Public Enemies

OOC Thread Here

Prologue:

United Nations Headquarters - New York

She knew she was right…well the moment things went wrong she knew it! Recently her father William Greystoke had asked her to assist him on a special mission. They would be accompanied by other’s if necessary which she didn’t think so/ She was perfectly capable of taking care of her father by herself. Especially with the pressure of him being right there when he needed her and to make sure he was safe. It didn’t matter to her that he was awoken in the middle of the night or had urgent mission concerning other matters, all the mattered to her that she’d be with him on the same mission. And being this his was all she really wanted having the excuse of going on a mission fit it all perfectly.

They quickly left the manor updated with what information Hunter could spare which was not a lot. The information she had heard was vague. If she was to analyze the data there’s be nothing. She could not believe that she let it slide. Lack of information was her first singe, along with contacting in dead of night! The answerer was so obvious and she didn’t see it till the last second! But that was not even the main sine. As they slowly and with the greatest stealth snuck into the building they did it with out much hassle, no one was killed in the progress not that she knew and this was the problem. It was the UN! Where were the guards? And to make matters worse they’re scanning devices whet out.

But she suspected something was wrong. She didn’t know what or why but she got that same feeling she had back in Athens, and call it a lucky guess she bet that these two things where connected. "It's quiet...." He said glancing over to her "....too quiet."  She didn’t dare comment obviously his keen senses of observation where perfect for him. She on the other hand her mind was fast at work playing little heed to the world around they progressed one. "Do you smell that too?"  her father said slightly growling "It smells like a rat to me....."  For a second she took him literally but soon discovered that he was not serious.

And she should have known so dearly did she regret. Her mind as so often clouded with her own thoughts why could she not have just stopped and thought for a second. This place was a trap she would have known that if she tried. But she didn’t not at all. As they snuck onto the balcony she could see the Council members having some kind of meeting. Her curiosity flared for didn’t her father say that they needed his assistance? Obviously something was wrong. What happened next she didn’t really understand she didn’t know why?

But for some strange reason her father began to mutter to himself. At first she thought he was just going over thoughts like she did some times but then he said something that she was able to pick up "It's a f#cking technopath...." Her eyes flickered over to him to try and figure out what was going on but it gave her no help. Though a technopath was a being who could control technology. In her worlds since it was so far advanced and based with tech itself It contained a few powerful paths to keep it all under control.

She was about to ask him what was wrong but before she could he stood to his feet and said with anger "J1NX!" “What the..” she whispered to herself as she scanned the area there was no one there. Not even a scent of any one all she could pick up where the council members conversing in a meeting which must have been very enticing because even after her father’s out burst they still where unaware of their two presence.  “Uh, sir” she whispered but he was way to deep in conversation but which whom?  

She didn’t know what was going on. He was staring down at the floor like it was alive and talking! Was there something wrong? She could not ask he was not paying attention. And what happened next left her aw struck. With in mile seconds his bow was drawn as he aimed and fired with in seconds them selves. “Dad!!” but she couldn’t stop it, she could not stop any thing! As she watched helplessly as the Arrow which was aimed for one of the council members hit it’s target she didn’t know what to think. Her father, William Greystoke had brought her all the way here, for an assassination? Sure she did them all the time but her father killing a UN member? What reason was that and she thought he said they needed her help?

A mixture of emotions ran through her some which she could not contain. “Why the hell did you do that” she thought of bursting out saying but knew it was no where near her place to argue with her father. She watched as the body dropped to the floor and the woman was dead. Her hands where wrapped around the balcony as she stared in awe at the sight, could she believe it? Her father had just committed in a pointless assassination! It had to be! Why else would he come here! But if it was an assassination why was she here. Was he trying to make a point, something he knew she would get?

But what also puzzled her was that she cried out as she rose up. "WHAT THE F#CK?! He's the one you want!  It was HIM!  Jesus, it was HIM!  What the f....." “Him” she whispered looking around swiftly but caught singe of no one. Could it be that he didn’t want to hit her? Then if he didn’t want to kill her what was he aiming for? But her thoughts where called off as the members saw the act and called reinforcements. Swiftly the two had to leaves the scenes and dash off for a quick escape. Laura might not have known what was going on but what she did know was that her father has just committed an act of treason against the UN members.

Something that in many cases she would not allow and if any other member had done this and she be there she would have killed them but this was no other member. This was her father and he had a reason for every thing…at least she hoped. Her father obviously was still distracted because even as the guards poured in like blood and water   he played not much mind. Until she was about to kill them all them he got in her way…again. This was probably the fifth or sixth time he’d stropped her from getting into a blood battle and it was getting dang hard annoying!

"Laura, get out of here!" he commanded and she could tell that was a direct order from her captain but also her father. And there was no way in hell she was going to leave him! She could see her father was getting badly hurt along with the shots aimed directly at him, she was getting shot to but that didn’t matter as she was going to help him he turned to her again   "I said get out of here NOW!" She was hesitant as she watched but lowered her head and ran as he told her too. But as she ran she knew there was something she needed to get first. Quickly coming to a halt se returned to the balcony gladly her father’s presence made quite the commotion and most of the guards where trying to contain him and you know what she thought about that “Epic fail” she whispered to herself with a smile.

Looking down at the floor blow she could see the dead body of the Council woman along with the rest of the members surrounding her along with some paramedics. “She’s not breathing” he said. Laura hesitated for a moment if she did this she’d plunge herself into all of this. If her father has some how lost it she’d be automatically placing her future in his hands. And she was willing to do that because he had done the same for her. With that she leaped over the railing and landed feet fist on the ground at that moment they looked up and stared at her. She smiled slightly as she pulled out a gun at the other members “Please don’t move official business of The CORE ” she snickered as she said that. Slowly approaching the dead woman’s body she picked it up and slowly stepped back. “She’s dead I’m just going to berry her.”

With that Laura quickly ran for one of the doors and burst through it only to be met by a few more guards. She shrugged slightly laying the dead corpse against the wall and leaped into action. As they fired she made sure to dodge as many as possible and for them not to all horde around her at the same time. But instead of unleashing her claws which she would have done she unsheathed her sword. Clenching it tightly in both fists she charged toward the on coming attackers with full speed. Leaving over the first wave she landed behind them and swiftly spun around slicing them in the back but not fully finishing them off. The next ground began firing bullet after bullet after bullet though she was able to block some with her weapon.

Once blocked she grabbed one of the guns on the floor the fired briskly at the men that she had wounded and any one laying on the floor that looked a little alive. With that she ran toward the next line of attackers only to see that there where more coming.  Taking in a deep breath she picked up the dead body and leaped through the window shattering he glass and breaking it. Gladly she landed on her feet once more though her body slightly hurt due to being shot at she knew as long as there was no silver contact she’d be fine. And with that she started her long sprit home to the Wolf Pack base….only wondering how she’d explain this to her daddy.

Well when she arrived she didn’t see him, which worried her but she was sure she picked up his scent on the while running. She hoped that none of the members would catch glace at her. I mean she was walking through the base looking like hell with a dead body that was probably already in hell. Swiftly as possible she got to her room and locked the door behind her. Laing the body down on the floor she pulled out from her dresser a black container. She might not have been any good at diction but diction a human body she could do. And if there was a technopath along with the UN members acting strange she wondered…only wondered if possibly they where not acting on their own actions but the actions of others.

But as she did she got a strange feeling a suspicion that she put herself in. Maybe she could not see any thing but Hunter acted like there was something there. And as she searched with in the woman’s brain she found some kind of a device. Almost microscopic but brilliantly engineered. It was a small implant or something that controlled the neural networks of the brain. Then she paused a moment. Implants..she had those she didn’t see him because she saw exactly what the Council members saw what he wanted them to see. Some way her implants locked onto the same frequency as theirs and syked with one another.

Which also gave the possibility that she could be controlled by them also. “Dam it!” she scolded herself thinking her father to be an assassin for him to stoop that low! There was some one there J1NKS! Though she didn’t know the name she knew something was wrong! And she was a danger her implants where a danger. Though they where not active they where never removed due to the fact of brain damage. Her implants where like a control mechanism to her more carnal and feral nature with out them she’d be…well it would be hard for her to contain her feelings! But she had to let that slid.

With that she leaped out of her window leaving the dead body. She needed to find her father and to apologize to him. Even though he might not have known what she thought she was going to apologize to him! She ran with all her might not stopping unarmed which was her first mistake. And as she ran a queer feeling came over her. Something was here…but that didn’t matter no enemy mattered! Her father mattered and she was going to find him!

 "Details are still scarce as we continue to bring you live coverage from outside the United Nations Headquarters here in New York. Unconfirmed reports specify that at least one member of the UN Council is dead. No news yet as to the total number of fatalities as the Headquarters has gone into complete lockdown. We are unable at this time to confirm our source from inside the U.N.buildings claim that the attack was not the work of a terrorist cell, but instead the work of members of the Wolf Pack. A secret elite group of like minded individuals who are believed to have won the decicive battle during the Doomsday Crisis thus ending the bloody carnage. We will continue to bring you up to date and live coverage of the assassination as it breaks. This is Amanda Hugginkess for KLVTV in New York signing off."

Standing tall with his hands firmly clasped behind his back, Gambler looked out the window of the hundred and twenty second floor window of his newly remolded cooperate headquarters in downtown New York. News of the U.N. attack had spread throughout the city fueled with panic stricken hysteria of terrorism and 9/11. Soon the World would be glued to their televisions and radios in disbelief as the blame was laid at the feet of the heroes who had once saved New York from complete destruction. Gambler couldn't help but admire the brilliance and manipulation at play.

Seated behind him surrounding an Italian Oak conference table, the members of the newly formed International awaited the next move. An unknown force had set in motion like minded events that in the past had led to the Civil War. Hero against Hero, Villains accepted as Government officials, and worse. With early fingers being pointed at the Wolf Pack it was only a matter of time before the media's strings were pulled and the World would once again turn on its own salvation. Already several infamous villains had been given full pardons and more would surely follow.

Slowly turning to face his illustrious collection of killers the Living Legend casually flashed his Cheshire Cat grin before presenting the International with individual folders. Each folder contained detailed information of every member of the Wolf Pack along with schematics of the abandoned Vertis HQ. "Ladies and gentlemen what we have been presented with here is an opportunity. An opportunity to not only gain a strong foot hold in dee court of public opinion, but an oppertunity to cripple dee Hero community." he paused letting his words wash over his Council. "Some of you have seen dis before. The World being tricked and twisted into turning on its Heroes. Eventually dee Government will come to us for help. They will ask us to do whatever is necessary to stop those they hold responsible, and we will. And in doing so we shall be treated as liberators, and dat will be their undoing. In front of each of you is detailed information on our targets along with a copy of the Veritas HQ blueprints. We shall split up into small tactical units with some of us tracking down and eliminating the Wolf Pack, while others will break into dee Veritas HQ and hack into their data base. Gather any and all information on current and former Heroes. For when the time comes we shall be six steps ahead of the game. No one will see us coming."

 The Manor was quiet as Tlieso padded down the hallway, her sock clad feet silent on the Maple hardwood floor. Yawning she crossed to the kitchen to make a cup of tea before continuing down towards the basement, the hardwood turning to stone as she descended. Several doors lined the otherwise empty hallway, most contained small one way windows allowing those on the outside to observe the room within. Stopping by the single windowless door she punched a code into the keypad beside it, there was little fear of the specimens inside escaping  which accounted for the reduced security. Heavy deadbolts slide home as the door shut behind her ensuring that she would not be disturbed in the delicate work ahead of her.

 A pleased sigh escaped her lips as the heat lamps overhead warmed her through the thin black material chasing away the chill from the hallways. Dozens of glass tanks lined three of the four  walls housing various types of scorpions, spiders, the occasional marine animal and their food. A stainless steel refrigerator sat in the corner it's glass doors revealing the tiny vials and bottles inside. Setting her cup on the table beside it, Tlieso clicked on the LCD mounted overhead and frowned at the screen. "No CNN today," she murmured to herself as she flipped through the channels looking for something to capture her interest finally settling on a cheesy horror movie being shown on SyFy.

As the lid to the tank slid open the pale yellow scorpion inside waved its claws in protest as it was lifted into the air and placed carefully into a petri dish. Holding it in place with her telekinesis Tlieso took a rubber capped vial from the rack in front her, labeling it in neat script Deathstalker. The scorpion stung the flexible surface injecting several drops of its potent venom into the glass container. Returning the scorpion to its arid home she moved onto the next tank and proceeded to get lost in her work. Abruptly the dying moans of one of the actors switched to the emotionless voice of a newscaster in mid-broadcast droning on about some UN official that had been killed. "Who cares, it's not like they don't have more." She retorted at the screen. Grabbing the remote she turned the volume down and continued collecting her samples until a mans voice broke her concentration.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"

"That sounds like...", her words faded away as she stared at the video being shown. William Greystoke releasing his arrow into the chest of a female official was shown over and over. Her brow furrowed in confusion as she watched, it made no sense. Part of her delighted in watching his powerful arms draw back the bow and release the arrow but she knew there had to be more to it. Hunter was not one for mindless killing so what was the reason behind it? Switching channels she viewed the same thing over and over, news of the Wolf Pack leader killing the woman and the world-wide man hunt that was now seeking him. A victorious smile came to her face as she heard this, it meant he had escaped their lock-down of the UN and was on the run. Quickly placing the arachnid back in her tank the Mistress of Darkness raced from the room towards the upper levels of the house. If the world was seeking him she would do everything in her power to help him.

Nails clicked against the nicely varnished oak table as Kiara listened to the news and Gambler‘s speech. With each passing moment little fires seemed to erupt against the wood, only to be extinguished the moment contact was lost. It had been a very long time since she had sat in the position she did. For a few years she had fought with the Heroes, taking her place amongst the Ice Dragons she had fit nicely. That was until Her corrupted heart was set free again by the Violet Lantern ring. Now she fit inside her own skin again. The heroes heart that once possessed her had vanished beneath the blackness that enveloped her when she descended into the bowels of hell once more. Once there she took up her throne once more and let her demonic aura take over her completely. This time there were none to fight her power, she ruled her dominion with an Iron fist and let none sway her. Until she eventually fell into a long sleep.

IT was here that Gambler had found her slumbering, enticing her with corruption, money, and power he woke her. He lured her from her home and settled her into the headquarters for The International, vowing she’d get her turn in bringing the world to it’s knees. And the taste of blood was so sweet that she couldn’t resist. Even if this war was not her own.

The folder fell onto the table before her and for a moment she thought about burning it, but her mind quickly changed when she saw the faces within. A slow but deliberate sneer crossed her face and her eyes burned with bloodlust.

“How long before we can taste their blood, Jean? I have been asleep for too long, I have grown impatient in my age.”    

A room, bare and spartan and made of concrete deep underneath an apartment complex shutters harshly into focus, as a small man sitting naked in a cot.  scars cover his back, and glee radiates from his sunken eyes.  The large watch next to his bed was vibrating to the tune of "the walrus and the carpenter", and with a flourish he flipped on his overly large top hat, and listened intently to his new bosses message. 
 
He giddily chuckled as the acadian's accent filled his ears, and before the message began it's inspirational coda, he swept his aging form around the room, dressing in his usual attire.  Dressed as an english gentleman, a small mirror appeared out of air, and he adjusted his costume in his reflection, and left the room.  As the door clicked closed, Jervis pulled down his hat against the wind, and the dark corridor beside him dissolves into a balcony of a crappy motel.  He steps down to his old Roles Royce, and with some difficulty starts the ignition.  Everyone on the road is franticly trying to reach some sort of destination, no doubt because of the recent assassination, and in order to liven up the traffic, he would force the occasional weeping fat american to see his wife get her head blown off by a sniper. 
 
Finally once he reached his destination, another crappy motel, and double parked.  He stepped out, went up three levels, towards a rundown room, knocks three times, and is greeted by another member of his corporation.  He bypasses the small crowd of people in the room, and dials the acadian, humming the underwater waltz.

The taste of the blood from his venture the night before still lingered in his lips, and in the fibers of his slightly torn mask. Jeff sat at the oak table slowly scratching away the clear coat with his exposed pointer finger as he listened to both the news and Gambler's speech. Suddenly a folder slides across the varnished oak and Jeff slapped his hand down on it stopping it before it slid to far. Jeff glanced between the folder and Gambler for a short moment before opening the folder. The suspicious look on Jeff's face was quickly transformed to a smile as Jeff saw what the folder held. The profiles of the Wolf Pack members were nice but it was the other thing the folder held that caused this grin.....the blue prints to Veritas HQ. 
 
 "We shall split up into small tactical units with some of us tracking down and eliminating the Wolf Pack, while others will break into dee Veritas HQ and hack into their data base. Gather any and all information on current and former Heroes. For when the time comes we shall be six steps ahead of the game. No one will see us coming."
 
Jeff looked up with his grin showing slightly thanks to the tear from the middle of his mouth to back of his jaw. "I want Veritas.....I know that place better than I know the back of my hand."

New York

Shinagawa, Japan. Present

"Class, I'd like you all to welcome a special guest we have with us today." A round of applause began, as a door knob turned. Swinging open, a young man, dressed in a green, long sleeve shirt, dark blue, faded jeans, and thrashed black tennis shoes, stepped through the door. A sheath, secured with a belt around his waist, gave him the appearance of what could be a current day samurai. Pure, hazel eyes overlooked the entire class of thirty, fourth grade kids, each with wide eyes and open mouths. White. His hair, eyebrows, and goatee, all bleached white. He made his way to the front of the class. Clearing his throat, he began. "I'm sure you have all heard of me, but if you haven't, the name's Cly." All the children were stunned. The teacher was about to say something when the rider continued. "You all may be wondering why I came here today, am I right?" Many heads nodded. He smiled. "I came here to teach on science." He could tell that they seemed disappointed. "That is, what is beyond science." He withdrew his sword. The doubled edged, shining, unscratched, molecular thin blade hummed as he waved it through the air. "What you see before you, is my sword, Valor. It is the sharpest blade on Earth, no joke." He paused. "Who wants to try a swing?" The kids faces lit up like firecrackers. They all stood up, and ran toward him. "Easy, easy. Let's form a single file line." The teacher went from being a little nervous to very nervous. Cly turned towards her, "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." He winked, but she didn't seem to lighten up at all.

Handing Valor to the first in line, when he was a considerable distance from the others in line, the young boy grabbed the handle happily. "Wow! It's light!" The rider smiled. "How about you try to slice this metal pipe I have set up on that table." The boy nodded, and swung toward it. The blade passed through the metal, and was on the other side, as though he had only swung it through empty air. The metal pipe remained standing, in one piece. "What happened?" Cly whispered to the boy, "Look closely." Handing Valor back to the rider, the two watched the metal pipe. Slowly, ever so slowly, it was moving, the top sliding off of the bottom. Tens of seconds later, the knight caught the pipe as it fell. The boy jumped up and down in excitement. "Wow! That is the coolest thing I have ever seen!" An hour passed, and everyone had gotten a turn to use the dragon rider's sword, that is, except for the teacher.

Cly stood before the class again, everyone in a much happier mood. "I see you have enjoyed yourselves." Walking slowly over to one of the student's tables, Cly pointed toward a science book. "May I?" The kid handed it to him, and the rider turned, and returned to his position. "Science, that's right, I came to speak on science." He withdrew his sword again, and held it flat. "No scientist understands how my sword was made, but I do." He sheathed it again. "You see, I watched this sword formed before my very eyes, by what may have very well been an Angel. What I saw was creation, not random chance." The rider opened the book he had grabbed. "This book, only shows one of two different viewpoints. Why is that? Does that writer of this book honestly think that Evolution is the only option?" The children shrugged their shoulders, while Cly could sense his anger building up inside the teacher. "Creation and Evolution, those are your two choices. Research each, and find which takes more faith to believe." The rider bowed, and finished with, "Thank you for having me." He left the room, the teacher with a red face. Cly smiled.

Beep! Beep! His We Are Legend communicator was going off madly. Reaching into his pocket, he withdrew it. Feral Nova's voice sent out a message. He listened, learning that in New York a United Nations council woman had been killed, by William Greystroke, of the Wolf Pack. "What is the meaning of this?" He sent out a telepathic message to his dragon. Have you...? Cutting him off before he had time to finish, Esmeralda replied, >Yes I've heard it. I have a communicator too you know.< Cly smiled, but then returned to his shocked state. We need to get back to the Tower, and fast. Moving from a walk, to a run, the rider moved through the halls of the school in excess of twenty miles per hour. Getting yelled at at least five times, he finally reached the front doors. Taking a few steps outside, he closed his eyes, and tilted his head back. Motionless, for seconds, and then... gone. He was swept up by Esmeralda, so fast that an onlooker might have thought he could use teleportation.

He arrived in a minute, having the skin nearly ripped off his bones by the awesome speed of the Queen of the Skies. Large, twin doors opened, letting both dragon and rider slip inside the huge building. Landing to the floor of his room, Cly darted off, out of his door, and toward the meeting room. Moving too fast for his own good, he slammed into one of his team mates, The Wanderer. Taking both of them to the ground, he got up, and said as he was running away, "Sorry about that." About to round another corner, Cly slowed down as he sensed one of the leaders of his team. It was the ninja, Uchiha NeVann. He walked around the corner and was greeted by five shuriken. "OUCH!?" The shuriken stuck in Cly's chest. "What was that?" The Shinobi of Sarcasm said something about how Cly looked exactly like the wooden targets he used in his training. "Riiiight." The knight pulled out the sharp throwing weapons, handed them back to Vann. Cly ran from the ninja. Nearly to the meeting room, he passed by the kitchen, where the smell of cookies dulled his senses. Skidding to a halt, he back tracked, and looked inside the kitchen. "Nova?" She was eating cookies. Telling Cly she would be right up to the meeting room, he shrugged his shoulders, and made his way toward the meeting room.

Out of breath, he lowered his head, as he held himself up against a side of the door. "Looks like I'm not the las..." His eyes narrowed. In the room, was every We Are Legend member currently active. "What...? How...?" Nova, NeVann, and the Wanderer stood before him. In unison, they said, "What took you SO long?" Angered, he withdrew Valor, and was about to slice... He heard Esmeralda's voice in his head. >You know you'll regret trying that.< He let his head fall, then sighed, and sheathed his sword. I know. He turned back toward the We Are Legend members. "So, what are we going to do?"

The war was finaly over,the Demi-God still could remember what happned at Ninjan,killing enemies,fighting a war,his fight with Felix,an ex-We Are Legend member.
All the killing he did wasnt important anymore,he has killed many more when he was a slave of the gods.
Sitting in a bar,Matezoide was calm,his pride was hurt,what Felix said to him hurted more than any thing he has faced before "you fight like a thug", the young said,was he actualy right? The Demi-God was a spartan,he was trained to hand-to-hand fight,still had problems with a teenager
Give me a beer as he started to drink and think about this,3 tall guys came,armed with chains and tatoos Hey,look,fresh meat as another thug got close to Matezoide he said This is OUR tuff,give us your beer and we may leave you alone  Matezoide didnt cared for then at all and could already see himself cutting then to pieces with his blade,he smiled Leave now,or i will hurt you as he leaved his chair
The reaction was obvious,as one of the thugs tried to punch Matezoide,who simply grabbed his hand and broke it,then giving him a kick to the face
another tried to wrap his neck with a chain,but before he could even move it,Matezoide had smashed him with a chair
is that all? as he sent his attention to the last thug Are you scared?what happened to all this "fresh meat" attitude? this is so patetic with a fast and aimed punch,the last thug
It was then his communicator started to beep as he learned about  the deatha United Nations council woman by the hands of  William Greystroke, from the Wolf Pack
As he dranked his entire beer at once the Demi-God leaved the bar and rushed back to the base,with his amazing speed,it took nohing but a feel minutes to arrive,as he went to the meeting room,he saw his team mate Cly slamming in Wanderer,he couldnt help but laugh,the laugh disapeared as Matezoide grabbed one of the shurikens throw by Uchiha Nevaan Are you always like that?
The Demi-God then sitted in a chair and took both of his blades,slashing then against each other producing a little sound Ok,when are you going to hunt Willian? Despite not knowing any details,the Demi-God could feel what the mission was going to be and was prepared to go and even enjoy it

Cifer sat alone atop Hunter's Throne typing away furiously on a holographic hard-light computer console surrounded by mountains of paperwork, the reasoning behind this was that he had planned on doing Wolf Pack's taxes in his private chambers but when Cifer had discovered how long it had actually been since William Greystroke had even thought of doing taxes he had no choice but to temporarily seize control of the throne room and force a group of Lycans to help him cart in all of the receipts, bills, etc. The Hunter and other members of Wolf Pack had been given over the years for all of the useless crap sans Weapons, Armor, Food Supplies, etc. they spent their stipends and The Hunter's Inheritance on.

But the work had become taxing, Cifer was tired as Hell, and he needed a reprieve. He was beginning to regret not having gone on that mission to The United Nations, but those taxes weren't going to do themselves, and he had promised Hunter that he would take over as Wolf Pack's new Bookkeeper...since all of the old ones had quit due to the discomfort they felt around being in such close proximity to a group of...well, the superhuman equivalent of Carnival Folk, he guessed would be the "correct" way to describe Wolf Pack. They were a close-knit family made up of some of the most "unique" men and women on this planet...and others, who had decided to use whatever gifts that had been bestowed upon them to make other people happy.
 
Standing up from the throne, Cifer made his way to the exit, commanding HQ's computer systems to save all of the information he had put on the Pack's Tax Records and then lock the throne room down. Entering the hallway corridors Cifer's eyes immediately came to focus on Talon, The "Princess" of The Lycan Underworld...dragging the corpse of a United Nations Councilwoman behind her as she made a mad dash to her room. 
 
"You have got to be %$^#ing kidding me..." Cifer whispered to himself as he was about to try pursuing Talon down the hallways. But before he could, the front doors went flying open and a very large, muscular...thing in black boots, green-camouflaged combat pants, a faded gray tank top and a long leather trench-coat stepped into the safehouse.
 
Cifer quickly teleported away from where the intruder was standing and reappeared in his private chambers. Taking a moment to gather his thoughts, Cifer removed his glasses, placed them on his nightstand and then grabbed one of the many katanas he kept in his spare closet for situations like this one. But even as he did he could hear the intruder smashing open the entrance to Talon's private chambers, presumably provoking her into fighting him, a fight Talon probably saw as hers and hers alone. Meaning that Cifer would only be intruding and would be disgracing her honor if he tried to help, then again...the intruder appeared to be equal in strength to The Hunter's Lycan form. Despite all of the strength and power she commanded, Talon would more than likely need help in fending off such a powerful foe. But...what if she didn't? What if...
 
Cifer shook off the doubts in his mind. "Oh to hell with this! I am going up there to--"
 
SHANK!
 
"You ain't goin' anywhere except back with me to CORE HQ, b!tch!" a masked man garbed in a suit of nanotech armor that was nearly identical in appearance to The Hunter's Wolf Pack Uniform said as he shut down his built-in invisibility cloak and watched Cifer fall to the ground unconscious with a knife sticking out the back of his skull to ensure that his healing factor remained inactive for the time being. Smiling wickedly as gratuitous amounts of blood gushed forth from Cifer's head, the CORE Agent pulled out a small communicator and established contact with his superiors. "This is Agent Sakurazuka reporting in."
 
"What is your status?"  The voice of a female CORE Agent responded rather bluntly.
 
"I got the bastard. He didn't even register my energy signature when he teleported into the room, he was too preoccupied I guess to notice my presence." The CORE Agent said cheerfully.
 
"Preoccupied? With what?"
 
"Some...thing named Victor Leontinus has invaded the safehouse down here in New York and is currently engaging Laura Greystroke in combat up in her quarters. Why? You want me to go get them too? Because I can..."
 
"No, just attach a tracer onto the alien and prepare yourself for the return trip."
 
"Roger that." Agent Sakurazuka said as he placed a small circular tracking device onto Cifer's neck and closed his eyes as a vortex of golden light began to form around their bodies.

Inside the Femme Fatal HQ, the silent assassin sat in the darkness of her bedroom, just in front of her bed on the chilled tiled floor, dressed in her black sheer thickening fluid clothing. Her mind going through step by step for a hit she had to perform later on that night, a picture of a middle aged woman with black hair lying on the ground before her. Homicide did this before every hit, clear her mind, picture the mission in her head, going just how she wants it, hearing the screams of her victim echo through the dark night, the warmth of the blood, the smell of death, just imagining it brought a smirk to her face. 

But her concentration was broken once she heard the sound of footsteps rushing upwards towards the living quarters of the Femme Fatal’s. With a sigh she opened her eyes and quickly got up, walked through the side wall of her room that lead to the hallway to see who was the one responsible for disrupting her concentration.

Less than a second later she saw the Mistress of Darkness almost running down the hall, and passing Alexandra without even nodding her head in acknowledgment. Something was going on, it didn’t take a genius to figure that out. Running to her room she grabbed some of her equipment and looked down at the picture of the woman she was to kill that night, only to kick it to the side, “I’ll deal with you later.” She mumbled as she teleported out of the room and right behind Lady Tlieso.  Pulling up her mask to cover the lower part of her face she was walking only a few steps behind her leader. Whatever was going on, Homicide was going to offer her assistance. 

She didn’t speak any words as she followed Lady Tlieso through the hallways; she was simply waiting for orders to be given to her. Her brown eyes were focused ahead as she began to tighten the fingerless leather gloves around her hands. She had a feeling that tonight was going to be an interesting night.

 Within the We Are Legend, HQ Stephanie was sitting in her office, her hands gripping onto her wooden desk as her eyes were glaring at the computer screen before her. Reports of William Greystroke, aka The Hunter, leader of Wolf Pack had been accused of killing a UN council woman, and had a very bloody video to prove it. But Stephanie wasn’t buying it, it didn’t make any sense, yes William was a bit feral, and may allow his animal instincts take over now and then, but he was never EVER known to be a cold blooded killer. There was more to this, and Nova was going to figure it out. A window on her computer screen popped up to show General Stevens looking at her with a stressful look in his eyes. The two had been arguing for the past two hours about The Hunter, General Stevens had ordered the members of WAL to hunt down the Wolf Pack and bring them in to face their crime. 

“This isn’t a REQUEST Feral Nova, this is a ORDER from the Untied States Government, and since we fund your ‘hero’ team and that damn school filled with future pain in the butts, you do what WE say WHEN we say it.” Their eyes met on the screen as she stayed silent. “I want WAL to go and find William Greystroke and his team. Bring them in, dead or alive, I really don’t give a crap.”

With an angered look in her eyes she leaned back in her seat, biting her tongue as she looked away from the screen for a moment. “What about J1nx, I heard he was at the scene as well, that’s why Wolf Pack was called wasn’t it? Because he was there causing trouble? So how do you know he wasn’t behind it?”

“Well HE didn’t KILL a council woman, yes we are looking for him as well, but he’s not top priority.”

“General, what if he somehow tampered with the council woman’s body? Its not impossible for him to do so. Haven’t you examined the body yet?” She looked back at the screen with a questionable look.

“Well we would have, if his daughter wouldn’t have STOLEN the council woman’s body.”

Nova’s eyes widen. “W-what?” 

“Talon, she took the murdered council woman’s body, we don’t know why, but she’s also top priority of capturing as well. We want THOSE two out of everyone else on the team. The others… are just so that there are no loose ends. We don’t want anyone trying to break their friends out once arrested.”

“Damn it Talon…” Nova mumbled to herself as she rubbed her temples, lowering her head. “I’ll call you as soon as we retrieve them General.” She quickly turned off her computer screen as she picked up her communicator, sending out a message to all WAL members to go to the meeting room for a quick briefing about what was going on in the world right now.

Before heading off to the meeting room she stopped by the kitchen, grabbing a cookie, grumbling as she nibbled at it, this was the only reason why she hated being in a team that the government funded. As she sat thinking she watched Cly rush by her. “I’ll be there in a second.” She responded as she shoved the cookie in her mouth, watching Cly rush off yet again. 

Making her way to the meeting room she was greeted by fellow WALlies, sitting and waiting to hear what was going on. Once everyone was settled down she was about to begin, until Cly came rushing in. 

“Looks like I’m not the las….” He looked around to be almost confused, wondering how the heck they all got there so fast. “What…? How…?” 

Everyone simply shook their head and spoke out. “What took you SO long?”

Nova chuckled as she saw Cly struggling to keep himself calmed down. 

“So, what are we going to do?” The dragon rider asked.

Right before Nova could respond Matezoide came in with a question as well.

“Ok, when are you going to hunt William?”

Nova sighed as she stood before the team yet again. “What WE are going to do, is exactly what we were ordered to do.” A frown formed on her face as she sighed. “We ‘hunt’ down the team known as Wolf Pack, and hand them over to the US Government.” She could feel everyone’s eyes on her, as if not sure what to say. “BUT I don’t want you guys to engage in battle unless attacked first. Do NOT attack them, if you meet up with one of them, do your best to talk to them into surrendering themselves first, I know that sounds impossible, but this group of people, mutants, legends, are those that we have fought ALONG side with in times of need. I don’t want harm to come to them, as well as with us. This team is very dangerous, and we SHOULDN’T underestimate them, at all. There for, I want you guys to be in groups of two, PLEASE.” She stressed out how important it was to be in groups for this mission. “We know how skilled they are in fighting, and not that I don’t have faith in all of you, I just don’t want unneeded blood to be spilled.”

She then turned to a screen. “Some of us will be going here.” She pointed to a dot on the digital map. “This is where their MAIN base is located at.” She pointed to a location in Scotland. “and here.”  She pointed at another location at the UN Headquarters in New York City. “I’m hoping we can track them down from there, after all, their blood is all over the place, as well as the blood of the council woman… who’s body we must also find. Talon took the body from the secene of the crime, and hopfully for good reasons, I'm praying she didnt tamper with the body so we could prove their innocents if my suspissions are correct.” She stood silent for a moment as the faces of Talon and William popped up on the screen. “Talon and The Hunter are the TWO main focuses, the other team members are also a priority,” Other faces such as Lady Nightmare, Risky, Tenjin, Akwa, Rayne, Ronnin, Dreadmaster, Ferro Vida, LightBright, Stryke, and Shadowstep where then shown. “but if any of you run into the main two, be EXTREMELY careful, and call for backup…” She turned back to the team. “Also, we are looking for J1nx… who I personally think is responsible for this. I want a team to go look for him… hunt him down, and take him to the Government, HE is my main concern.”

“Don’t forget team, the Wolf Pack are a group of hunters… so they may already have a pretty good idea on what we are planning on doing, so watch out for any traps, or false leads.” She then took a deep breath. “Alright WAL, lets move out!”

Time was short and she knew tat she didn’t have enough time! She needed it needed more time! Slowing her pace she looked around a moment thinking over a plan of action. Her father was not here, he was no longer in command of her actions. She didn’t have to be the good girl that she was around him. She needed to take thing in her own hands and take care of this threat…by any means necessary. They wanted her father dead.  Well who was they? Who was J1NX? She needed information…information that would not come to her by looking through her PC. If he really was a technopath then he’d his all technological documentations of himself and his affiliations…and she needed to know the.

“Forgive me father…” she whispered   as she spun around “For give me for what I am about to do..”With that she quickly raced back to the safe house. The information she needed was beyond normal human technology. She needed information and she’d have to pay for it…pay a lot for it. There was something as the Black market just slightly different. An Area completely cloaked from humanity form the humans of earth 616. It was placed between two reality located near NYC. Well directly in it actually. The two parallel Reality repelled each other so they never meshed. It was a strange phenomenon to explain but if she wanted information, if she wanted her implants removed….and if she wanted weapons that was the place to go.

She had always known it’s existence, James her biological father told her where it was. It was the only kind thing he had ever done for her. Though she knew she knew every thing came at a price…and she also knew that many bounty Hunter’s where after her. All she’d have to do it bargain with one of them for her freedom. Any way if she could help her father she’d sell her freedom for it. Nothing was more important to her than her father’s safety and if she could save him. Repay him for the kindness that he had shown to her then she would so gladly do it…no matter the cost!

She would head back to the safe house. Put together a plan of her own and head out…alone. No one would go with her no one would know she’s alive. In hopes that maybe her father had picked up her scent he would assume her safe! She didn’t need him to get in the way, to protect her. Any way she might as well be dead if she can’t save her father. Approaching the safe house she made one desperate leap back into the room. Looking at dead corpse she placed the chip in her pocket that she had failed to take with her last time. Looking around she soon picked up the scent of some one. She was unsure who it was but knew it was no one good.

"Oh little girrrrrrrrrllllllll......."  she heard a sinister voice call out to her "Where are you?  Come out come out wherever you are....." A low growl resonated from her throat as she could feel he was coming closer. He had some nerve to disturb her she had no time for little people such as him yet maybe he’d make things interesting. Shutting her eyes tightly she inhaled his scent breathing in all his affiliations. Though she might not have known all their names she would be able to tell a rat if she came past one. As she heard him get closer she could hear his feet stop at her door step. She took In a deep breath. With that he kicked the door down as he said with a devilish smile "Hello, girlie....."

She was slightly caught back at his appearance. He was very robust and rugged. From his scent she could tell he was no human, his scent resembled that of an animal. Like her father’s very similar yet the genetics where all wrong…not a canine….a feline. She stared at him for some times with a curious smile. There where many scents on him but one stood out “X-23” she whispered as her eyes fell. “Listen” she said raising her eyes “I don’t have time to fight….but when you see your leader….tell him I desire to speak with him….about something he might…want to hear.” With that she made motion to move but he had already pulled out his weapon and began firing them directly hitting her in the back as she leaped out the window.

Running with full speed she could feel her body slowing down as she made distance. His bullets where not silver but they where painful. Most likely a mixture, but that didn’t matter. As she slowed her pace hoping that he would not pursue she thought about what she said to him. As she thought she let a sigh escape to her. It was obvious that this man had a leader he was not working on his own actins because she knew that he was talking with some one. Suggesting that there was a team, and that team had a leader and he obviously was not it. But there where other things she needed to deal with before this could all take place.

“Kill them, kill them al. Leave no one alive…leave no one living!” “Shut up!” she shouted in the silence of the woods. Taking in a deep breath she retained her composure and slowly began to walk toward the city.  NYC was where she needed to go first from there she’d get a device and the information along with a few gadgets and gizmos if necessary. She knew that immediately after that she’d regroup with her father and not inform him of what had occurred with the…man along with other things. As she saw the large lights out stretch in the distance she took off in a run as she didn’t have time. To avoid her father to worry she needed time to be on her side or else suspicion would rise rapidly. Any way she was not exactly the most trust worthy of the Pack members.

On the outskirts of the massive city of New York she took in a deep breath as she pulled out a small device from he person.   Looking at it she strapped I around her wrist as she shut her eyes in pain. This was not a tactic she enjoyed or a thing she did but what she needed earth 616 could not give her. In an instant the city of NYC vanished as it was replaced by what appeared to be a large cylinder building. It was large and completely smooth around all sides. With that Laura pressed another button on the device returning her to her original appearance. As she did her hair faded to a slight purple complexion as she brushed it back she began to walk toward the massive complex. She was dressed in a tight fitting uniform of when she was black in the CORE.  It was fully black fitting her like a second layer of skin along with having a silver belt that had a with in it two energy weapons along with a silver dagger. She was wearing black leather boots as the pupils of her eyes faded to Black.  

Pulling out one of her guns she approached the entrance. There where a group of eight guards fully clad in black with helmets on. They each held a gun like weapon that would disintegrate her on touch . She needed a calm head and even better she needed her access code. As she neared the entrance one of the guards stopped her and demanded for her access code or he would fire at her and she’d be dead in an instant. Shaking her head slightly she spoke “Weapon Alpha X, access code 20-4-1889”. There was slight hesitance but they stood down allowing her to enter. As she entered the sounds of many people soon entered her hears as the entire complex was swarming with humanoids along with none.

It was a Black market filled with mini shops where almost any kind of technology, material or weaponry was soled. But it was advanced, very advance. A black marked with in reality of universe that could b found if you had the right device and your code she had both. Walking down toward the east wing she avoided eye contact as she covered her head with a hood. There where many bounty Hunter’s after her, many enemies she could not afford meeting up with any of them. After few minuets she found herself at an old shop it was apparently closed which only brought a smile to her face. “Dex!” she shouted as she pulled out her gun and rapidly fired at it.

“Hay! Who do you think you are coming here and..” as she looked she saw a short man about a little shorter than her appear. He was baled and had black eyes. “Dex…I need you to get me something” he stared shocked at the sight of her. “Bu….What! No!” She sighed as she aimed her gun as his forehead “I aint asking you! You get what I want or I shoot even you can understand that mate!” She could see the fear in his eyes, he knew her well enough to know she’d pull the trigger he’d seen it countless times before.  “Why me” he murmured looking down. Showing a faint smile she said “Come one Dex! I need stuff and you get it for me that’s as simple as our little relationship goes and in exchange I give your family protection..and trust me that aint easy especially with that son of your always getting into trouble and..”

She paused kneeling so she was eye level with him “And Any way Dex…..You got all my guns”. He rolled his eyes and he entered his shop and gave singled her to follow him he place appeared small on the outside but as she entered she could see that it was much larger than when she had come her six moths ago.  The walls where made out of Ticonium a metallic substance that was able to cloak itself if needed. So in one swoop his shop could disappear if trouble arrived. Along with that there where many tools every where obviously Dex had not change a bit, always being so messy all the time! Talon hated it!

“Alright girly” he said taking a seat against at his desk that was oddly enough made out of wood from the TiIcon district…her home world. He outstretched his fingers an a holographic computer and keyboard appeared as she flipped down his shade and glanced at her “What can I get yah?” Taking in a deep breath she spoke “I need another image inducer, and…” “So you till using those thing huh?” he said with a smug grin. She looked at him slightly confused “Of course…do you think I’d show my true appearance to those mortals…you must be mistaken!” “And what about that dad of yours he know any thing bout this?” She was slightly shocked and for that hesitated to reply so he did first “I keep my eye on you kid…you might not like this but Alpha gave me a job to do and no matter what I want to do I’ll keep my promise to your ol’dad.”

Letting a sigh escape her she seated herself across from him on a small metallic stool and leaned on her elbows. “So you’ve seen him then huh? She said he eyes staring t the wall “He visits ever now and then checking up you and such”  “Yes..” she whispered “my father” It had been a long time since she addressed Weapon Alpha in that way, he biological father but never father. She didn’t know why she was so troubled to hear he was checking in on her life. She wondered if he ever cared about her being the Daughter of William Greystoke. But before she could continue her thoughts he stopped her “Alright your lucky I got three of those left now what else missy?”

“My usual…Tow Ticonium guns, along with one energy spikier. And anew Suit….made of the same material…” “So you want to be invisible huh chicky?” “Just do it Dex!” she said slightly annoyed as she soon continued “Alright, one long Vibranium knife along with a katana same material. And some information of “The Saints”” The moment Dex hear the word Information his hands stopped typing as he looked up at her in astonishment “You insane I can’t get you that!” “All I want are the names of the members….please and I also need a few moments in a renewal chamber!”   she pleaded with him . Rolling his eyes she rubbed his head as he pulled out of his pocket a device.

“WAIT WHAT! ARE YOU FUKEN INSANE YOU!...you..wait what!?” Gathering her composure she let out a sigh “I’m malfunctioning Dex! Please! I’ll pay you back I promise you just need to give me a few moments in it…that’s all I’m asking! I need to feel again! To truly feel….I’m a ghost that’s stuck in a shell please!”   He could hear the large amount of emotion in her voice and was slightly shocked at it “Alright…you got five minuets…got it! While I gather what information I can..”   With that he got to his feet and pulled out one of his guns as he left Talon alone in the shop.

She stood there for a moment before she turned to a steel door. There was a small pad with alien numbers on it. Gladly she understood the language and knew the code. As she put it down the door slowly opened into a large white room. Before entering she made sure that the main door was locked and then striped her self naked. Stepping into the room the door closed behind her as she took in a deep breath. It was hard to explain what she was doing. Not many could understand what she was doing. At her time with the CORE they made it so she could never truly feel any thing even though she’d apper to feel emotion deep with in her there was nothing but stone cold nothingness.

And this chamber along with providing her with true emotions…it gave her something else. Talon as not many knew was not human…she was far from it. The fact no one had seen her true appearance proved it. But her race didn’t have a name, they where nomads but humanoid. She was created there for she was nothing. But with in her body had been surgically inserted implants. She had them in her head, certain parts of her arms and legs giving her strong endurance along with determination and control. She’d come here ever six moths for one thing…to remain in control. Slowly she kneeled down as snake like wired emerged from the ceiling. She took in a deep breath just before the plunged into her back.

As they did she shut her eyes tightly as the pain ran through her entire body. She was Weapon Alpha’s copy, She was X23 of HYDRA, she was Laura Greystoke, she was Laura Gemini she was Talon…but even though she was so many things…she didn’t know who she was. As the wires continued to inject themselves into her arms, legs and back wondered what to say if they ever found out the truth. That her world created a being, a monster a soul….a soul that could be moved from one body to the next. They created an army of souls that they’d place into different bodies and when the bodies failed they would go into another. And as she thought about this tears of pain slid down her cheek because she knew the truth. And the truth was….she didn’t have much time before she had to go back to earth 529…forever.

It would seem that the days of Veritas were long gone after the events of the Ninjeta War. Like always the team was at a crossroad. Was it even a team anymore, who the hell knew. Even though it had been some time since the team publically did anything some of the members were still loyal to Kurrent and his vision of how a hero should act while other questioned his leadership and wanted to take over the house that he built. It was disappointing and flattering at the same time if that makes any sense but with a guy like Kurrent what really did. This is the guy that has been America's sweetheart and America's most wanted and several occasion, sometimes even at the same time.
 
He sat alone in the Veritas HQ wearing his full gear  and watching the TV. The HQ has been abandoned by the team for quite some time with only Kurrent living there. He didn't keep it up though and it didn't have the swag that the majestic building once did because frankly Kurrent he was not the same man. Perhaps the war and heartbreak had finally taken it's toll on him. This lifestyle was not something he was born into on the contrary. He had a good life growing up, a good family that provided him with everything. They gave him an opportunity to focus on his passion of martial arts which he excelled at, he was happy. It all sounds great but what story has a happy ending nowadays a few years later he sits in an abandoned building with the power to change the world and is doing nothing for the first time in his life.  
 
 We will continue to bring you up to date and live coverage of the assassination as it breaks. This is Amanda Hugginkess for KLVTV in New York signing off.....
 
 "Come on Hunter you are getting sloppy" he said as he began to cough noticing blood in his hand. It has been like that since he came back from Ninjeta but he thought nothing of it. After his coughing spell he looked down at himself and noticed he was in gear. He hadn't taken it off in days..."What the hell am I doing" he said aloud. He was a wreck and felt worthless but kept his uniform on to somehow relive that glory days. He got up and realized that need to get himself cleaned up. He turned the TV off and walked towards his room when he heard the elevator door open. 
 
Quickly he reached for his electrically charged gun and hid behind the threshold of a doorway on the opposite side of the elevator near a window. He kept quite and noticed a man in a black jump suit walk in. He was unarmed but was definitely looking for something. He continued to look around and passed by the threshold the Kurrent was standing near and instantly the Electric Ace reacted not missing a beat. 
 
In a fluid movement he grabbed the man and spun him around at the same time slamming him into the window cracking the glass and holding the gun at his neck. Before the man could utter a word Kurrent began to speak....
 
"Before you say anything that might ruin your day you are going to tell me what the hell you are doing here" the man was scared it was obvious by the shaking and cracking in his voice "you are supposed to be dead you all are". Kurrent looked at him driving the barrel of the gun into the mans neck a little further "What the hell are you talking about and you better not be vague because I'm already sick of talking". The man quickly responded "OK OK geez you lunatic, all I know is when you and your team returned from that planet you were all hit with an airborne virus, they were pumping that sh!t in here since you have been gone, here and other places I don't know where else."..."What the....what is the virus called and how do I cure it" "Hey man I was just supposed to come here and bag and tag you guys and leave you at the hospital some guy gave me a load of cash to do that"  Kurrent looked at him aggravated and said sneering "answer my question" . "ALRIGHT ALRIGHT..Its called FKL, the FKL virus. It was named after Kincaid something or another, he was one of the first test subjects and it had no effect on him because if his DNA on his fathers side, that is all I know" The Hero's eyes opened wide and he said "SON OF A B!TCH.....who the fu@k sent you" The man quickly said "I don't know man.......please" 
 
A million things were going through Kurrent mind but one thing made him sick, he needed Lebeau DNA to survive whatever the hell it was that this virus was and by the way he felt he didn't have much time. "You were a good little rat so you might survive this....Earth and Water" "What the hell are you talking about man, earth and water" In a quick movement Kurrent released his grip on the man and quickly put all his might into a front kick into the mans chest that sent him flying out the window of the 5th floor of the Veritas HQ. 
 
He now had a mission, he had to find a Lebeau and get their blood. Shedding Lebeau blood was not anything new for him but needing it to survive, this was a new low even for The Veritas Leader.

 “How long before we can taste their blood, Jean? I have been asleep for too long, I have grown impatient in my age.”  growled Kiara. Her angelic appearance was the perfect camouflage and had lured many a fool to an early death. With a subtle smirk the last Arcadian raised his hand attempting to calm the volatile demon. "Patience chere. We most maintain a certain level of composure. Dee game is still early and we have yet to determine all dee players involved. I expect nothing less then tactical proficiency." The luminescent lights of the conference room reflected brightly off the crimson colored eyes of the Cajun as he circled the office. Even in his advanced age he still carried himself with a swagger few could match. A sense of entitlement rolled off his black single breasted Canali suit while its English cut gave it a regal appearance with a subtle hint of elegance. Clearly vanity was a sin the Cajun had embraced with open arms.

The brief moment of silence was interrupted by one of Gambler's newest associates and former member of Veritas, Day Hunter. His inside knowledge of the V HQ would be invaluable making him the Cajun's first choice as field leader for the infiltration mission. "I want Veritas.....I know that place better than I know the back of my hand."  grinned Day Hunter. "So tis settled then. DH and I shall travel to Florida immediately while dee rest of you commence to tracking down dee Wolf Pack. Might I suggest starting at dee U.N. building. But use whatever means necessary to find them, tap every available resource and leave no stone unturned." he paused as he turned his attention to Kiara, "And when you find them, burn em, you burn em all."

And with that the International dispersed ready to leave their mark on the new World. However, the Cajun's cool calm exterior hid a troubling mind fueled with thoughts of revenge and paranoia. It had been a few years since he last confronted the Alpha Dog, Hunter. His fingers ran along his chest tracing the permanent scars left behind. A constant reminder that he had been bested barely escaping with his life. Gambler couldn't afford to let his judgment be clouded and his pride would have to take a back seat for the time being. His focus immediately shifted back to that of the Veritas HQ. No doubt many, if not all of the facilities fail safes were still operational. Circumventing the security system would be no easy task, even with the added know how of Day Hunter.

The duo had chosen somewhat unconventional means of travel, seated in Day Hunter's 69 Dodge Charger as it rested securely in the cargo hold of an Army issue Cargo Plane. Gambler lit a perfected rolled cigar as the bay doors slowly began to open and darkness gave way to light. On the wall a series of red lights began to flash signaling that they were above the drop zone before the final bulb flashed green and the vintage car rolled backwards out of the plan into a free fall. Almost instantaneously a large parachute opened stabilizing the vehicle and its occupants. Day Hunter hit the ignition and the American classic roared to life as Gambler flipped a switch releasing the chute and dropping the car to the ground.

Its V8 eight cylinder engine projected a violent blast of power causing the front end to lift into the air as the back tires spun as if preparing to launch. The International had arrived in Orlando and soon they would converge of the remains of the Veritas HQ. As Day Hunter showed off his impressive driving skills, weaving in and out of traffic and drifting around corners, the Cajun's phone began to vibrate. On the other end was the mysterious Jervis. A wild card in the International with a method all his own. "Greetings Jervis, we missed you at dee meeting. No doubt you were occupied with more.....pressing matters no? Your talents are needed in Orlando. I'm sending you dee coordinates now. Do not embarrass me with your absence again mon ami."

New York (1:00 AM)

 
He listened to Nova brief the team. Awaiting his turn to speak, he said, "I'll go to the United Nations headquarters." He paused. "Using my telepathy, I'll search for anyone who could be involved." He motioned towards his dragon. "If you are fast enough to keep up with Esmeralda, you can join me." The rider turned toward the window and smiled. "I'm leaving now." He darted forward, and leaped out of the We Are Legend tower, caught in mid air in an instant by his dragon.

Seconds later, Esmeralda climbed, higher and higher, until she asked Cly. <Ready?> Bracing himself, he replied, You know I'm ready. With that, the emerald dragon came to a halt in mid-air. Fluttering her wings like a hummingbird, Esmeralda stayed suspended in mid-air, without hardly making any audible sound. <You don't seem ready to me.> Laying down chest first, he wrapped his arms around her neck and closed his eyes. Okay...I'm ready. Smoke drifted out of her nostrils. They were up in the sky, four miles above the ground. <Here we go.> Esmeralda stopped beating her wings, and pulled them to her sides. The three thousand pound dragon fell, gathering speed in the process. <Hang on rider, going mach!>

Roughly falling at one hundred miles per hour, she opened her wings. Delivering a tornado forming beat of her wings, she shot off like a rocket. Wings beating with powerful, medium speed strokes, becoming faster and faster. Pure acceleration. One hundred miles per hour to three hundred in one second. Cly blacked out for a split second, and nearly lost his grip. Four hundred, five, six, seven... her acceleration slowed down as she approached her maximum speed. Breaking the speed of sound, Esmeralda moved at around eight hundred miles per hour, her top speed, which she could sustain for some time. At this speed, she could not make sudden movements, and slowing down was not a strong point.

<How long until we reach New York?> Wearing a special mask enabling him to still get oxygen, Cly replied, At this speed, about three hours. The Queen of the Skies moaned, <I'll make it, but I'll be tired.>

New York (sometime after midnight)

Gambler raised his and gave Kiara a subtle smirk, "Patience chere. We most maintain a certain level of composure. Dee game is still early and we have yet to determine all dee players involved. I expect nothing less then tactical proficiency."

Kiara’s eyes grew black for a moment as she threw her flaming hair over her shoulder. There were not many people in the world who could give her commands for she was older then them all. If it was not for the history between Gambler and herself she would not submit to his command now. But she knew that he was right. The time to strike was not now. Now was the time to sit and wait.

A new voice broke through her thoughts and the Angelic Demon turned her face slowly to the source. Her eyes alighted on the newly turned Day Hunter. She listened with only the slightest bit of courtesy not sparing more then was necessary.

"I want Veritas.....I know that place better than I know the back of my hand."

For a brief moment she wondered what the heroes had done to him. But again her attention was drawn elsewhere as Gambler spoke once more.

"So tis settled then. DH and I shall travel to Florida immediately while dee rest of you commence to tracking down dee Wolf Pack. Might I suggest starting at dee U.N. building. But use whatever means necessary to find them, tap every available resource and leave no stone unturned."

At the end of this Gambler turned to look at Kiara, "And when you find them, burn em, you burn em all."

Without another word the meeting was adjorned. She didn’t wait around for the rest of her comrades, she simply drew the darkness around her and disappeared from the conference room. Slowly her form appeared once more in the pits of hell. At her return the demons in her war chamber bowed before there Mistress in submission. They had no other choice for she had finally come into the power that had been hidden from her for so many millenia.

“Kiara, have you seen him?”

“Yes Ceresa, I have seen him. Jean has given us a mission and I will take it.” Kiara bent at her waist and pulled the woman to her feet. Her hand molded against the milky skin of the Demoness as they looked at each other in rapture. Kiara slanted her lips over Ceresa’s in a kiss filled with promise of things to come before looking at her multitudes and speaking. “We hunt the Wolf Pack. And before this is over, we will bathe in their blood. Find them my sweets, hunt them and bring me word of their locations so they know who is behind their demise.”    

 Nova stood there for a moment to see if anyone was going to take lead or if she was going to assign points. Cly was the first to jump up on the action.

"I'll go to the United Nations headquarters." He paused. "Using my telepathy, I'll search for anyone who could be involved." He motioned towards his dragon. "If you are fast enough to keep up with Esmeralda, you can join me." The rider turned toward the window and smiled. "I'm leaving now." He darted forward, and leaped out of the We Are Legend tower, caught in mid air in an instant by his dragon.

With a smile she then looked at the rest of the team. “I’ll be heading off to their Headquarters in Manhattan, so I’ll be at New York as well, if anyone wants to come with me, gather your things and meet me back here.” She then looked over at Izaac, I’m going to need you to make a portal to Manhattan, I don’t care exactly where, just somewhere inside the city.”

“Alright, I’ll have that ready by the time you get back.” He spoke as he closed his eyes, getting ready to open one up for her and whoever was to go with her. 

Nova quickly rushed to her office, closing the door behind her as she walked up to her desk and pressed a few keys on her keyboard, second later the walls of the right side of the room began to pull apart, revealing a room. Walking into the room she clapped her hands as the lights turned on, showing her weapons, some file cabinets, videos, a larger computer screen and a small black box with a red phoenix symbol on it. Flipping it open revealed two metal like gloves with a red gem on the top of both of them that seemed to glow with energy. “Time to really test my new powers…” She smiled as she picked them up, slipping them on as she suddenly felt a surge of energy rush through her body, causing her to arch her back, throwing her head back as the gloves glowed a eerie red color, the lights in the room began to flicker as she fell to her knees, slumping forward as her breathing became shaky, looking upward she slowly stood as she looked down at her hands, now covered in the demon armor, she could feel the power of the hellfire rushing through her.

With her breathing back to normal, she turned and grabbed her blade, strapping it to her side as she qickly made her way back to the meeting room where The Wanderer was already waiting, a bluish-green portal waiting for her and her teammates.
“Ready when you are Nova.” Wanderer said as he stood back. 

“Thanks Wando, I’m going to need you here at the HQ, make sure you keep your communicator on, if someone needs help, I want you to teleport to them and get them out of danger. Got it?”

“So now I’m the unofficial taxi for WAL? What isn’t on my job description?” he sighed as he then nod his head at Nova, showing he understood what his purpose was going to be for this mission. 

Nova simply patted  Izaac on the head as she stepped into the portal, one second she was in the WAL meeting room, the next she was standing in the middle of a busy freeway. 

“OH CRAP!” Nova yelled out as she dove out of the way of a honking trunk, its headlights flashing at her. She then burst into flames, flying into the air as another car was about to smash into her, yells and honks still heard as she got into the air. “SORRY!” she waved down and smiled nervously. Using her communicator she flipped it on. “Wando, can you please make another portal somewhere else other than the middle of a heavily traffic freeway? Thanks!” she then chuckled as she took off flying in the direction of the Manhattan Wolf Pack HQ. 

With her flames leaving a streak of light behind her she reached the Wolf Pack Mansion, a rather large building, hidden in the darkness of the night. Landing on the steps that lead to the HQ her heart began to pound in her chest, grunting she clutched her hands against it, it wasn’t a pain, but it felt like her heart was about to jump out as she felt a surge of overwhelming energy around her. It was very familiar but… different at the same time. Looking down at the ground she could feel the energy tugging on her own, turning her head slowly her glowing eyes used its infrared vision to scan the area, and there not too far away from her, was a figure standing before her. Flipping on her communication she pulled it up to her mouth, speaking softly she said “Someone want to come to the Wolf Pack HQ? I KNOW the body is here, but… I’m a bit occupied at the moment.” With that she tucked her communicator away and turned her attention back to the figure. 

Turning to its direction her eyes narrowed at him as she took a few steps towards the figure, she was now able to make him out, “Dreadmaster!” Nova yelled out as she pout out her flames and rose her hands up to show him she didn’t mean harm. “I don’t want to fight you, I want to help, I just need you to come with me. Please, don’t make this harder than it already is.” She stood tall as she could still feel the energy pulling at her, it was coming from him… but why? The Fire Goddess struggled to keep her composure in front of him.

Location: Unknown

Cifer's seemingly lifeless body had been strapped to a cold, hard metallic operating table with his head turned sideways so that the knife that had been plunged into the back of his head would not go in any further than it already had. The exposed portions of skin on his arms had been pierced using needles to attach all sorts of IV's filled with certain types of superhuman ability suppressing liquid concoctions mixed with some morphine to pump his bloodstream full of.

Surrounding the table a small group of nurses were checking to ensure that when they removed the knife from the back of Cifer's head he wouldn't be able to do anything other than regain a small measure of consciousness. One of the Nurses looked over to see the Omega-Level Telepath who was going to be unraveling and restructuring Cifer's mind for this experiment waiting patiently near the entrance.

The telepath was a tall, youthful-looking woman with long black hair and blue eyes who wore black thin-rimmed glasses and was garbed in the standard issue nanotech armor (sans the mask) worn by all CORE Agents. Looking back at Cifer's unconscious form, she gazed at his face with apprehension and fear in her eyes, as one of her fellow Nurses removed the knife from the back of his head. 
 
Once it had been fully removed, the wound the knife left behind sealed up almost immediately, making it appear as if he had never been stabbed in the first place. Cifer's eyes fluttered open for a brief instant as he gained a small measure of consciousness back. 

But the amount of consciousness he had been given back was only enough to awaken him and keep his mind active while the telepath did her job, other than that Cifer was essentially still dead to the world. After a few moments of examining Cifer to make sure he wasn't bluffing, one of the Nurses signaled for the telepath to enter the room. 
 
"This one is rather handsome, isn't he ladies? Don’t try to deny the thoughts running through your minds you naughty girls." the telepath teased while all of the Nurses looked away and blushed madly, knowing immediately that she had seen into their minds and knew what they were all truly thinking.
 
Looking down at Cifer, the telepath frowned and rubbed his forehead, obviously able to sense the pain his mind was experiencing from having a knife shoved into it. "Poor baby, Agent Sakurazuka went a little overboard with the stabbing didn't he? Don't worry...once you and I are done here you can go kill Sakurazuka yourself." She said as she placed her hand a bit more firmly on Cifer’s forehead after rubbing it a bit more to ease his pain and then closed her eyes, establishing a link between her mind and his. "Now...lets see what kind of mind operates this magnificent body of yours."

( The Ozone Layer )  

"Huh this is getting boring I haven't been on earth for weeks and already they have damaged the ozone layer again with harmful pollutants. Now I've got to absorb all this backed up ultraviolet radiation. Don't get me wrong it really feels good to be saving the poor polar bears and keeping the ice capes from melting. I've been to all water planet. They're kinda boring but really there's only so much of this mess a person should have to deal with. I thought Al Gore would have had enough movies to get the word out. Oh well at least they've got a walking fusion engine that can suck all this crap up. Ahh there good as new another day another polar bear saved. " 

The godlike super hero named after the giant ball of light in the sky has finished his work. Saving countless lives without even being forced to expel any of his amazing energy levels. He has been off world for some time now traveling faster than the speed of light to cross the vastness of the dark and empty void of outer space. Visiting the red and green skies of foreign planets he misses the light blue of his home. He starts to fly at a cruising speed of 93 miles per hour. He is having a break from the stress. Absorbing the sunlight from which he gets his powers, not the dangerous radioactive back wash but the heat and light the purity he feels just being free. His eyes are closed as he swims over the clouds but then his face turns from a calm to that a of stress. 

 The sound of footsteps falling in time with hers brought Tlieso out of her thoughts, whirling to face her pursuer a relieved smile came to her face as she saw Homicide. Though she hadn't known the young assassin very long she trusted her implicitly which was just what she needed considering what she was about to do. The two women continued to Tlieso's private quarters where she shielded the room from prying ears and minds, the less people that knew her plan the better.

Tlieso went straight to the black lacquer cabinet that stood on the far wall, opening its doors she stood staring at the tiny bottles and numerous drawers within it. Quietly she took several small vials and other tiny objects and fastened them securely to herself. Putting her head in her hands she exhaled loudly, trying to calm her racing pulse and quiet her mind before finally speaking.  

"I need your help," She pleaded to Homicide, "Hunter killed a UN member and now everyone and their brother are after him. He can handle himself but not against those numbers. I don't know why he did it and honestly, I don't care. All I know is I have to do what I can to help him and for that I need you."

The Mistress of Silence simply nodded in agreement as Tlieso continued to arm herself while chattering away distractedly. "I know I could ask the others but I don't have time to find them or justify anything. We both know some of them are less than thrilled about my relationship with him." She laughed scornfully, crossing to the large closet the FF co-leader began strapping on her body armor. "I don't want to draw unwanted attention to us but a girls got to do what a girls has to do." Removing her Ninjato from its stand and placed it in it's sheath alongside a slim Adamantium war fan. After a final check of her supplies, the Mistress of Darkness looked at her companion with a grim smile. "Let's go to New York."

Taking Homicides hand in her own they entered the shadows emerging on the other side of the world in a dingy room. The sounds of the city echoed off the bare walls, "Not exactly the Four Seasons but we shouldn't be here long."

"How do we find him?" Homicide asked.

"We don't. He'll find us."

 Homicide listened to the Mistress of Darkness closely as she stood on the other side of the room, her eyes slowly drifting around the room, looking at the many weapons and ancient artifacts inside. But what caught her attention the most, where the weapons and vials of what seemed to be poison Lady Tliseo was gathering for their mission. The FF co-leader didn’t have to explain herself, Homicide new that whatever what was going on, trying to gather all the girls would only be a waist of time, time that they needed from what Lady Tlieso was telling her.

Staying quite Alexandra simply waited for Tlieso to finish gathering her things, and once done, she looked over to her, a smirk crawling upon her lips as she said a little above a whisper. “Let’s go to New York.”

Sticking out her hand Homicide grabbed it as the FF leader walked her through the shadows of the room, she was in the FF HQ one second, and a dark cold cemented like room. Chills ran down her spine from the transport through the shadows as she became a bit light headed. Shaking it off she rubbed her eyes as she began to look around.

"Not exactly the Four Seasons but we shouldn't be here long."

Taking a breath she ran her fingers along the cold walls and looked over at Lady Tliseo. “How do we find him?” She finally spoke, there was no point of being here, if they couldn’t get a hold of him.

"We don't. He'll find us." 

Simply nodding her head the Silent Assassin leaned against the wall, her arms crossed over each other as she closed her eyes. She could hear sirens go off as well as gunfire, cars and trucks zooming pass where ever they were. Too loud to try and mediate before the mission. Stretching out her neck she let out a sigh as she reopened her eyes watching the Mistress of Darkness as the two waited for The Hunter to come to them.  

Jeff sat half listening as Gambler spoke with the woman across the table from him. Sullivan was the woman's name and she had apparently known Gambler for quite some time, of course Day Hunter was new to both of the two in the room. As Gambler continued to speak with Sullivan Jeff slipped away in his memories....the most recent memory came to mind......how he had met Gambler and become a member of The International. 
 

South America 3 Months ago

San Diego 5 days later...

Present Day...

New York 10:49 PM

A lone figure walked down a hollow alley. Empty. Barren. Lonely. His two feet-encased in boots-clacked on the slick, wet pavement. One after the other, just like in a movie when someone's walking alone. His head was hardly noticeable besides a chin and neck shown once in a while as he moved about. His old-styled hat made sure no one would notice him. If they could even distinguish or believe it was him. Lastly was a long, black leather trench coat covering his body. His body was totally hidden. 
 
This figure shouldn't have been so protective of himself, however with things going on with Wolf Pack he couldn't tell the difference from a bum or a FBI special agent dressed like a bum. As Stryke walked, he peered side to side suspiciously. Nothing but a few trash cans and a few drunken bums were around. At one end of the alley was a busy street with cars slowly moving. Inching slowly to another turn. Stryke was moving away from that; from the noise, the attention, and the lights that could ultimately help anyone coming after him find him. At the other end of the alley was an opening leading to four new alleys. It was silent there. This was New York at night. Two sides to every story...
 
This alley, like a lot of alleys in New York, was the perfect place to think. There was no danger, just a few bums sleeping. It was silent besides the snores that erupted abruptly from the mouths of those less fortunate. Inside Stryke's mind though, those interruptions didn't even scathe his thinking. He was torn, a former hero with no more ties to the community. Just another "Neutral" figure in the midst of warring between villains and heroes. He didn't have to distinguish between good or bad anymore; Stryke could just chose what his inner impulse persuaded him to do. He was now a loner, just another figure who'd lost his first ideal. Being good. Protecting those who couldn't themselves. And defeating evil at both ends of the court.

With Wolf Pack though, he felt his peers were equal to him in ideals. Stryke felt not much of a loner anymore. Not even close. He felt like he was engulfed in a well structured family. The people around him nurturing him to be the best who he himself could be. With people like the Hunter, William Greystroke who did the best for others he felt close to his heroic ties. In that respect, Stryke had given his trust to the warrior Lycan with a wolf's heart. 
 
Until now, there hadn't been a reason to doubt his leaders' reasoning. No need to question the acts of his actions. He had never once asked Stryke to kill a person. Never asked him to put blood on his hands and watch another person drift into the cold, diabolical grip of death. So why was it hard for him to know that his leader, a natural born killer, had killed another with his bare hands in front of live Television. In front of reporters who had made a large spectacle out of a supposed assassination. 
 
Although Stryke was told that the Hunter and Talon were just simply going on a recon mission, he didn't know the full details. Now with this... this murder ordeal going on he couldn't help but wonder if the whole recon was just a plot to kill a UN Council Member in cold blood. Stryke knew that Wolf Pack was sometimes considered low, but this was the first time he had felt the blunt of that realization. The realization that it was possible that the Hunter was playing a cold game. A game that he didn't expect others to follow, but because of his 'courage,' had gathered a strong force. 
 
Stryke approached the opening at the end of the alley. Four new ways to leave behind Wolf Pack opened all in the appearance of alleys. However one remained. One manhole in front of him. He walked over it and planted two feet on it. Because of this he was going to be hunted for days if not weeks. Even now he had his Vibranium suit on afraid to get sniped out and killed by one bullet. Wolf Pack was going to be hunted, tried, and prosecuted. The hunters were going to become the hunted. That was certain. Stryke didn't know what side he wanted to take. Siding with the Fed's went against all the good times he had had with the team. Inside he knew that was betrayal. Staying with the Pack meant a 90% increase of dying because of the ruthlessness that was to follow. The last side was his own, escaping into Canada and hiding in Ontario until everything cooled over. 
 
In a moment's instance Stryke walked off into the third alley. He was going to leave everything he knew behind. Stryke was going to try to forge something else besides a possible criminal record and suppression of his god-given powers. Stryke's feet began to clatter against the wet pavement again. Drowning out all the sounds around him. He had a new determination. To get to Canada and not get caught.  A loud rustle behind him however, made him turn around. There before him, breathing hard and sweating like a true, the Hunter in his human form. Stryke was used to seeing the Hunter as a Lycan and respected his ferocity, but he liked the humane part of William more. Calm, helpful, and non-regretful. 
 
Stryke turned on a dime to face this new threat. What is the Hunter here for? Coming to get me to enlist to in the fight, eh? That is all that matters, firepower, Stryke thought, Winning too, huh? Stryke slowly approached his leader. The man he held trust for. The Hunter remained silent until Stryke was a few feet away. "Don't believe the News....and don't walk out because of the lies," he growled.
 
Stryke let out a harsh laugh." They say you killed a UN Council Member in cold blood. I didn't know the exact reason for that Recon besides preventing that attack. Did you seize your opportunity instead?"
 
The Hunter lowered his head in anger. " I di-"
 
Stryke cut him off with disgust."Oh... You didn't mean to kill that person. They just got in the way, right? Like alwa-"
 
"Shut up!" The Hunter shouted." J1nx tricked us, trapped us and then we fled. He threatened to kill them. So I let out an arrow, and then a councilwoman stood up. It was all an accident. Every millisecond in which she got up and died without even knowing who did it.  Now they say we killed members of the UN on purpose! It was only an accident, I had to protect myself and Talon from an onslaught of UN guards after that. We were there trying to prevent an attack. But it was just a trap!"
 
Stryke felt bad about letting those words slip out of his mouth. "I'm...sorry."
 
"You should be," The Hunter scoffed.
 
"Well that throws out my idea of leaving the team, now what are you planning?"
 
The Hunter looked back at the manhole. "I'm gathering the troop and then we're getting our @sses out of here. We can't hide in a city that is now entrenched in innocent soldiers and police officers." William than went towards the manhole and said one last thing."You coming?" Then the Hunter dropped into the manhole.
 
Stryke sighed."Didn't leave me much choice now, did you?" He took a few long steps and then jumped into the manhole before closing it up.
 

New York 1:00 AM

 
In the few hours since his meeting Hunter, he and a few other members had followed the Lycan into the depths of the sewers. Most were shut, but the Hunter hadn't given up hope. Now they were at a manhole. The Hunter climbed up the ladder before opening it with ease and peering around the area. He sniffed a few times. The noise was hard to ignore in an enclosed tunnel. Stryke still had his trench coat and old-styled hat on. Mostly because he knew they'd be traveling outside the city and being in his super suit would scare a lot of the civilians. 
 
Then those fateful words were ushered by his leader. 
 
"Let's move out...."  
 
Stryke was the first, emerging from the manhole. The Hunter was still sniffing. A shiver of fear ran down Stryke's spine. Then the Hunter barely dodged a bullet. Sh!t,Stryke thought as the bullet ricocheted off the pavement and into the wall of a building. They were caught. This, right in the middle of New York would be their proving ground.
 
"Get DOWN on the ground, NOW!" a voice from within a helicopter demanded as it slowly moved from behind a roof of a building. The helicopters' rotors moved eerily fast. The noise was deafening. The wind was being moved about, and Stryke's hat flew away and into collided with the rotors simply becoming shreds. The trench coat rustled around annoyingly, but Stryke wasn't worrying about his coat now. He was worrying about the red targeting lasers that were aimed all over his body.
 
 In the middle of the New York City street, the Hunter issued a sharp order yelling, "Back to back!"  Stryke followed the issued order quickly, and got back to back with the Hunter without hesitation. He wasn't about to die. These men were innocent, but if they began firing on him they were his enemies. Stryke didn't want to kill. After all, he prided himself in saying that he had never taken a man’s' life before. However, this situation was going to overpower his will to restrain himself. Do or die.
 
Stryke heard the Hunter's adimantium claws come out of his skin. "Game time." Stryke rummaged to say before taking off his trench coat and letting it take a leave from his warm body. Now his black Vibranium suit was viewable. The Morning Star was menacing at his side. And the glove amplifier on his left hand was also going to be a useful tool. He was Stryke in his entirety. A warrior, a fighter, and obviously not a lover...

Her eyes opened the to sound of a door as she realized she was still in the steel white room. Cracking her neck slightly she looked over her shoulder to the tubes that had plunged into her back along with the wires that where connected to her hands as she let out a sight sigh. “Exit” she whispered and the devices began to retract out of her. She cringed slightly as she could feel her blood pour out of the circular holes that where formed in her back. Staggering to her feet she looked around a moment and wondered to herself if things where going to stay the same. She wondered if she’d just keep doing this and never tell her father?..she would.

Picking up a towel that was hanging next to the door she wrapped it around herself and quickly made sure that Dex was either present or not. She did not desire to cloth herself any way the uniform of Square Alpha was not exactly something she liked to wear.   Seating herself in his computer chair she activated the holographic computer device and began browsing through his documents. Seeing if her..”Father” had been here recently. It was strange. He hurt her so many times rejected her but she still cared fro the man, she didn’t know why having a father that loved her but some things just stay with you and he was one of them.

But her search was interrupted by the unlatching of the front door. She quickly stood up and wrapped her hands around her chest in order to fully secure the towel that was around her. Her eyes looked toward the door as Dex Appeared carrying the equipment that she had wanted. She looked at him with a smile as she whispered “Thank you…” He just looked up at her and walked into the other room no doubt going over the cost. Slowly she approached her purchase as she saw the new uniform that she asked him to get her. Quickly she fit it on. There was not much difference between this one and her previous one. Except she could in a way cloak herself. And being invisible when every one is after you is a good thing.

“Hay Dex!” She shouted “Thanks mate you really came through for me…didn’t think you would”. But as she waited for the reply nothing came. Curiosity soon gripped her as she peered around the corner into his office. Her eyes fell to the floor where Dex’s body laid dead. He had been shot, shot in the head and killed instantly. Even though her better judgment told her to run she walked toward the desk to see what he was writing. Picking up the slip of paper it read “ They know, they are coming” Her eyes widened in shock as she lowered the page and paused for a moment. “No…” she whispered “They are here”.

She could hear then circling around the house about to kick down the door enter. Guns would be fired every one around her would die…just like last time. And true enough the door was kicked open as she heard their foot steps enter the house she didn’t move. Her emerald eyes raised as one of them entered Dex’s office. “Found her!” he shouted. A low growl began sounded from her throat as she looked at them. There was no doubt that there where many of them. And she knew at this moment that she’d need more than her claws. No she didn’t need any thing! There people had been hunting her and she was going to kill them….kill them all!

“You killed him! He…he was my friend and you killed him!” With that she leaped at the first gaud before he could fire and stabbed him in the chest but only once. Leaping over the few guards that where present she entered the main room and grabbed her equipment. As she was latching it on tightly as she clocked the gun and prepared to move…..no she prepared to kill! With that the first group of guards entered through the narrow door way and instantly her gun was fired. The difference in its situation was they didn’t want her dead…they wanted her alive they wanted to turn her into a weapon and that she could never allow! Continuing to shoot them down more and more just filled the room.

Shaking her head she quickly shut herself inside the steel chambers as she raised a small device to her moth. Taking in a deep breath she shut her eye tightly as she filled it open. It was a communication device, one that she needed to use to contact her father. She knew that it could be traced that they would find her but maybe that would be a good thing. “Dad,” she whispered in it her breathing heavy “I love you, a lot. Good bye and see you soon” With that she turned the device off. She needed to at least know that she had told him once that she loved him called him dad. Because if some how she was to die, she knew he must not worry about her.

Holding her gun tightly she stood ready to kill all who came against her. As the steel door was broken the men swarmed in but she counted on that. As they looked around they discovered that the area was empty there was no where she could have hid. But before they knew what happen the soldiers part of the group began to drop o the floor dead. They were stabbed in throat and as the men desperately looked around they could find so sine of her. Eventually after more of them began to fall dead some of them go agitated and began firing in thin air. Amused my seeing their panic she made herself visible before them. They all froze as she held down a device with a sinister smile. “Idiots!” She shouted as she released her finger from the devoice immediately.

And in that instant every thing in a mile radios went up in flames . As the fire fully consumed the men that where standing before her.  As their cries and shrikes in pain could be heard from miles away she blocked them out. She didn’t want to hear their cries for the burning to stop because she would not stop it. And as the fire progressed  she emerged from the flames that seemed to rise up around her. Her skin was only slightly burned at her uniform  was unharmed apparently. Shaking her hair behind her back she took in a deep breath. As she did a sinister smile came onto her face “Good to be back…” With that she began to run toward the exit. Any minuet they’d activate lock down.

Nearing the two large main doors that would get her out of this complex she soon stopped as she picked up the scents of heavily armed soldiers heading to her position. It was obvious that the door would be the first thing that they’d block.  Ducking down one of the narrow and dark corridors she put her back up against the wall. Taking deep breaths in and out she devised a plan. There was a 45% chance of success and it was risky…risky as hell but still she needed to tire. Her powers where untested and she recently had not had enough time to ask Shadowstep to analyze the recent manifestation in her being mentally and physically. Yet, maybe this unexplained manifestation would aid here right here and now!

Taking in a deep breath she slowly appeared before the entrance. Where a group of twenty armed and dangerous guards met her. Her fist where clenched so tightly in her gloves that she began to bleed. With that she whispered “Plecto Aliquem Capite” (Which is Latin for Death) and shut her eyes for a moment. With hat she held out her hand as her soul sword began to manifest itself. It use to be called Gemini but with the recent events that had spiraled into her life concerning this weapon she didn’t see it fit to call that any more. It was now known as Bellatrix which meant swiftly destroying or destroyed. It was a suitable name for the weapon for though it could simply kill the wielder would need the training or else they would be destroyed by the great amount of energy that it harnessed.

Standing before the men she clasped her weapon with both hands. This weapon had been forged for one purpose, though it’s true destiny remained unknown she knew what she was going to do with it. “ Dalla potenza che esercitano ti cadrà!” In an instant all the light just went off as the ground began to tremble. Out of no where cries rose as men screamed and ran. And as the light slowly dimed back on the bodies of all the men laid dead on the floor. Laura at this moment sat atop of one of the dead bodies as she licked her blood stained finger tips. A sinister smile was upon hr face as she shook her head kicking the body aside.

“Tisk, Tisk, Tisk….why they ask? Why now?....hmm….it’s good to be back…” she whispered as she slowly stepped over the puddles of blood that pours from the dead bodied of men. As she exited the area she clicked the device and instantly she returned to reality 616 slightly feeling disorientated but never the less she was fine. As she looked over to the large city she could see commotion had been starred up and could smell the scents of her team mates once again. As she turned her attention to the Wolf Pack manor she also picked p another scent and scent that on instantly smelling it she let out a low grow “The CORE” With that she clenched her fist tightly.

She knew what she needed to do she also knew that if any one was at the more while the CORE was there, that she’d be in trouble. She knew Wolf Pack could take care of themselves but this was a personal vendetta that needed to be settled! Raising her communicator once more she shut her eyes as she spoke to her father through it. “Sir, I am about to disembard on my own journey I wish you the best of luck father, and desire to be with you…soon.” With that she there the communication devoice aside and sprinted off toward the Manor. And if the CORE had taken any of her team mates…there would be hell to pay….major hell.

Werner stood tall and erect in the shadows only several feet away from the darkened mansion, lightly hiding in the shade of it. The trees themselves made soft swishing noises which were lightly drowned out by the siren noises coming from the city, he turned his head to see helicopters in the distance circling the city and approaching the mansion ever so slowly. Werner tured back to the mansion and activated his night vision to see if there was anything lurking around the mansion and so far nothing but a couple of fresh bodies inside, he couldn't tell who but he could tell that one of them was dead and the others he could not recognize. He still didn't know what was going on, everything that happened still remained a mystery, Werner wanted to go inside and find out what was going but he didn't want to risk any kind of ambush, it was nothing less he expected especially with the circumstances at hand.  
 
All he was sent to do was a simple recon mission of the U.N. headquarters that Werner only agreed to because he was bored. now he's running away to the mansion after a scramble and had not seen his team members since his dash, helicopters were flying around mostly in a single specific area. Obviously something was going on over there and he was certain that they would come to the mansion which meant that Werner would need to hasten himself at finding out what was going on and quickly regroup with the team. No matter where they were. How he would do that he did not know yet but he can't trust anyone other than his team members.
 
Just as Werner decided to stop procrastinating finding out what happened and walking a large pull had overcomed his body. he let out a ferocious yell that fluttered the birds away and dropped him to his knees. He felt something that he hadn't felt before, some special taint that he only encountered once before, who or what could it have been? It may have Warsman but he's never had a psychic link that before with him, even when he's been close, it could not have been his father, there was only one other person that he could think of but given the circumstances it should not have been possible right now unless something huge had happened during the reconnaissance mission. 
 
Werner took deep breaths as the psychic pull had gotten more stronger by the second, he felt as if his body was going to be jerked towards its direction if he had stopped fighting it. His hands were clenched in the grass as the tension of it grew increasingly painful, as he slowly tried to get up he could hearing a distinct flaming noise drawing closer and louder until the pull had dissipated completely and a loud "WHOOSH" was heard. 
 
Werner feeling relieved and calming his arms muscles as he was on his knees and elbows, slowly looked up to see a flaming woman standing on the steps of the mansion. He slowly and quietly got to his hands before lifting himself onto his feet feeling slightly relieved of the strain, somehow when she flew barely feet above him the pull had vanished and once she flew further away the pull had came back. He still could not see the womans face or who she was, she was in some kind of suit, seemed similar to his own. Then there was something about her that made Werner seem like he knew her his whole life, it was a strange and akward sensation to feel this way about someone he couldn't recognize. Werner was baffled alright until the woman jerked around to catch sight of him. 
 
As she was facing him and speaking something he couldn't hear, Werner could see who it was. "Nova?" Werner spoke softly to himself. The Fire Goddess known as Feral Nova was staring him right in the face, it was both shocking and convenient. Werner was suprised but happy to see her, he may have not had a conversation with her but she was a hero and usually hero's are always in the loop to know whats going on, and Werner was dying to know whats going on. But he also felt the small tug towards her and the feeling of knowing her before, he never had this sort of literal physical attraction to a person before and also the fact that he had never seen her wear the strange armor she's worn before. But that would be a conversation for later, he needed to know whats going on now. 
 
“Dreadmaster!” Nova yelled out as her flames extinguished and she put her hands forward as if scared. “I don’t want to fight you, I want to help, I just need you to come with me. Please, don’t make this harder than it already is.”   Werner looked at her with confusion as to what she had said and her composure as if she was about to fall over. Werner also felt like he was going fall too but spoke before he could. "N-Nova....what are you doing here? and whats going on? Something happened and i don't know what and why have you become so defensive on me?" Werner pleaded with Nova hoping for an honest answer patiently as his body kept wanting to pull him closer to her.

Wallace Manor: Scotland

New York

Once again Veritas was lying low and near collapsing. Nothing terribly new. After the war on Ninjeta they'd broken up, which meant more time dealing with Armada stuff for him. Especially now that the Ignasians had made the first move known to the Armada. It wasn't any real battle, just a scout the Breech Guard had managed to catch. And they almost hadn't. The scout's ship was fast, agile, and surprisingly well armed. But it was also highly cloaked and virtually undetectable: the only reason the Guard knew he was there was the result of an apparent glitch in the ships cloaking technology. Which naturally made everyone wonder how many other scouts might have been sent, how well the Ignasians knew their defenses, if they knew something that could mean defeat for the Armada. It'd been months since the breech was discovered, months since they'd discovered that on the other side was an army equal to theirs which was commanded by a tyrant who knew about them and wanted them, especially Genesis, dead, months of waiting for the first attack wanting nothing less than to launch one of their own. A few months can seem like a short time or a long time. To Genesis, it had been an eternity.  
  
Frederick quickly glanced over the worksheet, a series 39 fairly easy math problems. Satisfied, he slid it in his binder's pocket, stuffed his books in his backpack, called up to his mom that he was done, and stepped outside. Something was off. Ever since Ninjeta he'd felt...strange? Maybe. Sick? Not really somewhere Frederick wanted to go, but he went there anyway. Not stomach bug sick, more a kind of tired sick? Close enough. Something was weighing on him, bringing him down, something it was easy to come up with possible names for but much harder to actually decide what it was. It could be the waiting, something wrong with creation/danger, exhaustion from weekly to daily trips into space, something he just didn’t know about, or a combination thereof. A black cloud seemed to be hovering over his head; Frederick just wanted it to go ahead and rain.

Out of habit, Frederick glanced at his wrist, at the Veritas communicator, half hoping to hear something, anything, to suddenly receive a call to go save the world or some other heroey thing. Nothing. Shrugging, he started to walk towards the small trail in the woods down the street, where he could clear his head. Greeted with welcome relief from the heat courtesy of the trees’ shade, Frederick sat down against the rough bark of one of the trunks. Birds and insects chirped, wind rustled the branches. In the distance he could hear the lively trickling of the small creek. Normally it would have been enough to get him off edge. But this wasn’t normal. Having mulled over the whole Ignasian problem, which only exacerbated his anxiety, far longer than he really wanted to, Frederick went to the other situation that could be the culprit. Veritas. Last time they’d broken up it’d mostly been because of things his teammates had done that didn’t fall under what most people thought good guys should do, i.e. killing security guards, blowing up helicopters, etc. Then Frederick was kind of glad they’d disbanded. But now, nothing had really caused it, it just happened. Veritas had always had a bit of a problem when it came to numbers and activity, and part of Frederick wanted it to just collapse for good and be done with it. But another part of him wasn’t ready to give up on the team yet, wasn’t sure he’d ever be fully ready to give up, wanted to see it bounce back and stay back. Hmm, do I have time…yeah, it won’t take long. Now that the idea had entered his mind, he couldn’t let it go. It wouldn’t be much, just a quick trip to the Castle, check on Kurrent (he didn’t think anyone else was still there), be back in time for dinner. That was what he told himself, but a nagging feeling, almost indistinct but there just enough to be noticed, disagreed. Oh come on, what could happen?  

After around 10 minutes of easy flying, Genesis was finally nearing the Veritas HQ. As he grew closer a faint, garbled cry reached his ears. “Help! Helsplash.” Focusing his vision on the direction of the shout, Genesis saw a man attempting stay afloat in the Castle’s lake and doing a horrible job. Glancing towards the building itself, the Sunrise Warrior spotted a broken window on the fifth story. Putting two and two together Genesis, half amused, half frustrated, started to fly down but halted in mid-air, deciding to get him out a different way. A column of water blasted the man out of the lake, sending him flying into a patch of grass several feet away. I gotta get out of here, that guy’s insane. At least I get to keep the money, even if I didn’t get him. But he wasn’t dead; he said he’d be dead. Ah! Another one, alive too! I gotta get outta here. The man ran a couple steps before he fell down, apparently exhausted from his struggle in the lake. Genesis landed in front of him, looking him over as he lay at his feet, gasping for breath. He wore a black jumpsuit, his head hooded. Genesis couldn’t see any sort of weapon, he wasn’t sure the man would know what to do with one. Not the sort of guy you pick to infiltrate the HQ of a super hero team, even if there was only one hero in it. As the man’s heavy breathing slowed, Genesis decided to speak. So someone paid you to go in there,” he asked, nodding towards the Castle. Might I recommend swimming lessons? Or maybe an education? The man didn’t seem to be listening, instead he was moaning “He’s insane, he’s insane, kicking me like that, he’s gotta be insane.” “You might be right, but let’s forget about that for the moment. Because you sir are an idiot.” Finally Genesis seemed to have the man’s attention, but before he could respond continued. “A 5 year old could tell you that you don’t invade the HQ of a hero team without being able to fight a hero.” This just got a blank look. “You need a weapon Einstein, that or you need to be able to fight. You have neither.” He seemed to be starting to understand. “A functional brain helps too.” Back to square one. “Oh you’re hopeless. Go on then, but…” spotting a waterlogged check sticking out of the man’s pocket as he stood up Genesis darted forward, grabbed the soaked paper, and flew upwards. “I think I’ll have this. Forget what I said about swim lessons and education, this would bounce before you could figure out how to get to a bank.” Genesis raced up to the broken window, leaving the man at square negative.

Sure enough, there was Kurrent, gun in hand, pacing down a hallway, lost in thought, every so often muttering something to himself. “Sorry I didn’t come sooner; when was the last time you left?” Dried blood covered Kurrent’s lower lip, his eyes were dull, devoid of the spark Genesis remembered. He was in uniform, but it had pieces of potato chips clinging to it and was dotted with small Coke stains. Instantly Genesis forgot his own tiredness, instantly he knew this was serious, more serious than a pathetic mercenary, much more. “What’d he do?” he asked, not sure he wanted to know the answer.

The Director of CORE was a tall and somewhat thin man with lightly tanned skin, short grayish-black hair, crimson eyes and scars on the left side of his chin and going across his right eye. Unlike his subordinates he was garbed in a white lab coat, dark gray slacks and buckle-strapped boots. Over his right arm he wore an armband similar to those the Nazis once adorned their military uniforms with but had replaced the Swastika with the CORE insignia. Sitting on his desk was a manila folder containing a huge stack of papers full of information concerning what the telepath had uncovered in the hours she spent mining her way through Cifer's mind. 
 
"I thought they had all perished. Yet...even as we speak...one of them is laying on an operating table in a telepathically-induced sleep cycle. His mind has been badly damaged though, it has been for a long time, but luckily our telepaths said that the damage can be easily undone."

A young woman with dark skin, medium-length dark purple hair, violet-hued eyes and garbed in strapless form-fitting black dress with stockings and black high-heeled shoes looked at The Director with a curious expression on her face. "What generation is he a member of?" She asked.
 
"The Primera." The Director replied without hesitation.
 
"Impossible. All of The Primera are deceased, we have the records to prove it."
 
"I thought the same thing when the test results first came in, but...I did a little bit of research and discovered that the body of a Primera named ShifāLorkaine-Raezelas Arkinoue was never actually found. He supposedly went missing during The Aranko Ambush and was pronounced dead shortly thereafter. However...there is not even a single shred of evidence that could validate his alleged demise."
 
"There is also no evidence that could validate his alleged survival."
 
Taking in a deep breath, The Director sat down next to the woman on the office love seat and placed his hand on her shoulder. "Senna...why are you acting like this? What's wrong? I thought you would be overjoyed by this discovery."
 
Senna stared into The Director's eyes and revealed the tears sliding down her cheeks. "Why? Dallan...you of all people should know why! It's because I...I don't want to go back to being a concubine again!"
 
Dallan smiled as he wiped the tears from Senna's eyes. "Senna...you won't. No one will. I know this for a fact because it was Cifer who advocated to discard the old ways and brought about the changes which redefined our civilization in ways we never thought possible and made our current way of life a reality. He would rather die than force us to go back to the old ways. I don't know if this will help to further ease your fears, but due to the severity of the damage that has been done to Cifer's mind several adjustments will have to be made to certain areas of his mind by our telepaths in order to get him back to full health. So...there is nothing to be afraid of. I have everything under control." 
 
As he went silent, a wave of relief accompanied by an unfamiliar but exhilarating tingling sensation washed over her entire body. Then, as if on cue, Dallan wrapped his arms around Senna and kissed her passionately. While this took her by surprise and caused her body to tense up, she eventually loosened herself back up and pulled Dallan's body even closer to hers, which allowed him to grab a hold of the zipper on the back of her dress and begin the process of removing it. 
 
Elsewhere, a group of telepaths stood silently over the slumbering form of Cifer Arokine, patiently waiting for the nurse in the room to set bring him back into a barely-conscious state of being. For a brief moment, Cifer's eyes flickered open which signaled his "awakening" and once they had closed again the telepaths surrounded the operating table, placed their hands on his forehead and began telepathically drilling their way into his mind. Within a few hours time...Cifer would be whole again.

Solis the latinized version of the word sun. A giant star that exists at the center of a solar system. It is an engine of nuclear fusion reaction giving off energy levels beyond anything the human body can imagine and anything we can produce on this planet. It's energy is so great and massive that it can provide life for every living thing on the planet.  
 
Even so far away its raw power has to be converted via many of the organisms just so they can survive its power. These giant bodies of power can be changed into supernovas. Massive bursts of all their energy in a short time. The Solis is the one man on earth who houses all this energy and trillions times more and right now he's sick. 
 
Due to his connection with the suer hero team Veritas inc he was secretly infected with a disease that is affecting his body. Some how the terrestrial virus has weakened his ability to control his own energy output. Such a thing is nothing short of bad. With his ability to control his energy it will leak out from his body at unknown rates. Given the shear magnitude of his power without control he could destroy the entire galaxy and someone has taken a chance with not just there lives but the lives of trillions upon trillions. Sadly Solis is unaware of his infection and only that something is very wrong.   
 
He was unaware of the many goings on of his home-world in regards to the new age gods and monsters of our time known as super-heroes and super-villains. He had no idea that during a mission the Wolfpack got screwed over and then there actions lead to the rest of the super human community being screwed over. The world has been tricked into turning on the very people who protect them when they cannot protect themselves.
 
"Something is very wrong. I nearly lost completely all control of my solar furnace. My core couldn't control the energy intact from depleting the radiation from the ozone layer. If my body can't handle sucking up that little bit of energy then I need to find out what the he11 is wrong before I do something I will never be able to take back, like blowing up the universe."  
 
The sunlit super hero needed some leads to go on if he was going to cure whatever was going on inside that nuclear fusion core he called a body. "I need to focus on getting to Veritas HQ. I know half those guys have connections, the best equipment on earth and some stuff from space and god knows what else. Right now they're my best bet." 
 
He wants to rush to the Castle home of his teammates, but he decides to go at a cruising speed so as to not release too much energy that he may lose control. He constantly feared the vast amount of power in his body. He has done countless things that on any given day could possibly end all life as he knew it.  
 
Most of that danger came from within himself. He never wanted the responsibility to handle that power. He exiled himself to space just so that he wouldn't endanger his home world, but like any son of the earth he couldn't stand to not see his mother. He quietly thinks to himself as he flies to the Veritas base  
 
"I never should have came back". 
 
Finally after flying for 3 hours he reaches the base of Veritas Incorporated. He is overjoyed with the thought that he hasn't destroyed the planet yet and may just be able to get his problem solved. A burden leaves his back with the idea of being free from the worry that he may do something bad. He lands his fiery golden body on the ground and begins to walk like a normal human being. 
 
He walked in front of an unknown man. He was beaten and bruised and soaking wet from what looked like being tossed into the waters around the castle. "I'm not going to ask nope just going to keep walking." The golden super-hero said. He made it to the castle and charged up his aura so that he could fly into the base slowly. He entered the base and was greeted by a broken and bleeding Kurrent and a recently arrived Genesis. "Um guys I have some very bad news but by the looks of it you do too so who goes first?"

Standing on top of a near by skyscraper, the roar of the helicoptor's blades rose into the night sky. It's search light moved on the ground revealing their positions. Hawk took in the whole scene as he squatted down on the buildings edge. Opening his mind to the animals he hoped to gain another prespective from the pigenos below. His mind wondered in an out until he came upon something he didn't expect. Anger.

I will not let my Pack be caught and tourtured! I will not!

The shock of hearing anothers thoughts almost made him stumble off the buildings ledge. As Hawk looked through the other man's eyes and into his thoughts, she came into his thoughts.  
 
Then

She sat with her guns at the ready for the count down to be called out. The blades whirling over head drown out all of the sounds, but she could see the sweat building on the fourheads of the men. They were putting on their parachutes and tightening up their weapons for the jump, 20,000 feet into enemy territory was making even the most vetern solider nervous. But there she was in a super tight black leather outfit, that was cut just a little to low in the front twirling her knife. We are over the drop zone the commander yelled looking at his men and then to the guest who he was told was code name X-23, You should put on your parach.... as he yelled out for her to strap on a chute, she jumped out of the chopper, never hesitating and never fearing for a second. He would be there, he always was. Her Angel.

(Eds. for the rest of the story click here) 
 
Now

He gasped as her image entered his mind, through the mind of another. In a moment that man's eyes looked to the heavens and a smirk broke across his face, doing so his claws popped out of his hands and Hawk spoke into his mind. Death from above!  
In a flash Hawk leaped from the building and dove head first towards the scene below. He wind blew by his ears as he fell. The helicopter grew in front of him, bringing fear and terror to men was easy for him and the first way was always to kill the lights. Opening his wings as he reached the helicopter, Hawk pulled the gunner out of the door sending him falling into the darkness below. A moment later he came crashing down into the light that the chopper was shining. The man's body lay over a taxi and blood pour out of his mouth. This set everything into motion, guns fired blades flew screams and growls could be heard from below. Hawk could swear he even heard a howl in the distance.
 
The pilot obviously a religious man, couldn't believe an Angel just landed in his craft. "Jesus Mary and Joseph it's an Angel!" He turned around crossing himself as he tried to fly the chopper. "That's not an angel you idiot, that's Weapon X! Get the hell out of here!" Hawk took a step into the craft as the men unbuckled their belts. "Get out!" Putting his hands onto the ceiling of the helicopter Hawk pushed until the metal gave way to his strength. The blades kept spinning as the bottom fell ripped off the rest of the chopper. Explosions and fire roared as the helicopter fell into a large building. Glass came raining down onto the streets and the building ached as it's supports started to feel the load.
 
The blades of the helicopter spun out of control spinning around and around in the air, until his strong hands grabbed hold and pulled it to earth. The crash broke the window of the surrounding buildings and fire filled the sky. A camera crew came running onto the street pointing the camera toward Hawk as he threw the remaining scraps of the chopper towards the men who were trying to fire upon him. Spreading his wings out his fist went up to the sky as a roar left his lips.  The director of the crew whispered into the camera man's ear. "Keep filming, no matter what....an ex-ICE member just destroyed a New York city block! This is great!"  
 

Throne Room

His eyes widen in disbelief, hordes of loyalists bow beneath the feat of royalty.  As he sits upon a throne, illuminating a crystalized shine, Claratina takes the spotlight.  Her temper setting the stage for bloodshed and eyes keeping perfect eye-contact with the audience.  Her green eyes faded as if white-out brushed against the pupils.  Simply understanding her body language as threatning, an assassanation attempt on the redheaded reality-warper was sent into motion.  However, their sorry little souls would not succeed for knives of wood punctured their skulls.  Quiet and cold,  Lord Closure laughed with joy at the insignificance of her reality show of death.  "Why are you here?" 
 
Bewildered by his tone, the mercenary who took on Angelique Lebeau and lived to see another day, slapped her nephew.  "Aunty came all the way to Germany, just to give me a spanking?"  Stepping up to the plate, Jonathan easily pused his relative aside.  "I know why your here.  You think I can help conclude the complication going on in America.  Those filthy American heroes deserve the bounties."   
 
Nibbling on her bottom lip, Clara Mass awaited the end of his prologue to a rant.  The room lightens as his pregnant queen performs a lavious arrival.  Her Imperial Guard lay on the floor, while Danielle Marionette walks upon their backs.  Once close enough to her former ally, a devilious smirk spreads across her face.  Not caring about the subject, the b!tch with price flashes her ring.  Flaunting a piece of jewlery that means absolutely nothing without love.  Vanishing with the shadows of the room, Jonathan returns his attention toward blood.

"I'm done with your attempt of acting elegant and high-class, this is not who you truly are.  Kurrent and Veritas Inc have resurfaced.  Have you thought about reinstating yourself into the super-human community.  Your addition could do some good in this world.  Feral Nova tried to help you John, and she somehow got your joyful side out of you.  Now that your the Black King of the Future Conquerors, your shady and deceptive.  I came here to get you back into the United States of America.  Dammit John!  Why the f#ck are you acting incompetent?  Do you want to be civilized?  Do you want to be lonely for the rest of your life?  Uhh..."

Her speech demolished, blood squirting, Clara Mass looked deep within her nephew's eyes.  "Remember who you are."  Within the blink of a pedestrian's eye, Clarintina disappeared. 

"Get the freaking plane ready you douche bags, lets see how shocked people are when they see me.  Get all information on recent events.  I want to know exactly what turmoil is happening.  I want to get my hands dirty this week.  I wonder if the Excellence of Electrocution remembers my face.  I feel like this will be a wondrous family reunion, I just hope Solis is still around.  I wonder if he ever got his chance to Starscream.  Futhermore, I hope everyone missed me cause I'm sure Gambler did."

From above as Clara Mass heals her wound, she opened her cell phone in order to call a friend.  "He is coming."  With that said, she was gone like a faint whisper ending its gossip.   

Veritas HQ

Sneaking within the corridor, keeping his senses on check.  Former teammates were bleeding.  Not such a surprise, but whatever nothing like sweet home.   
 
"Um guys I have some very bad news but by the looks of it you do too so who goes first?"    The gang was all there, except the Wondering Spider but oh well.  Without a delay, the Conclusion to every Complication jumps down so his friends may embrace his presence. 
 
"I know your shocked to see me.  I'm taking this now direction in life.  In which, one moment I'm a dickhead and the next I'm as happy as I clam.  How did I get here?  Well I put trackers on all of you guys, before I departed.  I went rogue for a while and now I'm back to being neutral.  On a serious note, can anyone get me information on what the hell is going on.  My lackeys couldn't find sh!t, so I decided to see how you guys were doing.  Before anyone gets the villainy vibe radiating off of me, be aware that I come in peace.  I just need to know if you'll allow me amnesty to help you guys out in anyway possible.  It took a bleeding aunt for me to get my sorry butt over here.  So, Solis I want you to want me...tell me what I gotta do?" 
 
Trying to pull of the act of sorrow, Closure kept focus on his former leader - Kurrent.  Why?  Well thats another storyline waiting to occur.  Hoping they would allow him a pardon, Closure would indeed help his comrades.  But, he knew that forgiveness would not come as easily as suspected.  In a world where heroes are subjected to hatred -- what more can you expect?  Hidden deeply within the darkness of the castle, assassins await a signal from their lord. 

Streets of New York

The Base of the Femme Fatales...

 Without hesitation Day Hunter's 69 Charger blasted through the main gate of the Veritas HQ speeding towards the once majestic complex. Now overrun with twisting vines and moss, overgrowth stretched across the crest of V-Tower casting it into darkness. The American muscle car stylishly spun sideways as the one time member of Veritas jerked the wheel to the side while pulling the e-brake. Gambler's door flung open before the car could come to a complete stop, allowing the momentum to jettison his body from the front seat spiraling through the air. Before landing in a crouched position just inches from the front door.

"Lets see if Kurrent cleared the system yet." questioned Day Hunter as he pressed his hand against a DNA marker. A smile raced across his face as the massive vibranium plated doors began to open. Revealing dimly lit halls with flickering florescent lights and no visible signs of life. Slowly the pair made their way inside with Day Hunter taking point. Without making a sound the Living Legend disappeared into the shadows leaving Day Hunter on his own. It was no sign of disrespect, but the Cajun, in all his arrogance, believed himself second to none in the art of stealth and a two man team infiltrating an enemy stronghold was a poor strategy in his mind.

Making his way up through the rafters Gambler quickly entered the ventilation shaft and began snaking his way through the endless maze of twists and turns. As he passed over one of several steel grates he happened to look down and noticed he was directly over what appeared to be Kurrent's own Hall of Heroes. A testament to great teams and heroes, past and present. Carefully he descended from the ceiling to take a closer look. On display were some of the most recognizable weapons ever to be held be members of the Zero Squad as well as Veritas. Shogun Samson's double edged Katannas, Morte Rapida's sais, Spartan's battle armor, and many more. A large portrait of the original members of Zero Squad hung proudly on the far side of the room. The dedication to history was something the Cajun could respect. He quietly exited the room, each artifact still in its original resting place.

A subtle shift in the complexes atmosphere alerted Gambler to the arrival of several other people. New players had been placed on the board but with no way of telling who, or what, was in attendance the Cajun had no other choice but to approach the situation with the utmost caution. And as the little hairs on the back of his neck began to rise Gambler could feel the faint charge of eletrcicty flowing throughout the facility. Unable to contain his classic Cheshire Cat grin Gambler smirked under his breath, "Kurrent....."

The wind blew back his hair as he ran, feet touching the ground only for a moment before propeling him forward and off the ground again. He could hear their even breathing in and out, in and out, behind him. They were 15 in total and they all ran hard. Though he ran in front he kept dropping back, stopping to watch and see. Did they follow, had they lost them? He crouched on a large fallen tree and sniffed the air, nothing. Standing high on two feet he looked around for any sign of them. Thwack!  
 
A pain in his neck sent him running like a shot deer, he pulled a needle out. Trying to transform as he ran fear overtook him when he realized that he was stuck in his human form. He just hoped that his pack would keep running. His breath was getting deeper and deeper and his legs began to burn. Richard looked to his left and right searching for an escape, but the only thing that he saw were trees and lasers searching for their target.  
 
Ducking behind a tree, bark exploded behind him and Richard could feel them closing in. Their breaths became visible behind trees ahead, Richard moved once again avoiding the danger, hearing more shot whiz over head. Once more he turned see gun man ahead, turning to his left Richard jumped over a creek and skidded to a stop realizing he was being herded.  
 
As the net came down over his head, Richard knew that there was nothing more he could do. The Lycan hunters had taught their prey.

Richard Wolfe prince of the Lycans, was a mere man in chains. The men in black masks laughed and pushed him forward into a carry van. A large boot kicked him in the back as a man said "In the truck dog." Richard inhaled deeply taking in his scent, this man would die by his hands. But for now.....they were in chains.  

The wind blew back his hair as he ran, feet touching the ground only for a moment before propeling him forward and off the ground again. He could hear their even breathing in and out, in and out, behind him. They were 15 in total and they all ran hard. Though he ran in front he kept dropping back, stopping to watch and see. Did they follow, had they lost them? He crouched on a large fallen tree and sniffed the air, nothing. Standing high on two feet he looked around for any sign of them. Thwack!  
 
A pain in his neck sent him running like a shot deer, he pulled a needle out. Trying to transform as he ran fear overtook him when he realized that he was stuck in his human form. He just hoped that his pack would keep running. His breath was getting deeper and deeper and his legs began to burn. Richard looked to his left and right searching for an escape, but the only thing that he saw were trees and lasers searching for their target.  
 
Ducking behind a tree, bark exploded behind him and Richard could feel them closing in. Their breaths became visible behind trees ahead, Richard moved once again avoiding the danger, hearing more shot whiz over head. Once more he turned see gun man ahead, turning to his left Richard jumped over a creek and skidded to a stop realizing he was being herded.  
 
As the net came down over his head, Richard knew that there was nothing more he could do. The Lycan hunters had taught their prey.

Richard Wolfe prince of the Lycans, was a mere man in chains. The men in black masks laughed and pushed him forward into a carry van. A large boot kicked him in the back as a man said "In the truck dog." Richard inhaled deeply taking in his scent, this man would die by his hands. But for now.....they were in chains.  

A crowd was beginning to form outside the New Outsiders base. Today was the day of the press conference that Slight did not want to have, but was necessary to have. It was planned and gone over multiple times, and the key points were written on note cards that he carried with him, like a wallet they were. Looking out the window onto the sage green lawn of the base, Slight let out a sigh, at the thought of what was going to happen in the coming hour. He paced in his room, knowing the possible consequences of his actions on this day. A team of great power might very well come after his skin, and they had much more experience in the department of “team work”

 
This betrayal was almost unbearable, but it must be done. After all he had friends in the Wolf Pack. And even though he was powerful, he had fear of what they could do to him, and the rest of team.

 
As the hours went on, and the news stage was set up, a swell of pain grew in his stomach. He couldn’t do it. But he had to…If his plan was to succeed, then he would have to take this opportunity and say what must be said. Walking out onto the front lawn of the headquarters, Slight let out a sigh that relieved something within him. Not sure of what it was, but it felt like bricks upon his back, he’d one less building block in the sack. He walked onto the stage, and flashes of light sprayed the air. They were bright even when the sun was at its highest point.

 
His watch read twelve. It was noon, and the throng of news stations prepared their cameras and tested their mikes. The conference was to begin in the next minute. Avery pulled out the deck of note cards from his pocket. Just then, as scheduled, Magick walked onto the stage and stood beside him. He let out another sigh, another brick from the bag of worries.

 
Putting on a false smile he reviewed his cards once more, and contemplated in the minute’s time he had whether or not he should go through with this. Deciding that it was the right choice he opened his mouth and began.

 
“Hello, my name is Avery Spottswood, otherwise known as Slight. This is Magick co leader along with me of the New Outsiders.

            As you may know, the Wolf Pack, a group of renegade so called heroes have killed a United Nations member. The actions taken by their leader is inexcusable, and should be penalized to the highest extent.

            However, I, we are not the ones who will be persecuting the team. There are already numerous real heroes on the job. What we are all here today for is one reason and one reason alone. The New Outsiders have been waiting for a chance to show the world that we can be just as good, if not better than what is currently offered. The New Outsiders are here to now take the place where the Wolf Pack left off, and do a better job. Their elusive and covert ways are no longer acceptable in this world of demanded transparency.

            We promise that when we start our newly authorized patrols of this city, and the state, we will answer to the people, and we will protect you all from criminals in the wild and unruly Wolf Pack.

            Thank you, and Good Evening.”

 
Turning his back on the crowd of inquiring vultures, and walking back to the steps leading up to the entrance of HQ, with Magick behind him, he let out a final sigh. This one was as cathartic as a levy breaking. A deluge of emotions were let go with the exhaled breath. The stress, and wary of giving the speech was over, and now came the test that would try him and his team.

It was a cold night on Eterna island home of the Elite Order, Gerald looked amongst his friends and told them he was going out to his real home, to take a break from the hero life for a few months, he went to get dressed lacing up his clothes and throwing his cowl over his head and lacing on his arrow glove. He hopped in the good ol’ trusty teleportation port and told his friend TJ Magnum to hit the switch; Gerald had appeared at his apartment in the city of . He went upstairs and watched television for a while, he called his friends and asked them what they where up to and they told him “Were going to go up to the bar want to meet up with us there or is the hero life taking its tole on you once again? Gerald said “im game see you in a few minutes dude.”

Gerald went into his room threw on a creased black shirt, and some new blue levi’s he bought the other day grabbed his car keys and headed toward his garage.Gerald went outside into his garage turned on the lights and looked at his prize ride his favorite means of transportation. He looked into the paint and saw his reflection he grinned as he put a piece of winterfresh gum in his mouth to keep his breath clean. Than he proceeded to hop into his prized lime green 2009 Dodge Challenger and strapped his seatbelt on and opened the garage with his door button he rolled out to the bar right next to time square and parked in a parking corridor down the street hit the button on his keys and set the alarm in case any punk car jacker would try to steal it. Walking down he went into the bar and saw his friends he acknowledged all of them and said what’s up? As they where all talking to girls and stuff like regular people would, Gerald went to the bar and said “Can I get a water?” as he grasped it and handed the bartender his money he was talking about how tough life was for him at the moment but his friends where around to cheer him up as always, and Gerald had always appreciated that, and loved his friend for always sticking around. Gerald had lifted his bottle up and took a big gulp of water before looking at the TV and seeing the news breaking report, over the suspected death of a Senator, by a man of infamy known as the Hunter. Gerald thought to himself, “would the Hunter really do something like that? I’ve never thought of him as a man who would just go out and kill a senator to make a point he’s just to noble and not that dirty of a player.” The Hunter and his Wolf Pack where a group Gerald had a huge amount of respect for, they where one of the greatest teams this world has known period.

Gerald looked at his friends and said “I’ve gotta go guys, it may suck to be a hero 24/7 but someone has to do the job and that someone is me. I promise to make it upto you guys eventually got it?” They just nodded at him Gerald swigged his water and finished it and left it on a table as he left out the door, Gerald felt bad for leaving his friends behind, but he knew it was for the better good, Gerald had walked across the street to the parking corridor where his car was, he looked at his car and saw two suspicious looking fellows by his car, he could tell they where nothing more than just common thieves looking to get street cred by stealing his car, he looked at them said “is there a reason you guys are eyeing my car by any chance? They looked at him with a gritty stare and said “yeah, actually there is a reason” he unsheathed a   good 4 inch knife from his pocket and said “give me the keys if you wanna live punk” Gerald smirked and said “good luck than” the thief and his friend both rushed Gerald, Gerald watched as they ran toward him laughing Gerald kicked one in the stomach who was unarmed and not very dangerous. Gerald watched the other try to stab him with the knife, Gerald moved aside like nothing caught his arm under his armpit so the attacker couldn’t move it Gerald looked at the attacker and said “don’t you people ever learn” as he brought his elbow up high in the sky and dropped it onto his arm snapping it in two the attacker screamed in pain. Gerald said good night and threw a hook headed his way that dropped him to the ground unconscious Gerald looked at his friend who was gasping for air and said “do you wanna end up just like your friend” the other one said “No! Please!” and ran to his friend and got them out of there as soon as they could.

Gerald looked at his car and smiled, he opened the trunk to find his gear in there, taking off his shirt, he put a thick Kevlar vest on over his chest, and than laced up his suit and put his cowl over his head, put on his special tights designed for max agility possible, laced up his black leather arrow glove, and grabbed a vast array of trick arrows and his bow out of his trunk and left his bo-staff in there just incase, he jumped into his car and pulled out of the corridor and thought to himself, “there’s a certain wolf pack that has some explaining to do here.”

 As Gambler entered he quickly vanished within the darkness, "Yeah, I like you to boss." Deep down Jeff perfectly agreed with what Gambler had just done, both were masters of stealth, but Jeff would admit, most of the time he enjoyed less stealth and more stalking. In others words, hiding in plane site. The exterior of the building was a horrible memorial to the once great tower. Vines grew almost to the top of the great V Tower, stopping only just short of the top of the tower where the sun would scorch them and kill them mercilessly. The interior didn't do much justice to the building either, flickering lights, cracks in the walls, and the stench of garbage. 
 
Jeff cautiously walked down the hallway which was pilled with an odd assortment of thing along with garbage. It appeared that Kurrent had rummaged through all the rooms and just tossed the contents into the halls. Suddenly a loud crunch filled the empty and stale air in the building as Jeff's boot connected with an old beer can. A spark could be seen in the dim light, Jeff stopped and knelt down next to the can. He reached out and touched the can and again a spark shot outward. 
 
"Kurrent, I knew I felt the electricity in this stale air. You've really let the place go old man. What happened?" Jeff was slightly puzzled by the mess that was now the place he had once called his home, for even though he didn't like Kurrent he had and always will respect him. As Jeff stood and continued to walking down the hallway he progressively heard a second echo behind the sound of his boots. When he came to an intersection of hallways he paused and looked to the right, into the darkness. He could feel that something wasn't right, then after a few moments he grinned and continued walking. Jeff was nearing the dead end of the main hallway and he knew now was the time to act, he silently pulled one throwing knife and one grenaded knife out of their pouches and one in each hand. When he reached the end of the hallway and leaned against the wall careful not to disturb more of the garbage than necessary, for he did not want to make any noise. 
 
"Alright you SOB you want to play lets play..." With that said Jeff pulled the pin from the grenaded knife and thrust it around the corner, when he heard the weapon hit the ground he grinned with pleasure as a man's voice rang out full of despair and fright. After two seconds the grenade blew and the man flew forward and slid across the floor clearing out anything that blocked his path. The man finally came to screeching halt just in front of the intersection where Jeff stood waiting. Before the man had the chance to move Jeff thrust the throwing knife into the man's hand, mere seconds after the sound of the metal blade piercing both flesh and concrete rang out the man's shrilled screams of pain followed. Jeff lept over and stood over the man. "WHO DO YOU WORK FOR??!!!"  The quickly thrust his other hand around and shoved something into his mouth. Jeff's eyes widened as he say what it was, potassium cyanide. Jeff's hand lunged out attempting to stop the man but he was seconds to late, as foam began to pour out the man's mouth. 
 
"DAMMIT!! Alright well....." Suddenly a muffled sound began to ring out from the man's body. Jeff quickly removed the knife from his hand and rolled the body over. Jeff's eyes fell upon a small cable that led up to the man's ear. "Com Link. Ok since you wouldn't tell me who you worked for guess I'll have to find out myself." Jeff ripped the com link off of the man's body and placed it against his ear, then suddenly a grin of elite pleasure formed across Jeff's face, "Closure...." 
 
Jeff recognized the voice that rang out from the speaker, the two had at one time been like brothers. Of course that was the way it was for everyone on Veritas, a deceptive but respectable attribute of Kurrent. He always had a way making anyone feel at home when there, no matter how wrong it was. "Alright where are you?" Jeff stood up and looked down both hallways before taking off down to the right.    

 Confusion, that’s what was written all over Dreadmasters face, he honestly had no clue what was going on, and he looked… lost. Stephanie listened to his questions, him asking what she was doing there, why she had her defense up around him. Nova slowly lowered her arms, struggling to think straight as she looked at the Wolf Pack HQ for a moment then back at Dread. With a sigh she walked a bit closer to him, still keeping a somewhat safe distance. 

“The Hunter is accused of killing a UN Councilwoman, and there is a massive man hunt for him and all of Wolf Pack members… including yourself Dread…” Nova frowned. “I’m here… because We Are Legend have been ordered by the government to find all of you and bring you in. I thought you knew… which is why I came in so defensively. I know Hunter is innocent but… I have no way to prove it, until then, I have to follow orders.” She waited for a moment to allow the information to sink in, as she did she felt another form of energy come behind her.

Her head darted behind her, where she met eyes with Constantine, she sighed with relief. “Con, glad you’re here. I need you to-“ suddenly her communicator went off that was linked with the NYPD. ‘Weapon X is here in New York City, he’s just destroyed an entire city block! I need all available forces here now!’ Stephanie groaned “Damn it, what the hell is Hawk doing?!”, she let out a frustrating grunt, as she looked back at Dreadmaster, still standing but confused, worried, and if she was correct… had a hint of fear. She then turned back to Con. “Con, I need you to go down town, please, try and figure out what the hell is going on with Hawk, and IF you have to….” She took a breath. “Take him down, call for back up if needed, I think Oldlace is still at the HQ, Wando can teleport him to you once you find him, Please.” She placed her hand on his shoulder and a worry smile. “Good luck, and be careful.” With that she turned back to Dreadmaster who was… gone. 

“Crap!” She looked around in a panic, her eyes darting from left to right as she activated her infrared vision, only to still see nothing, but then... she felt that strange energy again. Looking upward she saw a massive dark like shadow looming over her, creating a dome like structure around her and Con. “CON GO!” She yelled out right before the shadow dome enclosed around her, leaving everything… black. Her eyes struggled to adjust to what was going on, but she couldn’t see anything, it was like she was blind. 

“Dread?” She spoke out as she suddenly felt a chill around her. ‘Screw this.’ She thought as her body burst into its golden flames, lighting up the darkness around her, only to see… more darkness. The walls around her were black strange like energy, and looking back on the ground, it was dirt… no longer cement. “What the heck?” Her eyes drifted around only to find nothing yet again. She let out a feral yell as she set forth a blast of fire against the wall, only to have it absorb it, it was like it was feeding off the light she was emitting from her flames. “Dread, come on man… don’t do this.” She waited for him to show himself to her.

By government orders, all lycans were to be hunted down at once.  Although he was truly a villain, Victor Leontinus kept the cover of a common mercenary.  Since the ascension of a king upon the lycan throne, their numbers were starting to increase by means of natural reproduction.  Many of them felt safe, and therefore allowed themselves to breed.  For some reason, the United Nations dispatched a large number of officials to round up the lycans and place them in containment facilities.
 
Sure enough, there were many protests all around the world.  Some sides would be pro-containment: meaning that they believed those "monsters" needed to be put away for life.  Others joined the anti-containment side: meaning that they disagreed with taking away the civil liberties of individuals.  Needless to say, an enormous conflict began to erupt in certain parts of the world.  For something such as this, folklore played a huge role.  Some cultures viewed the beasts as monsters of the night.  However, other cultures revered them and viewed them as protectors and guardians.
 
Nonetheless, the United Nations pushed through a decision to imprison all lycans.  For this task, mercenaries from all over the world were called in.  That was were Victor Leontinus came in.  By using his cover as a mercenary with extraordinary abilities, he was able to become contracted through the United Nations as a lycan-hunter.  Feeling the instinctive urge to purge that race fueled Victor.  As if his race and theirs had an ancient war, there was a deep hatred there for all lycan-kind.....
 
 

European Wilderness (2:00 AM)