friend here." He nodded his head over to Marcas. "So I can take it away…unless you play nice."
Phoenix had remained silent as Jayden and Sam stood in front of him waiting for an answer. Phoenix let out a heavy sigh as he stared daggers into their eyes.
"I was looking for someone." He spat out bitterly.
"Who?" Jayden asked.
"The person who did this to me."
"You were made into weapon too?" Marcas asked.
"Duh." Phoenix mocked causing Marcas to glare at him.
"It's da little bird." He replied coldly.
"Whatever, the point is I saw the lab and was looking for the guy who did this to me. Okay!" He snapped.
"Who did this to you?" Ally asked out of concern causing the boy to calm down a little.
"Cole Damien," He grumbled. "He was my parent's boss. They were biochemist who met in college and both got jobs at the same company what company I don't know but obviously not nice. The guy wanted a weapon for some kind for what I don't know and as you can guess I wasn't in any position to ask. So after he slaughtered my parents he started experimenting on me you know poking, prodding injecting unstable chemicals into my blood stream. After what seemed like an eternity he finally got his weapon but before he could put me under his boot permanently the feds broke in and chased him away. I soon broke away myself and ever since I've been looking for the son of a bitch."
No one said a word as Phoenix just sat there in his restraints.
"What's your real name?" Jayden asked.
"Why?" Phoenix snapped.
"Cause I asked."
"Blaze Zephyr." He grumbled.
"Well Blaze Zephyr you now have a choice." Jayden said. "Stay or go."
"Stay or go what are you talking about?" He asked confused at what he meant.
"Well, you've come across a cross road in your life," Jayden explained. "You can go and leave never to return only to go back to burning down random labs that in no way relate to this Damien Cole and live off pickpocketing and candy bars or, you can be a part of our team let my friend here," Referring to Sam as he placed a hand on his shoulder. "Teach you how to use your powers properly and in exchange we help you find the man you're looking for." He finished as Blaze started at him with wide eyes.
Just then the alarms started going off as Jason rushed over to the computer.
"It's another bank looks like Two-Face is making another move." He said.
"Looks like you'll have time to think kid." Jayden said as he tapped him on the shoulder.
"Gauntlet, Crosshairs you two are with me. Breeze and Dusk watch the kid." Shadow ordered as he pulled on his mask. Dusk grunted as he walked over to Shadow.
"Why am I stuck watching the kid?" He asked.
"One, because I'm the leader and two because I trust you to hold down the fort and make sure he doesn't burn the place down." Shadow explained. Dusk let out a sigh but then nodded in understanding.
"Alright I get ya." He mumbled as Shadow placed a hand on his shouler.
"Thanks brother." He said before him and his team moved out.
Shadow and Gauntlet were riding on their motorcycles as Red Crosshairs rode in his Ferrari. Their current destination was another shipping yard only this one was owned by Bruce Wayne so what they were stealing was obviously something valuable.
"You think he'll join?" Gauntlet set in his earpiece.
"Who knows but we do have him shaken up enough." Shadow said. "Thanks for playing along."
"What are you two talking about?" Red asked.
"Phoenix, we lied about taking his powers to see if he would join or at the very least stop killing innocent people." Shadow said.
"Oh, so you can't take away his power?" Red asked.
"No, at least I don't think so," Gauntlet chuckled. "Honestly I've never encountered someone who could control flames."
"Yes, but he was created you were given power by choice and destiny." Red stated.
"Yeah, it wasn't right what they did to that kid." Shadow said.
"Do you think they were trying to copy me?" Gauntlet asked.
"It's hard to say," Shadow pondered. "Ever since the dawn of time man always wanted to control what couldn't be or hold what couldn't be touched. Fire is a perfect example for mad men with a god complex. It spreads wild and freely and no matter how hard you try you can't hold it."
"But what exactly did they do to him?" Gauntlet asked.
"By the sound of it they spliced his DNA kind of like what I did to myself." Shadow said.
"Yeah but you make it sound so easy." Gauntlet snorted.
"It wasn't in fact if Breeze and Dusk weren't there I would have died." Shadow shot back.
"Do they have same power?" Red asked.
"No, I toned theirs down Breeze has super speed and Dusk has super strength they can't contain electricity or fire ice out of their hands like me." Shadow gloated.
"How can you do that anyways?" Gauntlet asked.
"I told you at first the Adonis serum was supposed to just make me stronger but it did more than that. My body started to absorb electricity and I could fire it out willingly and as for the ice I stole a sample of Freezes blood." Shadow explained.
"Bit risky isn't it?" Red asked.
"Yeah, but I was young and angry at the world if I could get power in any way I would take it." Shadow said. "We're almost to the storage yard stay sharp people."
They had entered the storage yard but mistook it for Hell do to all the bodies and fire scattered around. Shadow let out a disgruntled grunt as he and his friends dismounted their vehicles. Shadow drew his .44 magnum as Gauntlet pulled out his personal magnum as for Red he pulled out two desert eagles.
They all carefully scouted the area being careful not to alert what did this. They stuck close to a wall when they heard someone groaning. As quickly as they could they rushed over to the broken body and recognized him as one of Two-Face's men.
"Jesus, what happened?" Shadow asked.
"Ugh, w-we were sent here to pick up a freighter that held three robot suits or something." He grunted in pain. "I don't know they were designed for Luthor, anyways we had Bane with us to do the heavy lifting when one of the suits came on. It just started tearing everyone to pieces." He whimpered. "The truck got away while we took the beating, Bane fought it off and I've been here ever since."
"Where is it now?" Shadow asked but the man let out a bloody gargle as he slumped down onto the ground. "Hey hold on!"
"It's too late he's gone." A robotic voice asked.
Everyone quickly aimed up at the direction of the voice to see a dark figure standing on the crate. He jumped down revealing himself to look like a modern day ninja. He wore a black suit with reinforced armor and a mask with a voice modulator and multiple pouches on his chest.
"Geez, is this the guy he was talking about?" Gauntlet asked.
"I don't know," Shadow said. "Who are you?"
"I'm like you I have no name, no life and only one purpose." He said with his voice modulator. "And to answer your friends question no I didn't do this."
Everyone remained silent as he slowly approached. 'How the hell did he hear me from all the way over there?' Gauntlet thought.
"I know who you are Shadow." He snickered. "Or should I say Jayden?" Shadow's eyes widened as he pulled back the hammer of his gun.
"How the hell do you know my name!" Shadow grunted.
"I guess you can say I'm a fan of yours." He chuckled. "Listen, the thing you're looking for is a cybernetic organism who can turn into a mechanical suit of armor. Trust me you're gonna need all the help you can get to take him down."
Shadow and his crew were hesitant at first but then decided against it when they started hearing massive explosions in the distance. Shadow holstered his gun and nodded towards him.
"Okay you can help," Shadow said. "For now."
"Boss, I'm going to get equipment from car," Red said. "Be right back."
"Okay, and be quick." Shadow said as he and Gauntlet went after what did this with the mysterious stranger running ahead. "By the way who are you?"
"Like I said I have no name." He said as he ran ahead Gauntlet and Shadow saw a kanji sign on his back.
"What does that mean?" Gauntlet asked.
"It's Japanese for Ronin." Shadow said.
The three crept around the corner being careful not to alert their enemy. They slowly moved towards the fighting as the noises got louder and louder. When they finally saw what bane was fighting they couldn't believe what they were seeing.
Fighting Bane was this cybernetic robot armor plated with a black paint job. Its head had a painted skull on it and was currently fighting Bane with an equal amount of strength. The two were locked hand and hand trying to overpower one another.
"This is the end for you maquina!" Bane snarled as the robot remained silent.
Just then he flipped Bane over his shoulders and onto the ground. The robot then reached behind Bane and ripped off his venom tubes cutting him off from his strength.
The robot looked down at Bane for a moment probably admiring his work when he noticed Shadow and his crew standing and few short feet away. The machine scanned them on his helmet and recognized their weapons. Marking them as hostile the machine drew a massive broad sword from his back and a shield which also had a skull painted on it and took a battle stance.
"Well so much for talking." Shadow sniped sarcastically before the robot attacked.
Its feet lit up like jet engines and the robot rushed right towards them. They all quickly dodged its massive blade as Shadow fired a few rounds from his magnum. The bullets obviously bounced off as it rushed over and brought its sword down again. Shadow dodged it again as Gauntlet moved in for an attack.
His metal fist lit up and he landed a punch to the center of its face causing it to explode upon impact. The robot staggered back a bit before rushing towards him and smacking him across the yard with his shield.
Ronin dashed towards it from behind and leaped up above it. He pointed his wrist at the machine and fired two stun shurikens from his wrist. They flew and stuck into the robots neck sending bolts of electricity through its body. Even though it was very hard to hear Ronin could have sworn he had heard a groan of pain from the machine. The robot brushed the pain off and continued to attack Ronin. He swiftly dodged every attack the robot threw at him but was soon backed into a corner. Before it could land a final strike a shot was heard and exploded at the side of the robots body. Ronin looked over to see Gantlet with his modified magnum, glowing dimly orange at the barrel as he fired another round sending the robot across the yard.
"Great job Gauntlet." Shadow said as his veins glowed red. He pointed his hands up and fired two bolts of electricity at it but nothing was happening as it got up. "Huh, that's strange usually I'm able to absorb mechs energy but this one isn't running on electricity. In fact it feels different."
The robot then bulled out what looked like a rifle and fired an energy round at Shadow knocking him back. It then did the same to Gauntlet as it slowly walked towards them. It pointed its rifle at them again to fire when another person entered the party.
Red Crosshairs with his power already activated pulled out his duel eagles and fired rapidly at the robots weak points. He hit the front of its face, the kneecaps and its hands causing it to drop the rifle. It staggered back as Red holstered his guns and pulled out a rocket launcher. He aimed at the robot for a second but then was cut off as it threw a flashbang at him. The grenade went off as Red fell to the ground clenching his eyes painfully screaming as loud as he could. The robot quickly activated its jets and flew to the sky as Shadow ran over to Red. He looked over and saw that he had a heat seeking rocket launcher and quickly picked it up. He aimed at the robot through the scope as timed his shot carefully. When he heard a beeping noise come from the scope he squeezed the trigger and sent the rocket after the robot.
He couldn't see the rocket or the robot as they both disappeared into the night sky. Just then a small explosion appeared in the dark as something started to fall from the sky. In a matter of seconds the robot fell into the ground leaving a crater in the ground.
Shadow and Gauntlet slowly approached the crater and were shocked when they saw a teenage boy in the center. He looked not that much older than Blaze and had grey hair and pale skin.
"What the hell?" Shadow gasped. "He's just a kid?"
"You thinking what I'm thinking?" Gauntlet said.
"Another freaking child experiment and judging from the hell he caused today he's a bad one." Shadow sighed. "What the hell is wrong with people?"
"Well, we taking him or what?" Gauntlet asked.
"Of course I'm not leaving the poor bastard to the cops." Shadow said as he picked him up and carried him away. "Is Red okay?"
"Yes," Red groaned. "You see while I have my power activated my sight is strong but also very sensitive. A flash bang will leave me blind for twenty minutes before I can see again."
"Are you okay to drive?" Shadow asked.
"Yeah, let's go!" He said as they all drove away from the fiery wreckage of the storage yard.
"Hey what happened to that Ronin guy?" Gauntlet asked.
"I don't know he was gone when I got the kid out of the hole." Shadow said.
"You think he was a friend?" Gauntlet asked.
"I don't know," Shadow said with a grin. "But I know he's not an enemy."
And another one bites the dust two new characters and two more bios.
Spartan S-999
Name: Thomas Nexro (alias: Thanatos)
Age: 5 (appearance of 16 years)
Eye color: Dark gold
Nationality: American
Hair color: gray
Gender: male
Armor: based on this- - with a black paint job on the armor and silver as a secondary color. His helm has a personal touch in the form of a skull painted on it and a skull on the shield.
Powers/abilities: He holds an ability to shift into a prototype mechanical suit that was based on a mech toy that interested Thomasin his younger years. It gives him augumented strength and speed and the ability of flight. His arsenal includes a large broadsword, prototype laser rifle, shield, and two emergency combat knifes.
AgedZen-01
Name/Alias - Ronin
Bio - Age 24, Height 5'9, Weight 165 (To make him agile, yet still hit like a raging bull)
Description - Black; Buzzcut hair, brown eyes, trimmed facial hair, scar on chin (gotten while training w/ grandfather), defined body tone from rigorus training regimen
Powers/Abilities -
* Taught in the Ryuken Ninjutsu fighting style, as well as self taught moves for a more unique flair.
* Has skill in free running and can perform near death escapes.
* Mini shurikens that eject from wrists; doubles as Stun, Flash, Rebound, & Mine variants (applied by reinforced touchguard.
* Hidden magnetic Grapnel line to reach high perches quickly
* Curved kunai 'Scalers' used to hide from enemies, climb/hang on sides of buildings for takedowns
* Multi Setting Lenses in mask has Heat, Night Vision and Sonar for varied situations
* Rumored that suit can amplify strength when emotionally distraught or angered.
Wardrobe - Reinforced suit w/ mask that set to clear setting (think Spider Man, but not the new movie one) w/ side pouches that contain distraction elements (smoke pellets, flashbangs), Ronin kanji on back of outfit between shoulder blades; glows when lenses are active