Author: Firespray_uk
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The sun was beginning to set, casting a bright firey orange glow across the sky. The wind whipped up small dust swirls as it whispered between the buildings. The usual sounds of a living bustling city were replaced with occasional echoing sounds of metal on concrete, bursts of gunfire and the scream of plasma weapons in the distance.
Esprit hovered a few feet in the air, just behind Flat Line, listening to the Longbow security officer giving a briefing to the group of assembled heroes. To his left was the diminutive figure of Dark Demoness, her dark shroud obscuring all but her figure and glowing red eyes. To his right stood the impassive bulk of the Brigadier, arms folded across his chest.
“Arachnos troop movements within Sirens Call have been aimed at taking and holding strategic points. We send in what troops we can but it is the efforts of the Paragon heroes that gives us an edge there.” The Longbow officer stood before a group of about thirty heroes, all glancing at the canyon like buildings around them. “This is our stronghold, the hospital here is a safe zone, the police drones can detect and immobilize any invisible beings that attempt to get close to us. Further in there are Arachnos troops and spiderbots, along with a few other Arachnos followers. Closer to the old reactor you’ll find Tsoo, Warriors and the small island that the Arachnos use for a staging point. This is where they send their ‘chosen’ through to combat us. Each of your comms is automatically updated with a map showing the ‘hotspots’ we’re fighting for control over, along with the most wanted. Do what you can to arrest them, but be warned, this isn’t a kind place to operate in. Medical transporters are working flat out to keep you going, so good luck, happy hunting.”
Flat Line turned slowly as the group began to split up.
“I had hoped to get a few more of the Shades here for this.” He said quietly. “I guess it’s just the four of us.”
Fire rained down on their position, making them glance skywards, seeing a body falling toward the ground. The Brigadier leapt upwards, catching the falling figure and landed by the hospital entrance.
Firespray swooped down and tagged the unconscious figure, smiling at the Brigadier.
“Nice catch but he’s one of Recluses ‘chosen’.”
Flat Line ran over, as the figure faded out, teleported away.
“Didn’t think you were going to make it.”
Firespray dropped to the ground and folded his arms. “Miss this? I’ve been here twenty minutes, tagged four chosen so far.”
“How many hospital visits?” The Brigadier asked, smirking slightly.
“None… so far.”
“What’s that?” Flat Line asked, pointing to a metallic glint on a building opposite the Steel Canyon entrance.
“Looks like a robot of some kind.” Dark Demoness said, her eyes flashing red.
“A mastermind assault bot probably.” Firespray said.
“It’s pointing in this direction.” Flat Line said.
“It’s ok.” Firespray said calmly. “Armed with Lasers, shouldn’t be a problem.”
“It’s fired a missile.” Flat Line shouted. “At US!”
Firespray jumped into the air and his body ignited in a firey aura. The missile changed trajectory slightly.
“Oh frack…”
He shot skywards, the missile arcing up behind him as he sped away, zipping between buildings, a blazing trail behind him and the missile closing slightly with each passing second.
“It worked in the movies….” He muttered, shooting up as high as he could, generating a huge fireball and hurling it toward the ground, shutting off his powers. The missile dipped and followed the fireball downwards, Firespray beginning to fall behind them.
The fireball struck the ground, followed by the missile, erupting into a massive explosion, rolling upwards to engulf Firespray, who managed to kick in his flight power before he was consumed by the flames. He dropped into a hover a few meters away from the inferno.
“I’m alive.” He said into his com unit.
“Matter of opinion.” A voice said behind him.
Firespray turned as a broken battered car wreck slammed into him, sending him through the windows of a nearby office, smashing through the cubicles and destroying PC equipment. He lay on the ground stunned, staring out of the hole he’d made as a hulking figure climbed in.
“I wondered when you’d show up.” Firespray muttered, spitting blood onto the floor.
“I heard you were here so I thought I’d come say hi.” Thuggernaut replied, booting Firespray in the ribs, sending him smashing through the plasterboard wall.
Firespray coughed up blood, trying to desperately get to his feet, the room he was in filling with dust from the broken wall.
“What’s the matter Firespray, I was expecting a bit more of a fight from you.”
Thuggernaut threw a couple of punches at Firespray, who only just managed to dodge them, backing away all the time.
“Best you got Thuggy? Can’t hit a moving target huh?”
Firespray ducked under the giants arm as it impacted the wall, he went into a tuck and roll, twisting round to hurl a huge fireball at Thuggernauts back. It impacted his armour, singing his hair and leaving a scorch mark on the back of the suit.
“Now I’m pi—“
“You kiss your momma with that mouth Thug? I’m shocked she’d let her little boy learn phrases like that.”
Thuggernaut growled and charged towards Firespray, who kicked in his flight power and shot out of the building. AAs he went past the hole he’d made coming in, Firespray felt metallic claws dig into his side, making his scream in pain. He dropped to the floor, rolling into a bloody heap on the sidewalk.
Smyte jumped down off the window ledge, Firesprays blood dripping from his claws.
“I been wanting to do that for so long….”
“Glad I could make your wish come true…”
“Firespray’s mine.” Thuggernaut bellowed, smashing his way out of the doors. He walked slowly towards Firespray, standing over him. He leaned down and sparked up a cigar.
“This is going to hurt.” Thuggernaut said, his right arm beginning to glow with a deep red energy.
A figure landed beside Firesprays head, a mass of red and white and a glowing aura.
“You can say that again.” The Brigadier said, landing a massive uppercut square on Thuggernauts jaw, sending him smashing through a wall.
Smyte turned and was caught in a double snipe attack from Esprit and Flat Line. He stumbled backward and managed to block the claw attack from the Dark Demoness.
“Leave Thug to me.” Brigadier said. “I got a score to settle with him.”
Esprit and Flat Line moved to Firespray and within a few seconds his wounds were healed and the bleeding stopped. They all looked toward the shaking office block, ducking as a PC mainframe came out of a window.
“Do you think Brig needs some help?” Flat Line asked.
Thuggernaut came flying backwards out of a window, to land on the concrete, his armour sparking as he slid across the ground.
“I think he’s enjoying himself.” Esprit said. “Let’s move.”
Flat Line glanced at Dark Demoness as a unit of Arachnos troopers and spiderbots began to move into the area.
“Hold the line, they don’t get past us.” Flat Line said, as Firespray loosened a blazing bolt into Smyte, sending him to the floor.
“We’re out numbered.” Esprit yelled as the first energy bolts slammed into their position. Firespray returned their bolts with blasts of flame.
“We hold the line, only need a few minutes.” Firespray yelled. “Trust me.” He glanced over his shoulder and saw Thuggernaut pile drive the Brigadiers head into the road.
Without thinking he drew back his arm and hurled a fireball which exploded against the back of Thuggernauts head, staggering the behemoth a few paces. The Brigadier slowly pushed himself up, shaking the dazed feeling from his head.
“I’m going to enjoy this now…” he muttered, seeing Firespray, flames licking all round his body, swooping down to send bolt after bolt of flame at Thuggernaut.
The Brigadier flipped onto his feet and slammed a booted foot into the tarmac, the resulting shockwave, lifting Thuggernaut into the air ten feet before depositing him, unceremoniously through the roof of a wrecked bus. Firespray dropped down beside him, evading several energy blasts from the approaching Arachnos troopers.
“Nice footstomp.”
“I’ve been practicing.” Brigadier replied, staring as Thuggernaut leapt from the bus high into the air. “Oh no you don’t….” he said, leaping after him. Firespray leapt into the air, following the brute to a rooftop, blasting him at range with a blazing bolt of superheated flame.
The Brigadier dropped seconds after the bolt struck home to send another bonebreaking uppercut into Thuggernauts dazed jaw. The armoured figure went up into the air and smashed down through a helicopter landing pad, and the roof below, a column of dust and smoke billowing upwards.
Firespray hovered over the hole, staring down inside the building.
“Lets get after him.” The Brigadier said, rubbing his jaw before dropping into the hole.
Flat Line fired another snipe blast to topple an Arachnos soldier from a third floor ledge, his healing power seemed to trigger automatically, bathing the Shades Of Vengeance in its revitalising aura every few seconds.
“We need help, I can’t keep this up.” Dark Demoness shouted, he claws dropping another trooper onto the pile of bodies that littered around her feet. She turned to see a trooper pointing a rifle at her, no less than five feet away. He smiled, his finger tightened on the trigger. She closed her eyes, hearing an explosion that knocked her off her feet.
“Someone call for help?” A voice said near to her.
She opened her eyes and looked up at the youthful strong jaw of a male in a red leather suit, the Shades insignia emblazoned on his chest. He pulled an arrow from a quiver by his side, set it on his bow and sent it flying into the middle of a group of spiderbots, covering them in a viscious sticky liquid, holding them in place.
“Who are you?” She asked, flipping to her feet.
“Battle Bow. I’m here with a few friends.”
“But you’re a Shade… “
Battle Bow smiled. “Yes, I am. One of Firesprays new recruits.”
“New recruits?”
There was a scream from behind her, more of a battle cry… The Dark Demoness turned to see Little Rock charge forward, his rocky armour forming over his body, a huge stone mallet forming in his hands as he leapt high in the sky, to smash down on a spiderbots head, rendering it inoperable.
“Woohaaaaaa!” the little tank cried, leaping into the midst of a group of Arachnos soldier. “Come on you bucket headed freaks, let’s see what you got!”
Eight of them piled on top of Little Rock, while Battle Bow and several others started to take apart the robotic spiders. They were joined by a unit of Longbow agents, descending from a flyer into the battle.
Esprit smiled at Flat Line. “Now that’s what I call timing.”
“Remind me to have a word with Firespray about informing us all about the Shades active member roster.” Flat Line replied, using his super speed to dodge a salvo of energy blasts sent his way.
Eight Arachnos troopers were sent flying as Little Rock powered his way free of the ‘pile’ he was under. The few that were left standing were soon dropped as the hulking armoured form of Regret-SAV dropped in from a flyer, along with Transverse, Friction Burn and the Kheldian, Gabriel Osiris.
Slowly, the heroes pushed the Arachnos troopers into a retreat, down past the ruined reactor and out toward the island they used as a staging point.
By this time, there were dozens of heroes joining the fight, the line of heroes extending almost half way along the seafront, standing, staring over toward the Arachnos base.
For a few moments, all went quiet and still, only the slight ripple of waves on the shore could be heard, the occasional gull calling from a nest up by the war wall.
“What now?” Battle Bow asked, looking at the line of heroes, standing shoulder to shoulder slightly behind the shades.
Esprit nudged Flat Line slightly. “This is your party, what next, boss?”
Before he could answer, Thuggernaut dropped in beside him and hit Flat Line with such force that the defenders body arced into the sky and splashed in to the water of Sirens Bay.
“Say Hi to your friends when you see them.” He said gruffly, spitting the remnants of his cigar at Esprit, leaping away to evade energy blasts and a well swung mallet from Little Rock.
Little Rock swore under his breath, his armour reforming as he ran towards Regret-SAV.
“Hurl me.” He shouted. “Like when you were a kid. Stone skimming.”
Regret-SAVs powered armour whined as he grasped the stone tank and spun him round and hurled him at the water. Little Rock balled up at first, then flattened out, skimming over the waters edge towards Thuggernaut.
He impacted the brutes legs as he stood at the base of an old oil pumping platform, knocking the brute onto his back. Spinning quickly to his feet, Little Rock manifested a stone hammer and slammed it into Thuggernauts head, rendering him unconscious.
“Score one for the good guys.” He muttered, kicking Thuggernaut for good measure and glancing back at the advancing hero line. Across the top of the villain base, stood a line of Lord Recluses ‘chosen’.
“Oh that’s not good….”
The Brigadier shoved the collapsed wall up and off the top of him, his mask was torn and a small cut was visible on his forehead. He looked down at Firesprays inert form and triggered the emergency teleport to the hospital. As Firespray vanished, the Brigadier rubbed his bruised jaw and cracked his knuckles.
“Right… if you want to fight dirty Thuggernaut, dirty is what you are going to get.”
He started to run towards the wall of the office block and lowered his shoulder and powered his way through it and into the open air, landing on a low rooftop, springing high into the air over Sirens Call.
His eyes narrowed, seeing a mass battle taking place in the bay, heroes, villains, robots, longbow… and standing off to one side, Thuggernaut.
The Brigadier landed slightly off to the side of the brute, reached out with a hand and pulled a metal post from the ground, smashing it into Thugs head.
“You want to fight, we do it by your rules Thuggernaut… that means, no rules, no retreat, no surrender. Last man standing.”
Thuggernaut shook his head and cleared away the cobwebs the blow to the head had caused.
“Last man standing.”
The two power houses charged each other and the very ground on which they fought, shook.
Flat Line came to standing in a rejuvenation pod in the sirens call hospital. The rings moved upwards and he stepped out, smiling as he saw Firespray do the same.
“They’re thinking of naming the ward after me.” Fire joked, heading for the elevator door. Flat Line smiled and joined him, urging the lift to descend, until they were once again outside in the fading sunlight.
The distant sound of combat echoed through the streets.
“Sounds like quite a party.” Flat Line started to run off onto the street. He turned to see Firesprays arms aglow with flame, causing him to drop onto his back as a blazing bolt shot past his head. It impacted nothingness, a burning halo revealing the form of a stalker, one Flat Line recognised.
“Warshadow.” He fired a dual power burst into the inert figure and then turned to look over to Firespray. “Thanks. I owe you one.”
“Think nothing of it. I’ll drop you a teleport when I reach the party.”
“I’ll be waiting.” Flat Line said, looking down at the skull face of the assassin. One of Warshadows eyes opened.
“I have a message for you.”
“I have a bad feeling about this….” Little Rock shouted, smashing his way through another arachnobot. “There’s too many of them.”
“Time to retreat.” Esprit shouted to the heroes around him. “Staging point beta. Regroup and ready another assault.”
“I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up.” Dark Demoness said, kneeling over the body of an Arachnos trooper. “My arms are killing me.”
“And your claws are killing them.” Little Rock said, catching his breath for a moment. “I say we go help the Brig out and pound Thuggernaut into the ground once and for all.”
“I keep flying past.” Esprit said, watching Longbow troopers staging a tactical withdrawal. “Too much debris and dust where they are, whatever is going on, the two of them are smacking the crap out of each other.”
“Hey, isn’t that Flat Line over there?”
Esprit glanced over towards the direction Little Rock was pointing. Sure enough, Flat Line was picking his way towards the Brigadier.
Flat Line peered over the edge of the crater down towards the two figures laying inside, both breathing hard, both bloodied, battered and bruised. The Brigadier moved first, starting to crawl towards the edge of the crater, towards Flat Line.
Slowly, with a groan, Thuggernaut stirred to life, coughing and spluttering as he fought to regain his wind enough to carry on the beating he was inflicting on the Brigadier.
Flat Line raised his right arm and the Brigadier was encompassed in a purple glow, clearing his mind of the dazed state he was in.
“Time to finish Thuggernaut off and take him to the Zig.” The Brigadier said, turning to go back.
“Let me.” Firespray said, dropping down next to Flat Line. “I owe him too.”
Flat Lines eyes narrowed. Slowly he nodded, raising his arm and pointing it towards Thuggernaut as the Brigadier picked up a twisted girder. “I swore I’d never be a killer again, but in your case I make an exception.” He said, raising the girder above his head.
From nowhere, Warshadow appeared and slammed two glowing fists into the Brigadiers kidneys, dropping him to the floor.
“What the---“ Firespray said, a fireball building in his hand, but it was cut off as an energy blast from Flat Line smashed into his chest, sending him tumbling unconscious down the outside of the crater.
Flat Line looked down at Thuggernaut and bathed him in a healing aura.
“I see you got the message.” Thuggernaut said, dusting himself off and kicking the brigadier one more time.
“I did… and I accept the offer.”
“Good.” Thuggernaut said, taking a cigar from a belt pouch and stuffing it in his mouth. “Next stop for you Flat Line, the Rogue Isles.”
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