Author: linkmaxwell
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There are a few rules for those who wish to take up the mantle of superhero. Such rules are never written or even said aloud. They don't have to be.
The first of these rules is simple- never leave a fellow hero behind.
Thus the ring of heroes around Brid. Each of them knew that she had paid the ultimate price for the city. Though every few minutes a hero would leave to help put down the last elements of the riots, they would be immediately replaced- the silent vigil continuing on, with the giant tanker, Krygon, leading the rest. Ever since Darkpool had left, he felt an overwhelming need to hold onto this last part of his team.
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The next rule is to never quit- no matter what the odds stacked against you.
Thermablaze and Experiment 409 kept pounding through wave after wave of Council soldiers. The big robot had told Thermablaze that the strange looking equipment around the base was actually intercepting transmissions from emergency transporters and resending them to secret facilities deep underground. This was all the young actress needed to hear. As 409 swatted soldiers aside with his mighty arms, she had fun turning expensive machines into molten scrap. She had a moment of fear, as 409 went down under at least 30 soldiers and robots, but this quickly turned into excitement as they flew away in a flash of blinding light. 409 stood in the middle of dazed Council troopers, steam venting itself from his superheated frame.
Nobody would stop the duo.
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Another rule of being a hero is that you never look back.
After Liz had shot off the lock, the three prisoners had been on the run. Although Legrasse had though that the blind wizard would slow them down, Alchemist was able to keep up with the group.
Although he had hinted at it, neither had been able to fully grasp Alchemist's ability to detect spirits. He had been trying to steer the group away from the pitch-black spirit that had been laying in wait at the bottom, a spirit that he knew well. Eclipse.
Yet, beyond that, one spirit, almost akin to Eclipse's, frightened him more. This one, however, seemed to be speeding towards them. The son was returning.
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The next rule of a hero- perhaps the greatest, was to never kill your opponents.
After melting down the door, the black squid-like alien that had once been called Darkpool faced a surprised group of Council soldiers. Without pausing, it blasted a wave of dark fire at them. Five men were instantly reduced to screaming figures, flesh melting off of bone. Their skeletons clattered to the floor, the last echos of their agonized pleas for mercy echoed off of the metal halls. Even as the bones fell, the creature drew off the energy that was trying to flee to the afterlife. Five globes of black energy hovered a few feet off the ground. These slaves would serve him well in the coming battle.
Eclipse smiled to himself as he turned off the monitor he had been watching the event on. Slowly, reached out into the void that the Nictus called home. There was an important being who needed to be here, and his arrival would nicely coincide with Darkpool's entrance.
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"Eclipse, why have you brought me here?"
The shadow that stood before Eclipse was not a being that appreciated being interrupted in the final stages of a plan. That Lord Requiem would even consider answering the request of Eclipse showed how important the Nictus had become in the Council.
"My lord," Eclipse began, bowing as low as he could, "I merely thought that you would like to be present for the birth of our next Nictus Lord."
"You have hinted at such, my servant," Requiem mused, "But have said little of substance. I assume that this has something to do with Project Nightstorm?"
"Yes, my lord. What you are about to witness is the ultimate completion of Nightstorm, the birth of a Nictus fostered within a human child."
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As the three ex-prisoners rounded the last corner, the came face-to-face with the horrifying creature and its soul-slaves. Liz backed up a few steps, her shaking hands unable to even lift her pistol towards its target. Legrasse made a dive and brought her down hard on the floor as five beams of negative energy intersected mere inches from where she had been standing.
Only Alchemist held his ground. Even through the Nictus energy, he felt the familiar presence of his friend, Darkpool.
"Luke," he asked firmly, trying to reach out to his teammate, "What are you doing?"
"There is something that I must do here," came the reply. The voice sent shivers down Alchemist's spine. Any humanity Luke may have possessed was now subsumed by his Nictus symbiote.
"Leave this place now," it continued, "And I will not stop you."
Reluctantly, Alchemist helped Liz and Legrasse to their feet. "Go," he ordered, "I'll meet you at the surface shortly."
Without understanding fully why they did it, the two ran as fast as they could for the exit beyond. Alchemist, however, tried to reason with this thing that his friend had become.
"Luke, remember me? We're friends, Luke."
"Do not push your luck, human," it replied coldly. "I have given you your life, do not think that I will hesitate to take it from you. This is a matter to be settled between the Nictus, you humans are not welcome."
"I will not stop you, but I will not leave without my friend."
"Then you will be waiting forever."
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Eclipse and Requiem didn't have long to wait. The door soon burst inward. Eclipse merely sidesteped as the metal slab embedded itself in the wall behind him. Requiem nodded towards his second, who stepped forward. Eclipse didn't even flinch as the captive spirits surrounded him, ready to kill on their master's commands. As Darkpool silently glided into the room, Requiem smiled to himself behind his black mask. It had been far too long since a new Nictus had stepped forth to join them. Soon, the Peacebringers would feel the true wrath of their powerful brothers.
As he mused to himself, he felt the surge that signaled the destruction of Eclipse's physical form. No matter, a new host would be chosen soon.
Requiem reached out a hand towards the Dark Nova. "Do you swear fealty to the Nictus Empire?"
Without hesitation, the figure replied "Yes, my master."
"Then come, Lord Darkpool. We have much work ahead of us."
The two figures slowly faded from view, master and apprentice bound at last.
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Brid tried as hard as she could to dispell the image that was shown to her, but despite her strongest efforts, the image of Lord Darkpool had replaced her friend, Luke. Daisuke stood a respectful distance away, knowing just how hard the loss had come to the woman.
She wanted to rage, to weep, but none of that was possible. She knew that she was alone now, that she was truly trapped here in Limbo forever.
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The riots were quelled only a few hours later. All those who had fough to protect the city were given special commendations from Statesman himself. Special awards were given to Thermablaze and Experiment 409 for making the emergency teleportation system safe to use.
There was a special funeral held several days later. The body of Brid was laid to rest in the new city cemetary. The event was a private one, with only Triumphant Heroes members in attendance.
Shyvver placed a hand on Alchemist's shoulder. Though the mage hadn't recovered his eyesight, his "spirit sense" had become powerful enough to compensate. He didn't even need to turn his head to see the emotions of sorrow and guilt- guilt that he had been in Independence Port when Brid was attacked, even though he knew he wouldn't have been much help. Still, there was something that the group needed to know.
"Shyvver," ordered Alchemist, giving a razor-sharp edge to his words, "Assemble the team."
The group was soon gathered around Brid's tombstone. Alchemist rested his hand on it briefly, drawing on its strength, then addressed the group.
He told them of the monster that Darkpool had become. How he had joined with those who had killed Brid.
The most important rule of being a hero is that you don't kill the villains- yet the Triumphant Heroes might have found forgiveness for temporarily forgetting it while thinking about one in particular.
One whom they used to call "friend."
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