(HS) The Puppet Master

(HS) The Puppet Master (Full Version)

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Jae10 -> (HS) The Puppet Master (5/13/2011 23:58:39)
The Puppet Master An HS novel told by Jae10, which may include references to other in-game characters, places, plots, & things. This story is also written with the input of my fellow Smashers! Notice: Please post any comments about it via this link. Thank you! ~Commentary Link~

Jae10 -> RE: (HS) The Puppet Master (5/14/2011 0:03:12)
~ Strings Attached ~ Something’s not right here. Jae concentrated on the minds of her enemies, a group of bank robbers whom she’d caught in the middle of a heist. She thought it was weird at first for a large gang of them to even attempt such a feat in broad daylight. Usually there was less than five. Over a dozen now confronted her & they had all ignored the fleeing patrons and employees during their robbery, not even bothering to hold one up as hostage against her. As her mind searched theirs’ Jae suddenly felt a chill course through her. What’s going on here? It was as if their minds had been erased. She felt as though she was fumbling through darkness. There was no trace of a thought that she could glean from them – absolutely nothing. The robbers had paused upon her entrance and did not immediately respond, as if waiting for some kind of signal. Jae stiffened, giving up her futile mental search & readied herself for battle. It seemed like nearly a minute before the first thug attacked. He swung and missed as she swerved around his fist, catching it and then bringing it down upon her knee. A solid crrack! pierced the eerie silence, but strangely, no scream of anguish followed. She had clearly just maimed the man. He should be wailing in pain. Wh-what is this? The injured robber thrust her away and she caught herself in mid air, just in time to perfect her landing several yards from the bizarre bunch. The injured robber retreated back into the group, staring vacantly at her as he disappeared among his comrades. That’s when she first noticed: the vacant stare, lack of pain perception, the unusual daylight bank heist... These weren’t just mere criminals…these were victims! Her head raced with questions, but there was not enough time to answer them, as suddenly, the entire group rushed at her. Their stone faced expressions reminded her of zombies and she braced herself to face the first wave of attackers. Out of the corner of her eyes something glinted and she felt the presence of another. A large explosion followed which she quickly leapt out of range from, landing on the high ceiling beams of the bank. Through the thick smoke and debris she caught glimpses of the intruder zipping in and out of the scattered number of robbers. The figure did not stop until every foe was left unflinching upon the ground. When the nebulous cleared she smiled faintly. “How’s it going Jae? Got yourself into a spot didn’t ya?” Llussion stood & re-sheathed his broad sword behind him. “I had it,” she said, hands defiantly on her hips. “I could have handled it, trust me.” His eyes smiled in returned above the mask he wore. “I do…but, I’m not just here to save your skin. There’s something-” He hesitated. She waved her hands, laughing softly. “Don’t worry. I’m not reading your mind right now. I’m all ears.” “Oh, well I’m here to give you some Intel – something I discovered from my own mission. As you know, I’m currently tracing a trail of robberies that are sure to eventually lead to Dr. Insecro’s hideout.” Jae’s brow rose at the mention of that crazed whacko. Dr. Insecro was known to have been a valued entomologist once, that is, until a failed experiment warped his genius mind & also his physical appearance. What civilian wouldn’t scream his or her head off at the sight of an overgrown cockroach? Although no one was sure what exactly went wrong, the result was a money-obsessed fiend that would do anything to get his grimy hands on enough cash to continue his rather shady experiments. “I’m familiar with his insane tactics,” she responded. “I was there when he went after Super City Corporal building, remember?” The masked ninja nodded once. “Yes, thanks to you his robotic horde of bugs was dismantled.” Jae interceded, “Talk about ‘saving skins’…” He smirked at her comment. “On the other hand, not all of them were taken into Police headquarters for further examination. A few went missing.” Her hands dropped from her waist. “Missing? You mean they just disappeared under your noses?” Once again, the masked hero nodded. “But how? Where could they have possibly gone?” “The police hadn’t a clue, neither did I until…until another criminal bust was made soon afterwards.” “Hmm, I’m guessing by the same bug bots, huh?” “Yes, but their behavior was strange.” Llussion continued, “I was first on scene, & I sensed these were the same bots but, something about them was off.” “Wait,” Jae suddenly interrupted. A thought struck her and she wanted to make sure if her guess was correct. “Allow me to see what exactly happened.” There was no hiding the slight nervousness behind his eyes as Llussion shifted, a dark bang of unkempt hair falling across his face. “That’s asking a lot – to read my mind.” “I know, but I need to see something. If it’s what you’re trying to tell me, I’d rather see it for myself…if you don’t mind that is. Don’t worry. I’ll only be looking into your past memories for a brief moment, and not too far back. I promise not to go wondering in there,” she added with a reassuring smile. Face still taut with worry, Llussion nodded and relaxed as she began to infuse his mind with hers. He directed her where to find the event stored in his mind & she began to relive every moment: They were inside a jewelry shop – three of them & definitely Dr. Insecro’s handiwork. It looked like a smash and grab. No civilians involved this time. But the triggered alarm was sure to have alerted the police. Broken glass was sprawled everywhere. Lurking in the shadows…waiting for the rogue thieves to turn their backs. Instead, one looked up and that’s when I noticed what was so odd about them. Their vision perceptors were blank – no power behind them whatsoever. They were still physically broken after the bust at Corporal but somehow, they were mindlessly still functioning. I assumed it must be a power source outside of their main circuits, but there was no explaining what exactly. Leaping from the shadows I had to make sure they wouldn’t budge again. It took a lot more blows than the last time. These toys usually crumbled in less than a couple of seconds of a few licks. They were reduced to a pile of mechanical rubble. There was not a flicker of their appendages when the cops arrived. I managed to sneak a memory core from one of the bots, before the cops claimed the mess. Fortunately, their memories worked like recordings. I studied it and was horribly surprised at what I found. I felt that you deserved to know this for yourself. I had to find you to tell you, to warn you Jae…” She released tightly clutched fists and grasped at her temples. The shock of an intense headache poured over her, making her slightly weaker. She thought she would almost collapse. Llussion held her steady before that happened. “You saw…didn’t you?” She gasped, and nodded vigorously. Her eyes were closed shut, fighting back the inevitable tears. “More than that…” she managed in between shallow breaths, “I felt it. I felt – the monster.”

Jae10 -> RE: (HS) The Puppet Master (5/14/2011 0:11:37)
~ The Fog ~ There was just too many of them. These battle-crazy Smashers are just out to get themselves killed. I don’t see the point in this crazy war. The Doctor stood gazing out the window of his office at SuperCity Metro Hospital, about seven stories above the ground. He was in deep thought about the rather brutish activity taking place outside, when one of his staff wheeled in another occupied stretcher, abruptly breaking through his silent musing. “Doctor, this patient demands special attention,” the nurse spoke, rather too sharply for his taste. “She’s in critical condition.” Without a second to spare the nurse had trotted off in an unnatural rush to no doubt attend to the other war victims. “Giving me orders & then running off? That’s strange,” he mumbled. He had clearly made orders for patients to be left in intensive care wards, not in his office. Obviously the nurse was new, not to mention hard of hearing. He warily approached the stretcher. The patient was entirely covered by one of the clinic’s bed sheets & remained unmoving. He wondered, Critical condition or dead? Blasted Smashers! This fight needs to end soon or else there’ll be more casualties. The beds are literally filling up… A few feet away and the Doctor stopped. “Wait a minute.” Seized by a gut feeling, he quickly stepped back toward his desk in an attempt to reach hire firearm – a custom made shot blaster, strong enough to peel the lining off bones. He never made it of course. Just as he opened the drawer to reveal the weapon it flew up in front of him. He stared at the narrow end of its blast point and heard the steady click of its fire-ready mode being activated. His eyes moved past the gun to the stretcher where a slim figure quietly sat. He was too irked to immediately respond to what just happened. “Hello Doc, or, should I just call you Blackshock?” The trespasser was sitting rigidly still, concentrating her powers into the weapon she held in his face. Then she ordered firmly, “I need you to give me some answers. Please, don’t give me a reason to set this gun off.” “Amazing trick – controlling the mind of a highly skilled staff member just to sneak your way in here. Clever, & most unnecessary.” Grimacing, the Doctor crossed his arms impatiently. “You know that won’t kill me Jae.” Her response was a slight smirk and the gun inched a bit closer mid air. “I know. I also know you’re a self healer, however, I don’t wish to test that unique ability of yours today.” With an even stare Blackshock sighed heavily. “I’m quite busy at the moment. Unless you haven’t noticed, there’s an unruly battle going on of which I’m sure is bound to leave our city’s park in utter desolation.” “I’m well aware of that Doc,” Jae stated shortly, “but there’s something, someone, that I simply must stop before things get out of hand.” Perplexed, Dr. Blackshock dared to settle down in his desk seat, his own blaster still targeting him squarely in the face. He ignored the gun, “Who?” “To be honest, I was hoping you could tell me that Doc.” Jae rubbed at her temples again. The room was slightly chilly, but that was not what caused her to shiver. “I was informed by a – well, a friend of mine that you used to be an intern under my father.” “Oh yes, I remember him. He was a brilliant man, a renowned scientist.” Blackshock sat back in his seat, appearing to recount the memories. “If you’re not already reading my mind, then you’ll realize that your father was smart, but stupid.” The unexpected words stung her. “What do you mean?” “Hmmm, guess you aren’t reading my mind then.” He sat forward in his desk, facing her with a grim stare. “Remove the weapon and I will talk. There’s no need for me to fight you. I’m willing to enlighten you because I’ve more pressing things to do and it seems I have very little choice.” She discharged his shot blaster and replaced it, making sure the drawer remained tightly closed throughout their chat. “Your father, Professor Charles Birde, was the head scientist over a private scientific investigation. His research was funded by the government – it was a covert thing. The only reason I knew about it was because he personally recruited me to handle certain tasks. He worked with about four other scientists, one being his chief lab assistant – Ivory something-or-other. I forgot her name actually.” “What was their work about?” “It was about Smasher abilities – their individual powers. We know that since the legendary Pandora’s late power burst, some people have become super beings - those same persons who are involved in this so far fruitless siege that has the city in an uproar.” “Don’t speak as though you aren’t apart of that either Doc. You were also affected, weren’t you? You're not as weak as you sometimes pretend to be.” “I’m a dedicated physician whose sworn vow is to heal the injured. Whoever comes in, good or bad, I live by my honor to make sure their taken care of – regardless. That’s what I am.” “Noble,” murmured Jae. “So you were studying Smasher abilities? Did you happen to have any subjects?” “No.” Jae could sense the uneasiness from his stark silence. His dark eyes were piercing behind round, reflective glasses. “You’re lying. Please don’t hide the truth. I can already see it.” “What?! Are you pouring into my memories now? The audacity…!” Eyes blazing, his words were sooned drowned out by the distant memories she found within his mind: There. She could vaguely see the man who was her father. He was bent over a form lying lifeless on a cot. The lab was bright & blue. People were muttering incomprehensive words. They were busy in this tranquil environment. Surgical instruments were being handed to her father by one of the others across the still form on the cot. She followed as the Doc’s memory shifted down to a female scientist that was sitting poised in a lab seat. The chief lab assistant of their group no doubt – a woman named Ivory. She wore a dark blue suit under her white lab coat with a short skirt. A blonde with wide glasses. She was busy watching computer screens behind the glass in a separate room. The screens also filled the Doc’s vision & Jae felt his panic as a result of what was seen. Then she could hear the yelling. “Charles! Get outta there! The radiation is going off the charts!” There was a glowing bright, emerald smoke which filled the room where her father was. He and the other scientist in the room were consumed by it. The glass that separated the two rooms suddenly broke. That was when the Doc had dodged under the screen monitors for cover. The lab assistant was flung against the wall – no time to scream. Her body hit the floor. It was hours later after the Doc woke up from his unconsciousness - assessing the desecrated area. The patient was no longer lying on the stretcher. He was gone. Completely vanished. The chief lab assistant was also missing. Strange…without a trace. The others – they were dead. Her father was one of them. Staring into their empty faces. Jae extended her mind further into the Doc’s memories. She struggled to reach their minds through this nightmare. She entered a void of storms. A dark fog had taken over & they no longer existed, reduced to lifeless vessels. Before they were completely lost in that storm she clearly saw what they’d seen through that brief, bright explosion – a being so terribly dark, one that had haunted her dreams since the death of her father. Now she understood why. “I’m sorry for that,” Jae said, after releasing the trembling Blackshock from her mental grasp. They were both shaken. He clutched at the desk, seething. “That was uncalled for & might I say quite unpleasant.” Finding strength enough to regain his composure, the Doctor shot her a serious gaze. “I take it you got some of your answers then?” “I did. But, now there are more unsolved questions. I won’t bother you again until something comes up. I might have to jog your memory about what happened afterwards, but until then, you have my word.” “Good, hopefully that won’t be anytime soon,” he muttered as she silently exited out the office doors. He turned back to the world beyond his office window, to the distant billowing smoke.

Jae10 -> RE: (HS) The Puppet Master (5/15/2011 20:42:44)
~S.C.I.F.~ She made her way through the busy crowd of stirring mid-noon pedestrians – checking all the mental pieces to her puzzle. This is going to be a tough one. So far, I’m up against the mindless - definitely not my cup of tea for a mission. She was on her way back to where Llussion had finished off three of Dr. Insecro’s missing insect drones. The glistening sun set off a bronze, golden hue as it began to duck behind the spiraling skyscrapers of Super City. Jae paused in a trance at the crosswalk, staring into the glowing sight. For so much beauty that shined through this bustling city, she wondered why Evil had to exist, casting a dark shadow that managed to infiltrate all levels of society. It all had to end one day. One day, she thought…one day…A sense of hope mounted in her heart as she peered further into the bright display of colors. Her eyes landed on a single speck floating in the flashing sky – typically unnoticed by the average pedestrian but, to any noble-minded Smasher, that unperceivable speck was seen as a symbol of pride. There, hovering in the heights about Super City like a silent guardian was a fortress of solitude – a haven of some relief for those struggling to dispel this reign of Evil. I haven’t earned my place there yet…not until I reach the bottom of this and…find my father’s murderer! She closed her eyes for a second to clear her head and then pressed on through the crowd. She traveled down East Main Street, actually enjoying the cool air as evening began to set in and made her way carefully down West Main Street – careful to avoid the alley ways. There were strange rumors among the residents of hideous creatures that lurked those vile passages. Most referred to them as Chudlings. The stories increased further back towards the east, strangely concentrated around the Subway station, but even here, they were still circulated. She finally stopped in front a glass faced shop that was just a few doors down from Eolon’s Electronics. Just behind it was a variety of colorful gems, stones and many other priceless rocks that you could just about think of all on display. No wonder this place got busted into. The place screams “Rob Me!” But for a bunch of mindless drones to do something like that, the matter deserved to be looked into. Inside, there were more diamonds, more turquoise bracelets, and shiny trinkets of value than Jae could recount ever seeing in her life before. Slightly distracted, she picked up an attractive pair of pearl earrings. The silver that made up the ear clip piece had been hand crafted to resemble that of a soaring bird. The jewels dazzled bright as she lifted them up for a closer look. “Find anything of interest?” piped the shop owner who had appeared at her side in less than a minute of her browsing the displays. She gently placed the earrings back. The shop owner was a tall, spindly character with a bald head and lengthy mustache. He wore square spectacles and looked more like a fashion expert than casual metropolis jeweler. “Nothing in particular,” Jae responded, playing the role of a curious shopper. She had certainly dressed the part. A dark, forest green summer dress and cork wedge shoes – it was something that allowed her agility in case of battle & somewhat relieved her from the pressing seasonal heat. “I heard there was a break in not too long ago…” The shop owner waved his hand as if it were a trivial thing. “Oh, that…yes. It was because of that horrifying Dr. Insecro! His thieving mechanical monstrosities completely vandalized the place!” She picked up another piece of jewelry, pretending to examine its fine details. “Oh, really? Such a shame,” she said. Jae felt the anger stirring inside the man as he finished his lengthy explanation of that night. “So they robbed the place?” “No,” he said, vigorously shaking his head. “Strangely, they took nothing. I was so relieved to find that every piece of jewel was accounted for!” He grinned in relief, and then continued the conversation on the item she was holding. Strange indeed, she thought. What were those three bots doing here? “Excuse me,” the shopkeeper broke off in his business speech in order to approach a pair of two new customers. Jae didn’t pay any particular notice of them at first until one of them quickly revealed something that made the man stop in mid introduction. His eyes slightly bulged and he pointed in her direction. Jae peered as the couple advanced out of the corner of her eyes, abandoning the shop owner at the entrance. She had enough time to quickly scan their minds to assess any threatening intentions. Both their thoughts echoed, There she is… “Jae.” Already braced for action, but sensing no immediate danger, she looked up. The two strangers uniformly dressed in dark gray business suits. One was a trim man who wore square rimmed glasses. His female partner was slightly taller and was wearing a thin rectangular pair of shades. She crossed her arms, her dark gaze boring into Jae. The man, however, extended a hand towards Jae. Suddenly, she could hear his voice inside her head as she reached out to receive his handshake. I am Agent Fang. And this is Agent Kira. We work for the S.C.I.F... We were sent to find you. Night had finally fallen. The two agents finally left the shop, followed by a dark haired girl dressed in dark green. They all crossed the empty street & then paused for a moment in front of a black car parked against the curb, across from the store front. Words were exchanged. One by one they piled into the vehicle and then drove off in the direction of the Police Department. A silent observer watched them disappear as the car made a turn further down the road. Hidden in the shadows at the mouth of an alley, his fiery eyes narrowed. That's her alright...haha, looks like fun! A small grin slowly crept onto his face. This was interesting. He could literally taste the potential Chaos that could be unleashed. Behind fiercely lit pupils sparked the flames of insanity. That psycho is right. She’s a crazy one. She just doesn’t know it yet…hehehe…

Jae10 -> RE: (HS) The Puppet Master (5/15/2011 21:02:54)
~The Vision~ “So let me get this straight. You guys are part of this government agency – the same one that funded my father’s secret research, before that freak explosion???” The two agents stood across a stainless steel table, both of their expressions were unreadable. They had driven her all the way to the Super City’s Police Station, and had her follow them directly to an elevator where they descended to basement level. She had passed many curious cops who glanced her way, perhaps thinking she was a just a witness due to her dress. Now that she was secluded with the two agents, and back into her less colorful Smasher gear, she felt highly alert to every sound, aroma, & occasional mental thought. “That’s correct,” was Agent Kira’s short reply. Agent Fang continued, “We had to find you as soon as we got the call-“ “- from the Doc I take it,” Jae finished. In response to Fang’s slight hesitance she said, “I didn’t have to read your minds to guess that.” He nodded affirmatively. “So, he’s kept in contact with your agency the…” “S.C.I.F. – Super City Investigative Force.” “Right, SCIF…he’s kept in contact with your organization since it happened – since my father’s death?” “No,” said Kira once more. “After the explosion and receiving his report on the tragedy, we never heard from Dr. Blackshock until you appeared to him. He called us up and told us about you and that’s when we reopened an investigation into that particular incident.” “I don’t know anymore than he does, believe me. I’ve already gotten as much information from him about that day as possible.” “That’s because he wasn’t directly involved with this particular project,” Fang stated. “He only got requested occasionally about it by Professor Birde – with our permission of course. He was not given the underlying of our work’s purpose.” “Which is?” It was the first, truly important question that Jae could ask at this moment. A noticeable pause passed between the two before one of them, Fang, answered, “The Doc never understood why Professor Birde had undertaken such a study on the abilities of Smashers.” Suddenly, she found the answer - a flash of a thought that had slipped between the agent’s highly trained mental barriers. “You wanted – you wanted to understand our abilities so that they could be…reversed?” A stoic grin on Kira’s face confirmed this. “Yes.” “But how is that even possible? Why would my father agree to undertake such an impossible feat?” “Look at this city Jae. Don’t you see what is happening? Smashers from the power burst keep appearing. Average citizens are beginning to take on the mantle of heroism, or worse…criminalism – performing less than noble deeds. All of this is due to the death of our primary heroine – Pandora. What does her heroism stand for now? The purity of her powers has become tainted by this growing war between Demolicious & DaVinci. It was our goal to end it. By taking away every Smasher’s abilities – the chaos would end.” For once, she was stunned by the truth and logic in their mission. It would be the end of the city’s superpower era. “That’s not all. It was also because of you.” She met Agent Kira’s somber gaze. “Because of…me?” “You were developing these abilities at the time Jae. The Professor recognized that. He didn’t want you to become apart of any wars among the Smashers. He loved you too much to see that happen.” Suddenly, Jae missed him. She fought back tears, her head becoming heavy & sore. It’s already too late for that Father. I am in a war. I must find the person who did this to you. “As for the power reversal - it is possible. We’re sure of it,” said Fang. He fingered through the top of his short, sandy hair. “He said he was close & that he knew of a way. But then… the explosion occurred.” “The professor among with some of his team was killed. His chief lab assistant disappeared along with the subject he was testing his theory on. We never found them.” “Can you tell me about the patient, the subject?” Jae’s voice was slightly trembling, mostly because her mind could not stop seeing the dark being that rose from the heart of that explosion. It was a vague vision, but she was sure that it was something living. That’s what he saw, right before he died. She wondered if the agents knew about that. Blackshock certainly hadn’t. “Hmm, we have a file on the subject – your typical super powered nightmare who terrorized the streets of Super City, but rather nameless. His name hadn’t appeared in our mainframe’s Smasher database at all. It was actually the Professor’s lab assistant who recommended him as a first trial. We’re not exactly sure how our force team was able to bring him in though.” “Ivory,” murmured Jae as the memory of the woman surged to the fore of her mind. “Who was she exactly? How closely did my father work with her on these tests?” “Well, she-” The sudden shriek of an alarm made Jae jolt in her seat. He ear was too full of ringing to think clearly. Through covered ears, she heard the two agents yelling over the noise. “There’s been a security breach on the main level!” The agents tapped their ear communicators. “Line’s dead!” “Alright, let’s secure our area!” Agent Kira had already drawn her gun & was out the door, trotting hastily down the blue flashing corridors. Before shutting the door behind him Fang ordered, “Stay here! We need to continue this conversation later!” The door slammed shut and bolted. Locks? Really? She scoffed. That was a pretty juvenile thing to do, considering my telekinetic abilities. She stood, the noise still blaring in her ears but now she’d become much more immune to it. There were no video monitors or any device that could inform of just what the heck was going on here so she opened her mind and tried to link with one of the cops she’d seen earlier on the main level. She heard so many sounds and felt so many emotions – mostly panic, fear, & confusion. Soon she could see through the eyes of a cop who had enough sense to hide under the wreckage of an APB: Screaming…so much screaming. Blood was being spattered everywhere. “…Aaaaarggh!” “…Get him off! Get him off meeee…!” So much gun shooting and terror…mixed with a level of surprise. The cowering officer watched as his colleagues were being struck by a speeding shadow. Soon the screams were ended…the attacker stood in the middle of the room surrounded by carnage. Shaking in fear and watching this morbid figure lick the blood from his dripping ski mask. He turned around, facing the cop among the piles of mechanical scrap, and bodies. Gr-Gray Silhouette? Jae could not believe it, nor could she fathom it. Surely, this was not the masked terror that haunted so many street villains - the silent vigilante as the news media portrayed him to be? Rampaging on the police in such a bloodthirsty way? Surely this was not…was it? Has he completely gone insane?! No…no, this was not Gray. Around the intruder’s body, sparks crackled and hissed. Gray had no such power. Everyone knew that. This was an impersonator. Jae carefully extended her mental link to this mysterious person. Her eyes widened at the sudden rush of thoughts, it was instinctual and crude, but somehow, it felt forced: Blood…blood…One more…Keep him alive…must keep him alive…alive…No more Clown…no more…I’m done…I am finished…no more… There was the flash of another bright light where a person appeared. She spoke softly and mysteriously to the other, who seemed to recognize the voice. "Madam! Madam!" the voice said. "Who are you?!" "Madam! It is me!" "You...I haven't seen you in years...Arachnid..." "Ay, madam. What are you doing? Why are you killing these innocent people?" she asked. "The...the Clown...He asked me too...I was hungry, and..." "No, madam. You need to come with me" She said. She began to float away. They both disappeared… She lost the connection and remembered where she was. The facilities lights were still flaring, but the alarm had been shut off sometime during her trance. Jae reflected on what she’d learned, thoroughly baffled. The Clown? As in, Clown the Jester? Her skin began to crawl. Of course, what other psychotic circus freak would be involved in the random siege of a government building? The idea reeks of nothing but the Clown. It was sickos like that who needed a power reversal. Not inclined to just sit there and wait for the agents to return, Jae felt for the bolts in the door and lifted them – a simple telekinetic trick. There was no way of telling what time of day it was outside for there were no windows on this underground level of the SCPD. She almost made it to the end of the hall when a sense of eminent danger suddenly seized her. Reflexively, she dropped tumbling under a huge bolt of fiery energy that passed over. She winced, in some pain. Uh no…she glanced down her leg and grimaced. A sprained ankle. “Hahahahahahaha!” cackled a dark voice. “Nice dodge there…A first class gymnast, heheh.” Despite her injury, she managed to use the walls to hold herself up, facing her unexpected foe. A fiery aura of crimson orange surrounded him, distorting his appearance. “Who are you & what do you want?” Her stance nearly faltered, but she gripped tighter on the wall to catch herself. “The name’s Inferno.” Through the burning haze she saw a clear grin. “And as to why I’m here, why don’t you just read my mind and, find out for yourself…heheheh.” Her tone was lethal as she replied, “Don’t ask for something you will regret.”

Jae10 -> RE: (HS) The Puppet Master (5/17/2011 3:56:50)
~Outbreak~ “Nngaah!” Jae cried as the impact of her enemy’s chaotic blast burst through her force barrier, knocking her through the walls. She slowly lifted herself back up from the rubble, shaking her head to clear the dizziness. “Pathetic.” Inferno started walking towards her crossing his arms and frowning. “C’mon! This is really beginning to bore me.” “And you’re really starting,” she began, gathering the broken pieces of the wall around herself, “to annoy me!” The debris went flying through the air, straight at her intended target. He stopped mid stride, lifted his arms gathering more energy & releasing another fiery blast from the palms of his hands. The blast penetrated, scattering debris everywhere. Jae ducked as the blast came speeding in her direction. It exploded behind her. The force sent her body through the air for a few seconds before she slammed into the other end of the hall. “Hmmm, maybe that lunatic was wrong,” he continued, still advancing her way. “You’re not much of a threat…heheh…but that’s okay. I’ll make this quick and…painful! Hahaha!” He caught her by the throat, shoving her further into the fractured wall. She felt like she was on fire and pain shot through her entire core. She screamed. She couldn’t concentrate – the chaos was blinding. She could only hear him laughing like a maniac. “What’s the matter? Can’t take the heat! Rahahahaaa!” The flames aura surrounding him engulfed her. It felt like a constant stream of electricity was coursing through her. She felt herself beginning to fade into darkness – but something stirred within her mind. A bright blue flash of light shot through the darkness. That’s it. No more games… She opened her glowing blue eyes and grabbed his arm with renewed strength. The crimson aura around them suddenly flashed to blue and Inferno quit laughing. “What the-?” She twisted his arm & slammed him backwards with her left knee. He flew several yards, burning a hole through a few more walls. “Alright!” he cried in excitement, regaining his footing. “That’s more like it! Time for round two!” She sent a huge psychic blast his way, the fiery blue wave left a path of destruction as it landed into his chest. All she saw was smoke from the gaping hole he left. Her eyes still glowing fiercely, she approached the spot where he’d landed. Hm? Not there. Something shifted in the shadows behind her. “Boo!” Laughing wildly, he slashed at her with a long, broad object. She quickly juked out of range. A crimson blade slashed through a table in the room. The furniture split and combusted, reduced into separate piles of smoldering ashes. He swung at her again. There was no time to dodge. She mentally concentrated on the blade, catching the blazing sword before it struck and thrust it up towards the ceiling. Inferno, still holding onto the weapon went with it, right through ground level. She stared up into the ceiling, searching for signs of his presence. It was dark, except for the flashing yellow lights as a result of the triggered security system. The eerie silence was broken as his voice boomed down from the darkness. “Well, it’s been fun! Sorry I can't stick around! But, I've got a job to do now…heheheh….” She could sense him, somewhere…very close, very near. But his mind was like a fortress of fire. The walls suddenly trembled and there was a large blistering shockwave that caused the ceiling to collapse and the ground to erupt, and crumble beneath her. She was sent falling down through the floor, tumbling somewhere into the darkness of the unknown. The last thing she heard before losing consciousness was Inferno’s horrific laughter. “Do you hear that?” Agent Kira whispered in the empty corridors. The emergency lights were suddenly cut off and now there was nothing but a wall of black before them. Her partner did not immediately respond, but she could hear his shallow breathing in the dark and knew that he was close beside her. Both their guns were drawn. They had been following a trail of smoldering, broken APB parts and cop bodies since their assessment of the main floor, where the intruder had evidently started his onslaught. It was a complete disaster and the sight of so much slaughter was disturbing, even for two experienced field agents. Whoever was responsible for this mayhem was still loose – and quite deadly. “Shhh,” murmured Fang. He moved ahead. Their eyewear had been equipped with infrared displays. They were looking at a colorful world of bright and dark red. The bright spots represented anything that was possibly alive, but there was very little of that on their scanners. There was, however, a persistent scratching noise in the dead silence. “It’s just a bit further, Kira. Careful…we’re approaching the prisoner containment area.” This was a maximum security area where every gang member, thug, thief, murderer & any other lowlife that law enforcement was able to apprehend was locked away – usually for good. But someone had left a path of destruction & it lead right to the prison cells. The entrance was a twenty-inch thick steel, vaulted door that separated this section of SCPD from the criminals. The agents stopped at where the vault used to be. Kira whispered, “My God…blown to bits.” There was a large opening that led into dimly lit rows of prison cells. On high alert now, the agents advanced with caution. The noise was gone, and Fang was vaguely aware of the sound of his footfall resonating down the cell corridor. The silence was intense. They began passing the cells and to their horror, discovered they were empty. “Oh no… what the heck happened down here?” “It looks like the doors were busted open as well – every one of them…” A sour expression came across his face. “Just what this city needs - every convict in the book running around loose.” “But, there’s no sign of them…something’s not right. You think they made it to the surface already?” “Not without us noticing.” They paused at the row’s end and held their guns up, aiming straight ahead. The noise, a scrapish sound, began again. It was coming down from the next row. They leapt around the corner, ready to set off continuous shots on the first sign of attack – instead they found a dysfunctional APB struggling to free itself from under a heavy cell door. Beyond the twitching bot was another large hole in the prison walls that had also been blasted through. It exposed the sewers. Kira quickly lifted up her watch and tapped a button, activating its emergency communicator with SCIF HQ. “Alert all Super City branch offices of law enforcement – we’ve a major problem on our hands down here! We’re going to need as much manpower as possible…and soon…!”

Jae10 -> RE: (HS) The Puppet Master (5/17/2011 4:14:36)
~Memories~ She remembered her father reading her a book – it was a funny book, about a dog who forgot where he buried his bone. It made her laugh. “Silly puppy,” she giggled as he turned the page. “It’s right under your nose, haha.” He always made her smile even after she had the headaches – the terrible headaches. She could hear millions of voices at once of so many random things, especially when she was around others. She couldn’t understand why her head hurt so much. It scared her when she had the headaches because then things surrounding her began to tremor and break and burst – making noises. There was so much noise. The voices… the shattering glass. “Make it stop…please! Make it go away!” She saw herself sitting with her arms around her knees, crying. She couldn’t remember where she was. All she remembered was the light above, a bright fluorescent light that irritated her. Why did it have to shine down on her? She wanted peace in the darkness; she didn’t deserve its light. That was when she first heard the news about her father’s tragic death. They told her about the explosion, but…they never told her about the secrets and the lies. She spent the rest of her childhood years growing up in an isolated facility, run by one of her father’s colleagues – an elderly woman that understood exactly what she was. She remembered her adolescence, learning more about herself from the woman, Margaret was her name. Yes, it was Margaret. “Jae, do you realize how different you are?” Margaret asked one day. Jae nodded. “I have headaches,” she answered. “They hurt really bad and things start to fall apart. I don’t know what to do. I hear what other people think and I can’t – I can’t think straight.” The woman smiled and told her not to worry, that soon they would stop. “You are a very strong girl. We’re trying to help you, like your father tried. I’m sure when you’re older, they will go away.” She too died, sometime later. But she was right, eventually, the headaches ended & that was when the nightmares began. She dreaded the night, when she dreamed of that creature in the burning emerald light. It killed her father and others. It came walking towards her holding out a hand, to reach her. She screamed… Jae woke up to the sound her own voice, screaming into the abyss. She caught herself and cringed as the pounding in her head set in. Oh, my head…She put her hand to her temples and felt something wet seeping at the edges of her hairline. Bleeding…it’s pretty bad. She stared into pitch darkness. Inferno must have escaped. She also assumed that Gray Silhouette’s imposter must have been a distraction. Someone had to get to the bottom of this – there was just way too much going on and more pieces to the puzzle were starting to appear. She remembered the imposter’s vision and concluded she was just another used pawn of Clown the Jester. Just what is that deranged fool up to? No doubt he was also the one that sent the hothead as well for some reason yet to be known. Ugh…well, first thing I need to do right now is find out where I am. Wherever this place is, it certainly reeks…She held out her hand and concentrated a portion of psychic energy into the palm. A blue flame appeared, illuminating the belly of the sewers. She realized that Inferno must have sent her careening several feet through the ground. No wonder her body ached and her head was bleeding like a river. She tore at her dark garb and used the strips of cloth as a makeshift bandage for the head injury. Soon the bleeding stopped. She kept lying there for almost half an hour, trying to rest and recover as much as possible from that fight. He was merely toying around and I was serious…sheesh, I really was ‘pathetic’. She closed her eyes, wishing she were stronger, wishing she could be like every other Smasher. She felt like a poor excuse for one. And yet…there are times when I lose myself and somehow, I find the strength and will to overcome anything. Every time I see the light, the flash of blue light, a surge of energy comes over me. My mind just feels so, well, free. But that also frightened her, because it only occurred in anger – and her mental control would become completely lost. There was no clear thought. She couldn’t hear herself in her own mind at such moments; it was like she had vanished and was replaced by someone else. She laid there motionless upon a pile of dirt, ash, and broken floorboards just thinking when her mind caught the presence of another conscious nearby. She stiffened, pretending to be knocked out cold. The foreign mind was so primitive, and crude, but mostly curious. She heard a rapid, hoarse sound of respirations that made its way close to her right ear and above her head. A cold, slippery hand touched her bandaged head. Jae opened her eyes, using her powers to lift the creature into the air. She held it a safe distance away and relit the psychic flames to reveal a short, bald critter of gross features. His olive green face was somewhat moist and he had large beaming, black eyes. He also had a full set of sharp uneven teeth which he bore at her while snarling and kicking in the air. “Let go! Chucky wants down!” A chudling – in the flesh. Not much to look at. She crossed her arms staring at the struggling little creature, trying to read its intentions. She didn’t read any harmful thoughts, although it was angry at the moment. She set the wriggling chudling back down and watched him scurry back into the shadows away from the light in her hands. But he did not leave her entirely. “Where you come from? Above? City?” he asked. “Yea, from up there.” She pointed at the huge hole from where she’d fallen through. “Hurt bad?” She grinned. Assertive little guy. “A little hurt, but I’ll live.” “Oh, me Chucky. Me have heard others down here. Not of my kind, but others from above. They make a lot of noise and cause ruckus and explosions. The others hide, but Chucky want to know what’s going on.” “Explosions?” She immediately thought, Infernos! Hmmm, it’s possible. She was going to find out. She gently kneeled towards the creature and asked, “Will Chucky take Jae to where he heard these noises?” He chuckled in the dark. “Me show you where.”

Jae10 -> RE: (HS) The Puppet Master (5/18/2011 15:19:12)
~Momma~ Jae limped along with the little chudling called Chucky. They had been traveling for a few miles down the winding caverns of the sewers. She was relatively sure that their course was headed east, in the direction of the main subway entrance off Brick Street. Quite often, the sewers rumbled and shook whenever a subway passed over them. Trying to keep her mind off the sprain in her ankle, she listened patiently as the excited creature chattered on about the ferocious habits of his kind and also about his daily activities. “The others are mean and always fighting,” he said, “but me, Chucky is not like brethren. No, me like to visit above sometimes and find stuffs.” She assumed he was one of the rumored chudlings that would sneak through a manhole and forage through the alley garbage, frightening cats and street bums. She found him quite adorable, despite his grotesque and rather mutant appearance. He’s like a child. She thought vaguely about her own childhood, remembering the sweet innocence of it – that was, before her life got turned into a frenzy. After I discovered my abilities, I had to make a choice between right and wrong. So, I chose to protect what’s left of the innocence in this world. Like my new little friend here… She glanced down at the distracted Chucky and smiled broadly. If she couldn’t be strong for herself, she would be strong for others. Mind, heart and soul, she told herself. That’s giving it everything you’ve got to win. As they advanced Chucky gradually began to talk less and occasionally sniff the air, glancing side to side, detecting something. Jae didn’t pay it too much mind at first until he finally said, “We close to spot of booms and bangs. Much shouting and turmoil up ahead.” Jae reached with her mind and she discovered he was right. Just a mile forward she felt a number of sentient thoughts. There were two very strong beings – one possessed a mind of steel, virtually impenetrable. The other’s was so erratic that she also could not decipher the pattern of thoughts within. There were also a few more signs of life a bit farther from these, but due to the distance, she could only sense them vaguely. One thing was clear though, trouble was brewing. The two covered a couple of more yards and then abruptly stopped. Something Boomed! in the far distance. The grimy tunnels began to tremble. Overhead, bits of debris dropped all around them. The frightened chudling crouched in the murky water, covering his bald head with short, chubby arms. “Grave danger!” he cried. “Chucky perish!” He shook in fear. The smell of methane was growing incredibly stronger and Jae looked up, noticing a pinpoint of light that was steadily growing larger. Her jaws dropped slightly as she realized what it was – a blazing hot furnace of fire was coming their way and there was not a crevasse to seek refuge in. There was only one option. Quickly snapping out her startled daze, Jae jumped in front of the cowering chudling. She held out both her palms and braced herself as the flames continued to advance at them, like a terrorizing phoenix. This is going to require my complete focus…I must concentrate…breathe slowly, and envision what is not there. It arrived swiftly, a fiery storm of hissing flames. Jae’s eyes were closed the moment it came upon them. Her lids flew open, the blue irises flaring from concentrated psychic energy. Although the storm surrounded them, amazingly they were not scorched. The shrieking chudling dared to look up and stared, bewildered, as the fiery torrent was somehow parted around them by a transparent blue shield. The force field lasted the duration of the explosion. As soon as the last rush of hot wind swooped by, Jae relaxed, releasing her mental construction of the barrier. It vanished and a wave of dizziness overtook her. She suddenly felt so weak and fatigued. She collapsed to her knees, bending over and panting for air. She honestly didn’t remember seeing the flames. She couldn’t remember when the fire first struck. All she saw was a flash of blue light and something else within her mind just took over. Now that it was over, she felt severely numb and slightly feverish, but there was no pain - only exhaustion. It happened again. I – I got lost again. Her entire body was shivering. A hand touched her shoulder and she jolted, staring into the stunned face of a rather relieved Chucky. “Jae save Chucky’s life!” he piped, happily. “You are strong, brave human girl. Me owe you!” She managed a smile and sat there with the crowing chudling in the dark until she was feeling better. It was a few minutes later and there were no more signs of life from where the blast had originated. Whoever they were down there had either been wiped out of existence or escaped before the explosion occurred. They both rested in the darkness of the sewer tunnel, listening to the faint sizzling sounds of torched cavern walls. “There! There is where boom came from!” Chucky pointed up ahead. She saw a light pouring down from a manhole that led up to the Subway tunnels. Jae was able to keep up with the hasty little critter. After saving both their skins from the frightening ordeal earlier, she was surprised to discover that most of her wounds were healed and her swelling ankle throbbed no more. Amazing. That’s certainly new. I don’t recall anything like it happening before. Chucky did not step near the light that came from above. Instead, he waited in the shadows nearby, gazing at her with forlorn eyes. “Chucky help Jae find place, but bangings gone now.” She patted him on his hairless, slick head and said, “That’s okay. You still helped me a great deal. I’m a lot closer to my goal now, thanks to you.” He chuckled and nodded. In her journey through the sewers, Jae had found a new friend. In all this darkness he remains pure and unspoiled. What a miracle. She was really going to miss the little fellow. “Good-bye Chucky. Take care.” She turned and began her slow ascent up the ladders when a monstrous shriek burst down the tunnels. She stopped to look down at Chucky whose beaming eyes were now wide with frantic terror. Coming from the opposite end of the sewers, racing towards them with a ferocious cry for blood, was a giant beast. It had a large, bulbous form that trailed in connection to the mutated upper portion of what looked like a woman. It shared many of Chucky’s gross features, only possessing larger fangs and claws. It was barreling towards them with a vengeance. “It is Momma!” Chucky screamed. His voice cracked in fear. “She terribly angry. Jae must run away now! Leave Chucky!” “No,” she said. “I’m not leaving.” Something was odd about the creature and Jae soon discovered what it was. She reached inside its primitive mind and found nothing but darkness occupied by the same terrible fog that had inhabited the minds of her bank robbers & Dr. Insecro’s rogue bug bots. Something like that had also taken over this beast’s mind – controlling her. Jae leapt from the wall of metal rungs and sent a powerful force kick into the giant Chud’s chest. The creature reared backwards, screaming in an unintelligible tongue and swung at Jae. The heroine was struck backwards, hitting the opposite side of the tunnel walls. It crumbled around her impact. She gasped, the air escaping her lungs, and landed face down on the damp ground. “Aaaaaaahck!” She could hear the pitiful screams of Chucky as Momma Chud turned on him. She grabbed the little chudling, squeezing him in her bare grasp. Jae sprung to her feet, ignoring the spells of dizziness and pain. Her face contorted in rage, she charged a psychic ball of energy and projected it full speed at the monster. It landed a powerful blow that knocked Momma Chud backwards. Chucky’s still form was flung through the air. Jae caught him, hiding him someplace in the shadows behind her. The Chud was wriggling on her back, trying to turn herself back onto her slimy footing. Jae concentrated and lifted the giant monster a few feet off the ground. She slung Momma Chud from wall to wall, roof to ground, causing the tunnel to continuously rumble. She swung and swung…Left, right! Up, down! Left, Right!...Repeatedly, until the screeching & squirming of Momma Chud completely ceased. Finally, her mind let go and Momma Chud’s limp body landed with a large, splashing thump! Jae rushed back over to Chucky and dropped by his side, trying to examine the damage that had been done. His breathing was raspier than usually and not too deep. She lifted his large head. “Hey,” she started to speak, but the words got caught in her throat. Oh…no…everything is going wrong. This shouldn’t have happened. Why? Just why am I so weak? The chudling coughed and opened his shrunken eyelids. His pupils were dull and he barely moved. “Y-you save Chucky,” he wheezed, “again. Me…owe you…” Tears began to flood Jae’s eyes. “No, wait…” she said softly. “I can help you. Please, I can still try…” Her voice felt so hollow. She was sure she could do it, but how? Dr. Blackshock knew exactly what to do. He was a master healer. If only she could take get the chudling to him, but there was not enough time to make it there, not in the condition Chucky was in. He coughed and chuckled. “Brave, strong human girl,” he grated, beginning to close his eyes. They did not open again. “Good-bye…” His mind finally faded into nothing. No more breathing. The miracle was gone. Jae set him down & slowly stood, too stunned to immediately react. She couldn’t look back as she made her way up the manhole, entering the vacant sub level. She walked a couple of feet before the hurt became unbearable and sank down beneath a pillar, burying her face in grief.

Jae10 -> RE: (HS) The Puppet Master (5/18/2011 15:45:57)
~Reign of Terror~ She expected to find Brick Street as it usually was, a pleasant sunlit place, filled with busy pedestrians and kids on their way home from school. Instead, as she ascended further up the subway stairs, a terrible feeling swept through her. Before she could see the first surface light, her mind was instantly flooded with terrible cries for help and panicked screams. The rush of sounds was much like her childhood headaches but intensified. Her hands flew to the sides of her head and she winced, kneeling in shock. Wha-what’s happening? She had to crawl up the last few steps, enduring horrific images of burning buildings and terrorized civilians being chased by monsters. She made it. Through the subway railing she peered at the long lost world above and her eyes beheld the unexpected scene. She clutched the rusted metal bars and gazed in mortification as the entire Super City was being overrun by Chaos. Every convict in the city was running wild, chasing after anything that moved, turning on each other, busting through several apartment windows and so on. The mayhem was too great. So…that’s what Clown was up to...The main level breach at SCPD she finally concluded had been a distraction so that he could get Inferno in unnoticed and release every criminal in the book. God…LOCKDOWN too! She recognized some Smasher villains scattered among them along with several members of Clown the Jester’s maniac gang, the Chaos Carnival. All levels of Evils had officially been turned loose on Super City. There was a teleporter that she spotted, appearing and disappearing among a small band of APBs and cops that were doing their best to put some of the criminals down. Several missed shots occurred and the teleporter appeared, reducing their numbers. Jae reached the teleporter’s mind and discovered he was a low class Smasher who went by the name of Whisper. She saw flashes of his thoughts, of murders and assassinations. One caught her special attention – a fight with the silent vigilante, Gray Silhouette. It was a recent memory: There he was, the masked hero, waiting in the dark for him to reappear. He was holding a device, no doubt something that would help him locate the murderous teleporter. He reformed from out of the shadows and was struck by the device, shattering it into broken pieces. The memory flashed on. Whisper was taken down by Gray. Now bound and blindfolded. He could not see but he could dimly hear the sound of police sirens getting increasingly louder. They were coming for him. Then he heard Gray, his voice murmuring in the assassin’s ears from the darkness, “No…” So, they weren’t just coming for him. They were also after Gray! He heard the frantic patter of his captor running away. Jae dug deeper into Whisper’s mind, taking complete control over his ability to transport. Unable to hide, the puzzled villain was easily exposed. The cops took aim and fired a steady stream of shots. He went down and was quickly apprehended. She released her hold over his fading conscious. “There,” she said to herself. “One down - several thousand more to go.” This was going to be a daunting task. All of Super City was running amok. There’s no way I can take control of this all by myself. I’m going to definitely need some help. She wondered, Where had all the heroes gone? Encircled and vastly outnumbered by a large mob of angry criminals, Defiant unsheathed his sturdy sword and held it before him. Behind his back, a fellow Smasher and friend, Thundersmite, likewise braced himself. Without turning he asked, “You ready for this?” “Sure,” the Olympic Smasher replied. “This is going to be a piece of pie!” Cake, Defiant corrected him in his mind. A piece of cake…hehe…oh well. All that mattered was that they avoided getting themselves killed. The villains charged, and Thundersmite struck. A charge of electrical energy bolted around him, zapping the surrounding enemies as he went in for the assault. Defiant went slicing through their numbers with his heavy blade. A thug appeared to his right. He swung the sword and slit the attacker across his chest. Next was a pair from the Chaos Carnival. They met him with a barrage of attacks, slinging acid pies and toxic candy apples his way. A candy apple came twirling at his face. Defiant lifted his blade and batted the apple at a street arsonist holding a blowtorch and creeping up behind his partner. The man screeched & clutched at his dissolving face. Thundersmite swiveled around briefly, shouting, “Many thanks!” “No problem, buddy,” Defiant replied, returning his attention to the crazy carnival freaks. Now to punish these idiots. Don’t they know I’m allergic to apples! He lunged, building speed and swiped left and right at the clowns. They toppled backwards. Five more came up in their place. Blast! They’re regrouping like crazy. Behind him, Thundersmite was sending clowns and thugs alike through the air. A cosmic gust of wind swooped through the waves of enemies, toppling them. Next, he sent a bolt of more lightening blasting several sizzled clowns into buildings. But still more popped up in their place. He grinned. Keep coming, you devils. I have all day to play with you! He cast several shards of ice crystals at the riotous mob. Their frontlines went down. The battle raged on. Defiant brandished his bloodstained weapon, and continued his parry of attacks at the coming crazies. This is never going to end, is it? He was completely aware that if they kept at this too long, they both would eventually be overpowered by sheer numbers. What the heck did we get ourselves into this time? The last he remembered was combating besides Thundersmite in Aurora Park, joined by Demolicious’s band of Divas. They were trying to push back DaVinci’s army of Killbots and all the evil Smashers who were on his side – struggling to protect Pandora’s statue, or rather, the sacred power that was contained within it. Inside, most of what remained of the Pandorian Malachite was kept in memory of the famed heroine. Usually Drakkoniss was there, helping them mop the floor with their foes. That day, the warrior had been missing. They were gaining ground in the war when shrieks arose from the city that caused everyone to pause in battle on either side. That was when the stampede of screaming civilians plowed over them, followed by a raid of escaped convicts and murderous Chaos clowns. “Save us! Please!” “It’s the Chaos Carnival…aaaaarghhh! No!” The entire park was thrown into utter chaos. The clear line between both sides that fought for Good and Evil was completely disarrayed. All Defiant remembered was him and Thundersmite beginning to hack their way through a bunch of whack jobs, creating a path of slaughter that led into the main parts of the city. It figures, that the Clown would be behind this disaster. I can’t wait til Drakkoniss breaks his face in. We’ll see who gets the last laugh then. Hm, I might even join him. He smirked, thinking about what a pleasure that would be. Super City was falling apart because of that serial harlequin, who had now converted into a mass murderer. Fists clenched tightly around the hilt of his sword, Defiant ran the blade through two more of these loose fiends. “What is that?” Thundersmite shouted over the noise of the mob. Defiant turned and saw brief blue explosions of energy coming down East Main Street. Each burst of blue light blew an entire group of criminals into the air. The sparks of explosions was getting closer to them. Thundersmite, freeing himself of a crowd of carnies with a blast of molten fire, made his way to Defiant’s side helping him with his share of brutish enemies. Defiant peered closer, past the wave of enemies that were being blasted left and right. There was a person running at them, and he immediately recognized who it was. Thought she was a goner. Thundersmite inquired, “Hmm, who’s the girl?” He hurled his heavy fist into the face of a guy holding a dagger. Not only was his teeth broken in, but Defiant was sure the poor chap was also going to need some surgery to reconstruct that face of his. “It’s Jae,” he responded couple of seconds later, after taking a hit from a mad truck raider and then returning with a slash from his sword. He felt his friend tense up. “Is she a friend or foe?” Defiant managed to crack a broad smile. He laughed, and replied, “Easy there, she’s definitely on our side.” She was on her way to see the Doc, when she saw them. They were completely outnumbered. Scores of bad guys were encircling them. She recognized one of them, a Smasher called Defiant. Despite her rising concern she smirked. How typical. He’s as reckless as ever. He’s going to get himself and his friend killed, she thought as she came speeding their way, firing blue blasts of psychic energy against anyone that got in her way. She couldn’t stop yet, she had to keep her momentum. In the heat of battle, Defiant caught her attention and waved his large sword at her. “Nice of you to join us!” She scowled and began to help them sweep away their attackers. “Things are finally beginning to get interesting. Ha!” He tore down a man that was coming at Jae. Fallen, the man released a detonator he had been holding. Defiant stared in awe. “Uh oh.” With few seconds to spare, Jae shoved Defiant aside and reached out with her powers. She lifted the detonator and launched it back at the furious mob. The entire block shook as the explosion wiped out any surrounding enemies in the vicinity. All three heroes had dove far from the explosion, pressed tightly to the ground as the shockwave passed over. Cars were lifted, as were a few screaming convicts and Chaos clowns. The bright, fiery blaze dissipated and Jae lifted her head, casting a sharp eye at Defiant. “What?” He was still smiling nervously; no doubt grateful she had reacted as quickly as she did. “At least we’re not surrounded anymore.” Thundersmite was the first to get up, dusting himself. “There are still innocent people caught in the middle of this,” she snapped. “She’s right,” Thundersmite added, stretching his sore arms. “Oh, sorry about that,” he quickly apologized. “I’ll try and keep that in mind.” Jae sincerely hoped that he would. Then he shrugged and resheathed his sword. “Anyway, come-on! We have to go someplace else to talk. More of those crazy freak clowns and convicts will find us if we stick around here too long.” They scurried past rows of cars and storefronts that were set on fire by the riots. Graffiti littered the walls spelling out: ‘Chaos Carnival…!’ ’The Circus is in Town…!!’ Or worse yet, ‘Clown the Jester was Here! WAHAHAHA!’ All sprayed with cans of purple and green paint. If she were looking down from the sky, Jae was sure she’d see a burning city. Anger welled up inside her. The Harlequin’s sick joke had gone too far. They dodged large groups of fleeing citizens, terror pasted allover their faces. All of what’s left of this city’s innocence - the miracles that were left within it… It was vanishing before her eyes. Her thoughts quickly flashed to Chucky. Her eyes narrowed sternly. No…I will not let that happen again. We’re going to save this city…no matter how much we heroes have to sacrifice; we’re going to end this! The three sprinted through the mass of destruction. She knew where Defiant was heading – to Super City’s Metro Hospital. There, Blackshock had a secret underground facility in case of emergencies just like this. It was also where he treated injured Smashers from the war. This situation was far worse than that issue now. This type of threat required the attention of Super City’s greatest heroes and heroines from all its parts. Yes, the world needed its saviors, and it needed them fast!

Jae10 -> RE: (HS) The Puppet Master (5/20/2011 7:25:04)
~A New Toy~ She had witnessed Overcast’s defeat and it made her laugh. His rebellion had been quickly snuffed out and the evil shadow was obliterated in less than five minutes. Foolish…so foolish of him. She smiled, also reflecting on the destruction of Skull Deep. So many lives ended in the blink of an eye. Well! The Show must go on, hehehe! Her cackle echoed throughout Super City’s theater. She had grown attached to her new base of operation after capturing it with the help of her Chaos Carnival clan mates. So generous of Mr. Clown to lend me a hand. After redecorating the theater auditorium with carnie tags and blinding colors she was in a state of bliss. The stage still needed its crimson curtains swapped for violet ones but, nonetheless, it was close to what she wanted. I must repay him in some chaotic way. The woman began tinkering with a few puppets, mumbling knock-knock jokes in the dim backstage lights when a quiet voice interrupted. “Mistress?” She turned around, ever more excited now that her apprentice had returned from scouting the city. She was terribly eager to hear more of what was happening outside her new lair, for she was too busy working on her puppets to even bother venturing outside for a sneak peek. A glowing pair of green eyes was staring at her from the shadows. “Yes! How’s the fallen city? Is it…still crumbling!” she roared with laughter. From the way the green dots turned to slits she could tell her apprentice found it amusing as well. “Yes…it burns and screams for rescue, but there have been little signs of the heroes. They have abandoned the city. Now nothing will save this world from the chaos we have created…nothing.” “Very good child.” The female ventriloquist’s wicked grin widened. She stood, dusting her tattered, white lab coat and adjusting her glasses. One of the lenses was broken. Her once-blonde hair was now pale white, severely straight and thinning at the roots. A terrifying, haunting beauty. “You understand the joke now. Hmm, but I can tell you are troubled.” Her apprentice remained silent in the dark, not daring to come out from the shadows. “Tsk, tsk, tsk,” the woman clucked. “How can your dear Aunt Ivory turn that sad frown upside down? Hm? Hehe…” “I followed her again,” was the timid reply. “She is one of the only one that hasn’t left the city.” “Ohhhhh, that one!” Ivory chuckled. “She worries you? Ha! No need to fret about her, you’re stronger than she could ever hope to be. You’ve got Chaos on your side!” “No,” came the stark reply. Her mistress stopped laughing and shot her student a critical eye. “No? Hmm, just what have you been up to, prowling around out there? Why on earth are you being so mysterious?” “The girl has doubt in her abilities, but…that doesn’t stop her. We are both equals and you know it. There cannot be one without the other. I know her deepest thoughts and I have tested her strengths. We are…the same, are we not?” “Never! Never the same!” Ivory shrieked indignantly. “That goody-two shoe is not in on the Joke, she cannot imagine things the way you and this entire Carnival can envision things! No…she is on the opposing side that cherishes a lost cause…don’t ever forget that, my silly little doll. It doesn’t become you.” Her apprentice nodded in the shadows. “Whatever you say…Mistress. So, she is weaker then?” “Of course. She cannot fix the terror that has taken over Super City’s streets,” Ivory stated firmly. “Super Clown is now an unstoppable force. Soon the entire world will understand that this concept of Order, of Peace, is nothing but a lie. The grand finale is close, very close…And everyone’s a puppet in this play, my dear…everyone. Even her…” “Yes, I understand.” The other shifted in the dark and said, “I have found a new toy, Mistress. Will you approach the Master and request an alteration? Ivory’s crooked grin reappeared. Her bright silvery eyes gleamed. “Oh, yes! Show me this new doll!” was her ecstatic demand. A squat, ugly little creature walked out from the shadows. The eccentric puppeteer clapped her hands wildly, her mood suddenly much brighter. “Wonderful! Stunning! Where did you find this fascinating creature, my dear? It’s so beautifully appalling!” “The girl was with this creature – this chudling. I found it as its mind had just crossed the threshold of death. I revived it, of course. He is now my puppet and I want to use him for something.” “Use him? What exactly are you planning, eh? Do tell me…I absolutely adore secrets!” Ivory sat down in a plush chair of bright pink, twirling her snowy hair with her finger and grinning curiously. “You said she will never be in on the Joke,” began the solemn voice, “but I will make her see what I see. She will be converged into Chaos and together we will be whole as it should have been from the very beginning. Our destinies will combine and fuel the Chaos of the mind. It must happen this way.” “Well well well! This will make Mr. Clown extremely happy. What a wonderfully chaotic idea!” She glanced at the chudling. The creature stared blankly ahead, mentally lost, unaware of their little talk - obviously under the influence of her apprentice. What a fast learner this one is, hehehe. I wouldn’t be surprised if I were betrayed one day, haha, what an atrocious idea! “Of course, I will approach the Clown and he will understand completely. We’ll alter this brilliant puppet of yours and make it wreak all sorts of havoc!” Once again her apprentice nodded mildly. “Certainly…” “Oh, also…do not forget everything that I have taught you. Use every trick in the book. Snap her mind like a twig! Mwahahahaha!” The delighted ventriloquist was still cackling ferociously when the glaring emerald eyes vanished from the shadows.

Jae10 -> RE: (HS) The Puppet Master (5/20/2011 7:29:44)
~Desperate Measures~ Super City’s deplorable state was continuously declining. The riots and mobs of monstrous villains had only gotten worse. Once more, Jae found herself fighting alongside Defiant and Thundersmite, tossing crooks left and right in a never-ending battle. Only this time they were joined by several other heroes: David Blitz, the symbolic bat caught between Good & Evil; also a former Chaos Carnival member, but after quitting, he vowed to walk the path of Redemption. Drakkoniss, one of the mightiest and perhaps most renown warrior among Super City’s heroes; Clown’s arch nemesis or as the harlequin put it, ‘the perfect barrel of laughs’. There was also Gray Silhouette, the unopposed vigilante who stalked through the darkness of the streets, taking down criminals like a vengeful predator. But Jae knew he had his reasons and was fully aware that this freakish turn of events perhaps affected him the most. After all, he was another one of Clown’s victims, the result of another cruel joke which had turned Gray into the vehement crime buster he was now. For a brief moment during battle, her mind flashbacked to earlier when they had all met up at Blackshock’s hidden safe house: Defiant was the first to burst through the door, startling the Doc for a moment, but he quickly recognized the newcomers. Blitz and Drakkoniss looked relieved to see them, as was Gray Silhouette. It didn’t take long to notice how hideously disfigured Gray was. They explained what happened, which cleared the mystery behind the sewer explosion. Jae couldn’t help but feel some amount of empathy for Gray, risking his life to save a hostage of Clown the Jester. His risky stunt didn’t surprise her at all. The man was so amazingly extreme. Despite the situation they were all facing, his disgust for Blitz was no less lighter than before. She could tell Blitz’s feelings were slightly wounded but he was not one to give up. She greatly admired him for that. The small band of heroes developed several phases to a plan which involved a combination of Blitz’s, Drakkoniss’s and Gray Silhouette’s strategies: Phase one was to rescue the innocents. Blitz would transport them by groups back to the safe house, where Blackshock could provide medical attention, especially to the injured. Phase two: secure the Pandora statue in Aurora Park, clearing the area of bad guys. Gray made it a point to reemphasize that absolutely no one was to go near or touch the statue, otherwise everything they accomplished will have been in vain. Jae wasn’t sure exactly what he meant by that or why the statue was so important at a time like this, but she had complete trust in him. It was only after Thundersmite inquired, that Gray Silhouette revealed a personal plan of his own. He had taken it upon himself to suppress some of the riots that had broken out from the release of LOCKDOWN’S prisoners and to also retrieve someone of special importance. After hearing this, she immediately wanted to protest. He was insane to think of going off alone at time like this, with so much chaos rampaging through the streets. However, she caught the serious look on his disfigured face and held her tongue. She had to respect him for his boldness. Everyone was in favor of this plan. It was their last option, the last stand. This was a most critical point in the history of Super City’s heroes and heroines. Many lives depended on them stopping the madness of Clown the Jester. Jae told herself that she would be ready for the worst. Whereas a few of the others continued to review the technicalities of this desperate plan, Jae turned to face Gray Silhouette. He looked up as if expecting her to say something. “Yes Jae?” She almost hesitated, searching for the proper words. “She…she isn’t completely lost, you know. In your mind & heart, the memories you have…she continues to exist.” The dull expression in his somber eyes quickly sharpened. “I know that,” he replied. She could here the slight temper in his voice…and the pain - pain that she understood far too well. Losing someone that you care for always left scars. “They are memories that continue to haunt me…reminders of why I’m doing this – why I must rid this city of every vile corruption that crawls around in it.” She marveled at what he said, and found herself agreeing. Isn’t that what Pandora did for them all? Isn’t that what her sacrifice meant – doing everything there could be done to end these terrible acts of injustice? He went on, “I see her…every time I finally think I’m about to die, she reaches out to me and I want to go to her…Rachel…” He wasn’t looking at Jae anymore. She thought perhaps he was seeing her now. Then he locked a solid stare on her once more. “But…I can’t.” Subdued anger and frustration emanated from him. “I made a promise… I am hell-bent on seeing it get done…” They were all finally ready to initiate their plan – going back out to the heart of the enemy’s territory. They all gathered around Blitz ready to be teleported back into the midst of extreme danger. For the last time, Jae spoke to Gray Silhouette and said, “Mind, Heart and Soul.” He didn’t bother to look but replied solemnly, ‘I understand. We’ll give it our all then.” She nodded. Before they were transported the last glimpse of his fading thoughts she heard were, ‘I will never compromise…never…’ The words conitnued to echoe like the verse of a prayer.

Jae10 -> RE: (HS) The Puppet Master (5/23/2011 17:06:21)
~The Alliance~ The battle raged for hours. It seems as though we’re getting nowhere. There were still loads of innocent civilians scurrying around. Nevertheless, they did not give up. We can’t leave until they’re all rounded up. No matter how long it takes, this has to get done first. Jae had hoped more heroes would appear so that they could split into groups without worrying about getting overwhelmed by the murderous masses. After the first few hours of fighting though, this fervent hope had been reduced to a fleeting wish. She could feel the physical fatigue beginning to wear on her aim as an escaped convict lunged at her. She shot a psychic blast & missed. The villain was just two feet away, wielding a hatchet. There was little time to focus for a defense and Jae reflexively closed her eyes, waiting for the blade to land the fatal hit, thinking angrily, Great, I’m so dead. It would happen like this, wouldn’t it - a feeble, grim death. The hatchet never landed a hit. Jae opened her eyes, surprised to find the feral prisoner frozen in mid-leap, holding the weapon above his head. But, he did not bring it back down for the expected strike. In fact, as she gazed around Liberty, she realized that the only persons still completely mobile were she and the other five remaining heroes. Everything else remained motionless: the fires, the attacking riots, shattering glass windows – everything. Seized by confusion, she glanced towards the others and noticed they were just as perplexed. Thundersmite poked curiously at a frozen carnie. “Amazing! What strange power is behind this?” Strange indeed…I didn’t cause this. There’s no way I could have… She gave both Drakkoniss & David Blitz an inquiring look. Blitz shrugged and Drakkoniss shook his head. However, taking advantage of the distraction, Blitz rounded up the rest of the remaining civilians and transported them back to Blackshock. Phase one of the plan was now complete. Suddenly, a bright, shocking light flashed. Jae turned back and saw that half the enemies within this section of Super City were disintegrated. Gradually, things began to break their inertia as real-time caught up. Jae stumbled backwards. The hatchet dropped before her, just inches away. Huh? What the heck just happened here??? A shadow passed over them and she glanced up as it landed besides Drakkoniss, who was already surrounded by more emerging villains. She stood & continued to strike away the oncoming attacks as the fierce mobs reformed. There was just so many of them. She couldn’t see past the crowds, but she sensed the newcomer’s bold intentions as non threatening – so far. His mind was enveloped in so many scenes of time and space, battles between titans and more. Then she realized who this person was. “Range!” she shouted, identifying the time walker to her busy companions. Defiant & Thundersmite acknowledged this with a quick nod, once more becoming engrossed in combat. Jae also noticed that Gray Silhouette was missing. He had departed sometime during the time halt; no doubt he was heading for LOCKDOWN to accomplish whatever vital strategy he had in mind. The heroes didn’t seem too concerned by this super villain’s arrival, since there were more pressing matters they were being forced to deal with. Jae fought, still wondering what was behind Range’s sudden appearance. She had heard of Skull Deep’s destruction and thought perhaps that was one of the reasons he’d come. Now that the underground lair of all Evils was no more, the remnant of villainous Smashers had either become drifters or had let go all inhibitions and were now apart of the masses that fueled Clown’s Chaos. Whatever had persuaded Range to come to their aid, it was evidently important, at least important enough to cause him to seek Drakkoniss out. A wave of energy dispersed the enemies before them and she watched as the two, Drakkoniss and Range, vanished through a portal. What exactly are they up to? She had no idea. There was no time to figure out the mystery behind their leaving. Now there was just the three of them, again. “We have to get to Aurora Park, pronto!” Defiant yelled over the death cries of his enemies. His blade flickered furiously, cleaving foes aside as fast as they appeared. Thundersmite’s fists crackled with electrical energy as he sent several more Chaos carnies hurtling across the streets. “Right! We should hurry before the crowd gets too big.” “Okay, let’s move out then,” Jae replied. There was no sign of Blitz returning, but Jae was sure that if he had encountered any trouble he could handle it quite easily. He knows where to find us. With that in mind, Jae sent several riotous members flying, creating an opening with a huge invisible shove. They broke through and sprinted towards the Park. There’s no way all three us will be able to clear this park by ourselves, but we’re certainly going to try… “Darn these menace to society! Where’d these freaks come from?” Velmur plastered several advancing Chaos carnival members to a few trees, zapping them with his eye beams. He took down a group of prison escapees, in a blurring combination of melee attacks. As one tried to tackle him from behind he dodged, smirking as the crook ended up waylaying the carnie that was in front of him. Several feet away, a fiery being in the form of a humanoid wolf cast a beam of black energy. It consumed a large portion of the surrounding riots. He turned and slashed at more of the relentless attackers with blades of molten fire. “From prison obviously,” War Pro answered his partner in battle. “But…who knows where the rest came from…I see several members of the Chaos Carnival. They are most likely responsible for this entire mess…” Disgusted, Velmur gritted his teeth, putting a hole through every clown that crossed his line of sight. Of course, no wonder this war has gotten completely out of hand. Where there was Clown the Jester’s lackeys, soon there was chaos and confusion, and nothing made any sense. He’s going to pay for this most inappropriate interruption. Since the park had become raided by the mobs of prison escapees, cannibal clowns, and a number of Clown’s followers, Velmur and War Pro were quickly outnumbered. It was through sheer luck and impeccable skill that they were not severely wounded or dead yet. However, it was also only a matter of time before their luck and vigilance ran out. The park was littered with the remains of broken Killbots and Diva cyborgs – casualties of the unexpected hostile take over. Villains were struck and taken out faster than Velmur could blink. He was fortunate to have dodged the onslaught at the very beginning; the lust for battle had already been pumping through his veins. Now things were suddenly different. They were both fighting solely to survive the endless waves of enemies. “You do realize we’re both doomed, right?” Velmur said, tripping a psychotic criminal in a sweeping kick. He blasted a hole in the screaming man’s chest. War Pro’s dark laughter rattled a few startled convicts. He levitated and launched a blazing stream of fire upon them. Thoroughly lit, the burning criminals shrieked, running around in a fit of anguish until the flames completely devoured them. “No,” he replied calmly. “We are not the ones who are doomed. These fools are the ones who are in real trouble.” Velmur grinned over War Pro’s unbreakable confidence. He didn’t know much about the villain, but one thing was clear – War Pro had relentless abilities. I pity the brave idiots that cross his path. They struck, exerting every amount of will in their attacks. Velmur had lost count of the number of victims who’d fallen before them. It didn’t matter anymore, as long as they were down for the count - eternally. It was near the brink of losing his patience that a master swordsman appeared seemingly out of the blue. The intruder blocked a barrage of attacks, adept in the use of his broad sword. “Defiant?” The hero cast a mischievous smile his way and continued fighting. “Can’t say how relieved I actually am to see you, wannabe.” “Whatever,” said Velmur, frowning. They set to work on obliterating a large group of carnies that were tossing giant rubber balls filled with toxins at them. “Just don’t do anything dangerous…or stupid, like your usual self.” Defiant swung with the dull edge of his sword and repelled a purple ball back at the clown who chucked it. Direct hit! The stunned clown flew back into a park bench. He’s wasn’t going to move from that spot for a while. Defiant retorted, “Likewise…Anyway, we might as well keep an eye on you two while we’re here.” We? That’s when he noticed that Defiant had not arrived by himself. Two other heroes had come with him: Jae, the psychic Smasher, had joined War Pro’s side and was sending several waves of blue energy into a gang of street thugs. There was also Thundersmite, the Olympic Smasher, firing a constant stream of ice bullets like a frenzied gun turret. Now the odds seemed to lean more so in their favor. “You heroes sure are late! It’s about time you showed up. What are you up to anyway?” “We’re always here for the same reason: to protect Pandora’s statue. Only this time, we’re trying to keep the Clown’s forces from reaching it.” “Of course, but wouldn’t it be easier to just go after the source of all our problems and just wipe the Clown from existence?” Defiant shook his head firmly. He swung down on more Chaos Carnival creeps. “No. I don’t think you realize this, but, Clown the Jester is even more dangerous than before. He sucked up more of the Malachite’s power & now he’s going around calling himself ‘Super Clown’. Not only that, he completely destroyed Skull Deep…” Velmur thought his heart would cave in on itself. Destroyed Skull Deep? Completely? War Pro had overheard. His face contorted in rage and he lashed out with a fury of dark energy, totaling more than a few dozen of the riotous mobs. “Lies…” he muttered. His voice could not conceal a deathly tone of anger. “No, it’s true,” Thundersmite added. Jae nodded in agreement. “It’s gone. Skull Deep's downfall meant the death of numerous Smashers. ” “Then, there is only one option left for us now,” War Pro began. A black aura started to surround him and he mumbled a few words. Any maniac that attempted to harm him imploded in a dark, puff of smoke. “We will join your plight heroes and take back our vengeance! We shall wipe the smile from Super Clown’s face!”

Jae10 -> RE: (HS) The Puppet Master (5/25/2011 16:57:25)
~Mourning~ Everything they had strove to protect…gone. Jae peered deeply into the burning rubble, where Super City Metro Hospital used to stand. She and the others, they had been so busy getting rid of the scum that had taken over Aurora Park. After their long grueling struggle, they returned to the safe house only to find that there was no more safe house. Everything – everyone, were completely wiped out. There were no survivors. “Doc…” she breathed. Her voice was lost. Another Smasher murdered by the delusional Harlequin. Purple flames licked the crumbled steel and debris. Beside her, Thundersmite’s fists burst down onto the concrete, splitting it into several pieces. Anger. Sorrow. Despair. Everyone felt all this and more. “This is just…insane!” Velmur shouted, his hands gripped into tightly clenched fists. “Clown has ruined everything! Just what are we suppose to do now?!” No one answered. Jae stood there silently – thinking. Things were changing so quickly. Blackshock is dead. We’ve lost track of Drakkoniss, David, & Gray. God…could this get any worse? “Velmur is right,” Defiant flatly stated. “Things have gotten completely out of hand. We can’t continue fighting like this…someone has to face the Clown and stop his madness while there’s still a chance…” Velmur snorted, “A chance? What chance do we have against a crazy carnival freak with the power to do anything he wants? Don’t be stupid…we’re done…finished.” “No,” said War Pro sternly. “We are not dead yet.” “Exactly,” Velmur scoffed. “’Yet.’” War Pro glared at him. “Don’t be a coward.” “Really? A coward? No way. I’m being real here! Am I the only one here left with some sense? Don’t you see the type of danger we’re all in. Clown’s killing off any opposing Smashers like…like flies!” “You compare us all to flies?!” War Pro roared fiercely. Defiant and Thundersmite attempted to keep the villains from attracting too much attention with their argument. They bickered, back and forth, like frightened children. We are all frightened, she thought, blocking them out to concentrate. She reached out a hand and closed her eyes. Slowly, the violet fire began flickering under a force of blue waves until they were completely snuffed out. The pile of rubble smoldered like cooling lava. Rest in peace Doctor, and the other poor souls who lie with you. She withdrew her hand and smiled, amazed that she could still manage something like that - a simple smile. Perhaps it was the last reserve of her good cheer. “….We’re like sitting ducks!” “Flies and ducks! Gah! We are much more than mere animals twit!” “Hardly…look at this disaster we’re in! This is no time to act smug. We’re basically fighting for our lives here!” Defiant shot in, “Shut up, both of you! You want to get us collared by more carnies and thugs?” Jae turned around and walked into the middle of their flaming conversation. She said, “Follow me.” Velmur crossed his arms in obvious defiance. War Pro lowered his dark gaze on her. “And just where are we supposedly going Jae? There’s no place for us to hide.” She continued to smile. They stared at her, puzzled & clearly concerned. “We’re not going to hide…anymore.” War Pro glowered and stated shortly, “What is your plan heroine? I am not one who prefers being left in the dark over foolish secrets.” “We’re going back to Aurora Park…to finish our task. Pandora’s statue will not be touched.” “We just barely cleared that place alive. You want us to go back? That’s suicide.” “It’s the only option we have left right now,” Thundersmite stated. “It’s important.” “Important enough to get killed over?” War Pro snapped back. The air between everyone was extremely tense. Jae hoped the stress wasn’t causing them to crack. “Yes,” she answered. “It is that important. That is what it means for us heroes to protect all that we care for, all that deserves saving.” Even if it means sacrificing our very lives. She glanced into the sky, trying to find the speck through the sky’s blood colored hue of scarlet purple. She wondered if HeroSpire were still there, hovering at a distance like a lost sentinel above Super City. Maybe it’s gone too, just like Skull Deep. There’s no time to find out. We’ve still got much to do here and a clown to topple. “Oh yea! Count me in on any suicide missions Jae.” Defiant’s sturdy grin was a boost of confidence. “And me,” Thundersmite added. A flicker of amusement crossed War Pro’s glowing eyes. “Impressive display of bravery heroes - reckless & foolish…but still, quite impressive. I will not let Clown continue to exist thinking he has rid the world of Evil. He made a terrible enemy the day of Skulldeep’s destruction. I fight with you heroes, in order to avenge my fallen dark brethren.” All eyes upon him, Velmur sighed. “Hehe…you’re all crazy martyrs.” “Velmur-” Thundersmite started. The villain raised a hand and continued, “But, I’m not getting left out here. Not with all this Chaos going on. We’ve lasted this far. Let’s see how much further we can go…” They almost made it to Liberty Square, headed in the direction of the park, when Jae got the vague feeling of being followed. “Wait a minute,” she said, stopping in mid-stride. “Any of you hear something?” Everyone paused to listen. After a moment of silence the faint clicking noise was heard. “Yea,” said Defiant. “I hear it too.” “It’s coming from…that alley.” War Pro pointed to the empty, black space between two buildings on West Main Street. A tattered sign advertising bacon in a tube clung loosely to the brick walls, flailing noiselessly in the warm breeze. Out of the dark alley emerged what appeared to be a small, pale midget. Jae thought it was just another bloodthirsty carnie that had been trailing them. As she stared closer, however, she realized how wrong her assumption was. It was a marionette puppet, wearing a dark purple suit and carnival make-up. What disturbed them the most though, was that it bore a striking resemblance to Clown. Velmur commented, “Wow, that’s seriously creepy. Looks just like the real thing…” The miniature puppet continued to click towards them. Defiant unsheathed his sword, uneasy. “I don’t know what it’s doing here, but I’m positive this thing’s trouble.” Before she could stop them Defiant & War Pro rushed at the strange puppet. They were closing in when its eyes began glowing. Jae had to act, shoving a force at the two that sent them hurtling out of range as a hot, purplish beam shot out from the creature’s eyes. The beam split the five story building behind them in half. The halves started to cave in on each other. The Smashers scattered as smoke and clutter started raining down around them. “Whoa…Nice save Jae. We almost got toasted.” “No kidding,” said Thundersmite. “It looks like the Clown and it seems to have some of his powers as well. We have to be very cautious.” “Yes. I’m not entirely sure what this thing is capable of. But, there is something strange about it and, familiar…” Jae waited for the smoke to clear. The puppet stood silent, waiting as if for some cue. She caught its vacant stare and quickly stiffened. Just like before…It’s happened again... She reached into its mind and found the darkness. Wiped out and replaced with the same dense cloud of meaningless chaos – utterly impenetrable as before. Somehow Clown was behind this…she just needed some time figure out how to break this mental hold. “Try not to kill it,” Jae said. “Something has taken over its mind. I’m going to figure out what.” Thundersmite nodded. “Alright, Little Clown…here we come.” All at once, they attacked.

Jae10 -> RE: (HS) The Puppet Master (5/29/2011 1:55:01)
~Chuckles~ Jae dodged more laser beams. They streaked by, narrowly missing, & struck a row of parked cars. The cars exploded and she ducked as glass flew past her like stray bullets. Yikes, dangerous toy. Her friends tried swiping at the small puppet. It dodged each strike with swift precision. She was amazed at the speed at which this mysterious puppet could maneuver. “Oh, come on!” A frustrated Defiant roared, swinging his blade furiously and clearly missing. “I always hated this game at the fair!” Even Thundersmite’s tirade of electrical bolts struck nothing but the asphalt. “We’re not getting anywhere like this. We haven’t hit this thing once since it got here.” Velmur went in for a close range attack. The puppet caught his foot and swung him into the flailing swordsman. “Aaargh!” They both crashed into a fire hydrant. Countless gallons of water burst onto the dusty streets, creating a giant arena of mud. The two sullied Smashers picked themselves back up, cursing angrily. They revamped their attacked, splashing through the flooding waters. War Pro muttered a few words. Giant blasts of hand-shaped water jumped at the twirling puppet. The mini Clown weaved in between every offense with spectacular grace, like a true marionette. Jae planted herself beside a traffic sign and tried to concentrate. She noticed thin loose strings attached to the puppet, flapping like individual whips. When it found its ground after leaping through all their combination of attacks, the puppet began spinning like a top, creating a sizeable waterspout. It rushed at War Pro and struck the villain hard, sucking him into its wet vortex. It spun back around & targeted the others. In haste, they all spread out trying to avoid its path. Thundersmite struck with more bolts of lightening, still unable to penetrate its watery walls. Jae stopped running, waiting for the heavy waterspout that was speeding at her. She focused much of her mental power on the spinning villain and pulled him from its swirling clutches. The dark being flew out. He scowled, but was relatively un-phased by the assault. He sent a large, black beam ripping through the puppets clever water trick, exposing the marionette. Jae held a mental grasp on the doll, long enough for Thundersmite to shock it with a barrage of electric energy. The fried puppet dropped face down on the asphalt. It lay very still. Velmur breathed a sigh of relief. “Glad that’s over,” he said. “Now we can go about our lives…” Suddenly, the puppet began rattling with life. It started to laugh – exactly like the Clown. “Wa hahahahahahaha haha haha…!” The creature’s insane laughter unnerved Jae and her companions. It sat there, cracking up like someone had told a funny joke and then burst into purple flames. “I think our Pinocchio has lost his wooden mind,” said Velmur. But Jae was aware that this was possibly true. There’s more to this puppet’s mind than what I can sense. Defiant swiped his blade clean. “I’ve got a bad feeling about this.” The puppet began to grow with each cackle. Larger and larger it grew, until it was half the size of a fourteen story building. The monstrous marionette stood, causing the ground to tremor with each step. Then it launched its loose strings at them. Everything happened so quickly, that there was little time to evade the oncoming lasso. Jae was caught in its coils. The string tightened around her shoulders, cutting into skin. Screaming, blinded by pain she gripped at the strings attempting to tug them loose. A current of purple electricity traveled down and sent a wave of shocks coursing through Jae. She could not hear beyond the sound of her own anguished cries. Defiant leapt, raised his sword and slashed through the electrical cords. The puppet stumbled and Velmur toppled it with a carefully aimed mental ray beam. The giant fell, severely cracking the ground. The magnitude cause more buildings to collapse and more broken glass shattered across the street. Jae felt completely numb from her neck down. There was hardly any sensation in her limbs and she was still slightly convulsing from the shocking experience. “You’re going to have to sit this one out for a while,” Thundersmite stated, dragging her far from the battle and onto the pavement. Before she could respond he went back into the action. She sat there, struggling to overcome the shakes and clear her mind of the pain. She felt like her skin was on fire. Everything that touched her caused an acute pang. She cringed and bit her lip to keep from screeching. Everything hurt so much but, she was determined not to give up on this fight. There was still something she had to do before that would ever happen. She concentrated on the enemy instead. The now giant marionette version of Super Clown was on it feet again and swinging wildly at the team of fighters. Jae focused on the creature’s mind and found that storm again – a whirlwind of chaos within the darkness: She saw herself walking through the black empty void, approaching the storm. There were no sounds around it, just the lonely silence. She stopped inches away from the rumbling wall of dense gray fog. She knew, somewhere beyond it, deep within, a conscious was trapped. She focused on the wall and rose both her hands to touch it. She felt nothing physical of course. Here, her pain did not exist. Was it merely an illusion in the mind? No, not an illusion. Her fingers were not reaching through anything. She contemplated on how to breach this strange & rather foreign barrier. It definitely did not belong here. “How hard should I concentrate? What must I do to get inside?” She was at a lost. What did she need to become to penetrate this deep darkness? She thought about the flash of blue which always passed through her mind in every dire situation, whenever she believed that she could push herself no further. Then she found the answer. Through every storm, those that were lost always required a beacon of light. “I will be your ray of hope and return what is lost.” From her mind the words echoed like an enchantment. The tips of her finger started to glow. The cerulean light spread throughout her body and she became a living light. Without any hesitance, she walked into the dark cloud. Memories came, flying all around her – visions of the past & present. She saw flashes of what was happening with the battle outside. The others were still doing everything in their powers to take down this bizarre puppet. More memories flew by, completely strange & almost so meaningless. Soon Jae realized they were not. Digging through trash bins in the alley… Chudlings fighting in the murky sewers… Meeting a human girl with short, dark hair and blue eyes… Swallowed by the darkness of the storm, Jae had caught merely a glimpse of this last vision. It was all she needed to identify whose mind she was foraging through. “No, it can’t be.” She ignored the other images and broke into a slow run, trying to reach the end of this Chaos. She wondered if there even was an end. Did this raging tempest extend farther with each step she took? Jae’s radiating form pushed forward until she finally broke through. Everything was so intensely calm. No winds fought against her. No native memories plagued her. Sound existed here, the faint whispers of voices cast from the fog that surrounded this place. Like the eye of a hurricane, the conscious of this mind was trapped by an encircling force – a force that Jae intended on stopping. Above and below was the reflection of eternity. She peered down at an inversed replica of herself. The sensation was like standing on a glass mirror. “Jae has found Chucky.” She turned at the sound of a familiar voice. The chudling stood behind her, grinning widely and revealing several sharp teeth. Jae knew that the being standing before her was really just a representation of his conscious, the part of his mind that was being trapped. But she didn’t really care. She felt so incredibly happy at that moment. “Chucky!” His name drifted across the gap between them. “What happened? Who has done this to you?” He frowned. “Chucky does not know. Me want to be free but, there is no escape.” He cried, “Chucky is miserable here!” There was great sadness in his eyes. Jae closed the distance between them and grasped his hands firmly. “Don’t worry,” she said with as much confidence in her tone she could muster. “I’m going to free you of this nightmare. I just need for you to stay with me.” His large black eyes beamed with excitement. He nodded. “Chucky will not wonder away from Jae.” “Okay, follow me and I will get you out of here.” No sooner had she spoken the words that the crackling of thunder boomed and bolts of emerald lightening shot down from above, right through the mirrored ground. Frightened, Chucky gripped her hands tighter. The lightening struck around the edges of the eye, hissing like disturbed pythons. “Chuckles never lets anyone leave,” a graveled voice boomed above the noise. A form appeared, rising from Chucky’s reflection, from the infinite abyss below. It was black with green eyes - a perfectly cut out shadow of Chucky. “Chuckles?” Upon hearing its name, the creature smiled, baring glowing green fangs. “Yes, a creature formed from the essence of Chaos within his mind,” he pointed at the wide-eyed chudling. “His weak conscious will never leave this place and now…neither shall yours.” “Wrong,” said Jae. “We’re leaving and you’re not going to stop us!” “Hehe, no Human,” he sneered. “You are the one who is mistaken…” The dark walls around them began to close in on them. They would be completely consumed by the dense storm clouds where Jae was sure Chucky would get lost forever. Chuckle’s morbid laughter rocked the foundation they stood on. Like ice, it cracked and started to split into pieces that tumbled down into the abyss. “You are doomed to perish!” cried Chuckles. “Both your minds will belong to me forever! Hahahahahaha!”

Jae10 -> RE: (HS) The Puppet Master (5/29/2011 2:03:13)
~Essence of Lumière~ “Stay close,” Jae ordered the terrified chudling. She stared at the glaring black shadow and said, “You’re a Chaos being? What are you doing here?” “Waiting…for you. I was created to destroy you, the being called Jae. And now…face your doom, Human! Mwahahahaha!” Chuckle’s dark silhouette dispersed among the gathering clouds. Hundreds of malicious green eyes watched them from the surrounding darkness, green bolts of energy flashing between them. “Chucky wants out of here!” She could barely hear him above the loud thunder and gathering winds. “Chucky, you can help me defeat him.” The chudling’s large eyes bulged even wider. “Chucky is not strong like Jae.” “Yes, you are. This creature cannot leave the mind. This entire universe exists only inside you. He can be limited by the rules that you set. I know you can help me beat him!” “How is this possible?” “Hmm, there is a way to destroy the Chaos before it consumes us, but it requires a lot of mental energy. I spent a lot of my own just trying to reach this place & find you.” “What must Chucky do?” He looked at the approaching storm clouds. “This mind rightfully belongs to you & your conscious has endless power here. I need for you to lend me your strength. I will create something that may free us.” She smiled and said, “Just trust me and concentrate on the light when I start.” “Chucky trusts Jae. He will help.” “Good.” She started with a perfect sphere of blue energy. It formed lightly in her palms and gradually began to expand, surrounding them in a transparent orb. She tried to focus, drawing strength from her own mental powers and then felt Chucky join her. It was surprising how much energy flowed so freely into her from the small chudling. She had never done this before and was acting on raw instinct. A grin flickered across her face. This was the first time she had ever truly put faith in her abilities as a psychic. Unlike the time in the tunnel where she had no idea of the nature of her powers, this time she was fully aware of what she was doing. She had complete control. Inside the orb they were safe, for now. It kept the chaotic forces at bay, levitating above the black void below where the reflective ground had fallen away. Voices whispered. Memories drifted in and out of the darkness. Jae remembered when she’d first met Chucky in the tunnels, assuming his mind was primitive but, now she was being proved wrong. She could clearly see that it was much more complex than that, and she also realized the same thing about herself. “I always believed I was weak but, that was never true…” She would never use her powers unless they were absolutely required, but that was very limiting. “If I continue doing that, then I’ll never learn what I am fully capable of.” The dark, swirling fog opened up like the jaws of a tiger, attempting to swallow them up. The sphere shined. Streaks of blue rays jabbed through the monstrous clouds. The storm roared, beginning to disperse as pure light began taking over, pushed back by the brightness. Everything disappeared within the blue radiation. Jae opened her eyes. Her pain was gone and she noticed that her sense of touch had returned. Something flashed by. It was Velmur, shooting rays at the giant puppet. They were still fighting. She had to stop them. She stood weakly and shouted, “No!” War Pro, who had finally trapped the marionette within a fiery, black cage looked her way. “Stay out of this, Jae. While you were sleeping, we decided that this battle must end now.” “There’s no holding this thing off anymore,” Defiant agreed. “It has to be destroyed!” “No! Don’t destroy him! And for the record, I wasn’t taking a nap!” Velmur inquired, “Then what on earth were you doing? Why can’t we just blast this stupid doll to smithereens? It’s nothing but a hazard.” “Not anymore,” she stated. “Let him go. He’s my friend.” “What?!” “Just listen to me for once and do it.” The black cage vanished and the large marionette appeared relieved. “Chucky thanks Jae again for saving his life!” “No problem,” she said. She grinned. “That is my job.” “I’m so utterly confused,” Defiant sighed. “The rampaging wooden doll that tried to kill us is on our side now?” She nodded. “He was originally a chudling,” she said. “Super Clown must have done this to him for some twisted reason. Who knows what else we can expect from that devious trickster.” Thundersmite appeared. “There’s still much destruction happening in the city. We need to find the others.” Joined by Chucky, they were all on their way back to the park, hoping to find either David, Drakkoniss or Gray. She wondered if Gray had found the person he was looking for and just who it was. Jae… Someone had telepathically whispered her name. She thought the voice was just a remnant of what she’d experienced with Chucky’s conscious until it spoke again, this time more urgently. Jae, you must come to me. Find me… Hesitant, she stopped and responded, Who are you? Why do you need me to come find you? Are you in trouble? After a minute of silence, the answer came back to her. I am Raeven. Did you like my show, Jae? I planned it especially for you. The blood within her veins turned cold as Jae continued listening to the haunting voice. It’s too bad you broke Chuckles. He was a faithful servant of mines, but he was just a test. I’m glad you’re starting to learn Jae. That is good. I don’t like what you’re saying. If you’re the one who is behind all these strange mind invasions, I’m going to say this only once: you’d better quit while you’re ahead. I’m onto you… There was a light menacing laughter, and the shallow whisper replied, You don’t know the first thing about me. But, I know everything about you, Jae – everything. Come to me if you want to know the truth about your past…unless, you want to continue believing the lie you were forced to live under. If so, then don’t bother at all… The connection ended. “Hey! What’s wrong?” said Defiant, staring curiously at her. She shook her head. That was…strange… “Hello? Why’d you stop Jae?” “Go ahead without me,” she ordered. Velmur scoffed, “That’s not happening. You have to come with us Jae. There’s just way too much gong on right now. Did you forget about all the loose man-eating carnies and murderous thugs out there?” Everyone tried to convince her as well, but she wouldn’t accept any of their reasons. If she took someone with her, she may never find the culprit who was responsible for this Chaos. “Chucky will stay with Jae too.” She held her hand and said, “No. This is something I must face alone.” “What do you mean?” said War Pro. “This is not the time to wander off. Already thousands of Smashers have been killed off.” “I’ll be fine. Find David, Drakkoniss or Gray. They should be at Aurora Park by now, or someplace in Super City. Just…find them. I’ll catch up later…” Without giving them an opportunity to argue, she impressed her will upon their minds, enforcing this one command: Go! She watched them disappear down West Main Street. Now to find you. She turned and walked back, heading north. She thought it was strange that in this area no carnival clowns or convicts had actually appeared. There was no other sign of life lingering about other than Jae’s. All she could hear was the distant sound of screaming and explosions. I am here…The solemn voice returned. Jae stopped in front of a dark alley. She regarded the dangers that were possibly waiting for her inside. Then she stepped into its shadows. There was no light, except for the dull glow that she was leaving behind. It reached only a few paces before her. She paused at its edge. Some soft noise made her twitch and she swerved around. A mixture of relief and confusion passed over her. She relaxed some, facing the two unexpected agents from SCIF. “Agent Fang? Agent Kira?” she said, her voice ringing in the hollows of the alley. “How’d you both make it out of the Police Department alive?” She was sure every cop and Super City government official had been killed in the massacre of Chaos. With no reply, the agents began to approach. Kira was holding something in her hands – a small gun. Just after she had realize the trap she’d fallen into, Jae felt something sharp hit her arm, sinking through the sleeve of her left arm and latch onto her skin. It was worse than being hit in the arm by a large, heavy stone. Stunned, she peered into their vacant expressions. She felt immediately dizzy and fainted, dropping to the ground. The agents stood over her, ensuring that she was completely faded. Then they picked her up and tossed her into the trunk of their vehicle, driving in the direction of Market Street.

Jae10 -> RE: (HS) The Puppet Master (6/2/2011 16:10:00)
~Curtain Time~ The first thing Jae heard was the excited giggles, followed by the off-key humming of several lullabies. The lids of her eyes felt so severely heavy that it required a few attempts to force them open. Jae squinted from the bright fluorescent lights. She saw very few details as a wave of bright, blurry spots of color struck her vision. The source of the horrific melodies was stirring before her – a pale figure bent over some worktable and clearly busy, creating quite a racket of noise. But the steady clanks and clicks of heavy duty tools sounded far off to the heroine. Jae closed her eyes again, resting them from the strong rays of light. She felt unnaturally tired and worn down. Her thinking was sluggish and all she wanted to do was just sleep… She stirred and groaned, still incredibly drowsy but much less than before. The humming was gone - the raw silence now devoid of the sound of drills and hammers. When she opened her eyes again, she stared into the startling face of a woman. A venomous smile stretched across the estranged expression. Sharp, silvery eyes peered with amusement behind slightly bent spectacles, a lens broken in the frame. Strings of long, white hair slipped forward, creating a shadowy mask above her brows. A tainted beauty was Jae’s first impression. “Jae Birde!” the woman practically shrieked. “It’s so wonderful that you’re finally awake!” Her voice was so unstable, so unbalanced, that Jae wanted to cover her own ears. If only she could. Her arms were so stiff, she could barely move them. Despite her lethargy, Jae realized that the woman looked vaguely familiar. “Do I…know you?” Jae slurred, her speech obviously affected by whatever drug she assumed was in her bloodstream. Her eyes shifted to the throbbing pain in her upper left arm, where the agent had apparently shot a tranquilizer. A round yellow, smiley-face sticker gleamed at her. “Possibly, but, I doubt it, hehe…” Then, tracing Jae’s gaze, the woman stated darkly, “Oh, don’t worry my doll. It’s an adhesive dart I invented just for you - a little concoction of mine that will keep you, well, restrained! Hahahahaha…!” Her piercing burst of laughter made Jae’s head ache. “My powers…” Jae finally figured out why she felt so different. I can’t read much into her mind. I can’t sense much of anything! “Wha-what have you done to me!?” “A little dose of neural inhibitors,” the vile creature replied, a wicked grin curved the daunting features of her face. “Oh, don’t look so worried. It’s quite harmless! In fact, it’s only a temporary fix, a minor precaution so that you won’t go delving into my brain or decide to catch a monkey’s tantrum & throw bananas at me, haha! Although, I do believe my mind is already in an intolerably pitiful state. Wouldn’t you agree!?” Flushed with anger, Jae ignored the rhetorical question. She was hardly in the mood to encourage the eccentric banter of a clear psychopath. “Why did you bring me here? What is this place?” She noticed she wasn’t exactly chained to anything, but her motor functions were very poor. Speech took a great amount of effort. It was unfortunate – so far, the drugs were working like a charm. She examined her surroundings carefully. The lights flickered on occasion, but she could see that the room was moderately spacious. The tactless furniture consisted of a short lounge sofa, round plush chair, and a number of other randomly dispersed wooden stools. Upon both the sofa, several stuffed animals were arrayed. Their soulless gaze reminded Jae of the unfortunate woodland beasts who found themselves stuffed or their heads mounted on the walls of a hunter’s cabin. All were a flashy shade of pink or violet. Behind the maniac hung blood-colored curtains, marked by giant embroidered words: CHAOS CARNIVAL PROPERTY! Jae was uncertain of what lay behind them, but she was sure that she did not want to really find out. “Chaos Carnival?” she breathed in horror. “You’re a member?” “Correct! I am Chaos Carnival’s official Ventriloquist, a master manipulator…This is my backstage, Miss Birde. Here is where I create my best performers, and prepare them for the Show…” “Don’t call me that,” Jae whispered fiercely. “What? ‘Miss Birde?’” The ventriloquist snickered, “But isn’t that who you are? You are clearly Charles Birde’s daughter. Don’t you remember him at all?” She snapped, “I don’t want to talk about my father!” “That’s really too bad, Jae, because he has everything to do with the reason you’re sitting here. I knew your father, the marvelous Professor Birde! He was supposed to cure them, all the Smashers…” “Wait…You’re – you’re Ivory!” This shocking epiphany hit Jae like an anvil. “You were his chief lab assistant. You disappeared, after the explosion. What happened to you? Why are you doing this?” The ventriloquist sat, perched on a stool. Her smile never diminished. “Nothing ‘happened’ to me. I worked with the Professor in the lab, but that was never my real job. Being chief lab assistance was just a performance. That supposed ‘cure’ Professor Birde had perfected was a severe threat to the goals of Mr. Clown. So, I was sent to, lets just say, disturb the peace.” “It was you? You caused the explosion?” “Well,” Ivory sat up, readjusting her crooked glasses and pondering over Jae’s question. “Maybe, in an indirect sort of way. What does it matter anyway? Now that he’s dead, his work will never be completed. Smashers will keep their destructive powers and Chaos will continue to overtake this city!” “That’s my father you’re talking about!” Jae flared. “He was trying to help people affected by the burst – people who could not control their powers.” Ivory’s sparkling eyes bore directly into Jae. “Help? You really believe that terrible lie. Don’t be so naïve. There are some who were not directly affected by Pandora’s power burst. Somehow, he managed to obtain a small portion of Pandora’s malachite, which is said to contain some of her power. The Professor needed to study the effects of that energy.” Jae frowned. “I don’t know where you’re going with this? And I still don’t understand what he has to do with anything?” “Think my dear…In order to reverse the mutations, the Professor needed to study the mutation itself, on normal beings, which unfortunately requires test subjects.” Jae was speechless. Creating mutations in order to reverse them? Did father really do such a thing just to discover a cure? As if reading her mind, Ivory said, “Yes. It’s true and would you like to know the worse part? Seeing as there were no willing volunteers for this experiment, he tested his theories on his own flesh and blood.” “You really are sick,” she growled, “to even suggest such a thing. My father is not the reason I have these abilities. He wanted to stop them from developing so that I wouldn’t get hurt. He would never do that. He…loved me.” “HA! You amuse me!” The ventriloquist cackled ferociously. “Loved you? Hahahahaha!” “It isn’t funny.” “Oh, but it is! He made you what you are and you are denying that simple fact. But, perhaps you need a second opinion to convince you.” From the shadows besides Ivory, a pair of glowing green eyes appeared. “Hello Jae.” Jae recognized the mellow voice – the person who had trapped minds and made them slaves to Chaos. “Raeven.” “Do you know who I am Jae?” “Should I really care to know?” The eyes turned to slits and a soft laughter erupted from Raeven. From the darkness a girl appeared, half her face concealed by hair the color of night’s sky. The rest tied into a long braid down her back, stopping at her elbows. Jae was immediately mortified. No, she looks exactly like me! Jae thought she was staring at a clone. The only difference was the lengthy hair and vivid jade eyes. Raeven’s face was also masked in pale white carnival paint, a ring of black encircled around her exposed eye. “I would think so Jae.” she replied, sounding almost ghostly. “I am your sister - the monster who murdered your father. Look into my eyes Jae, and discover the truth...”

Jae10 -> RE: (HS) The Puppet Master (6/2/2011 16:24:18)
~Purge into Darkness~ Sitting in the dark corners of the room…waiting for them to come. She knew it was time again, time for them to come and torture her. She refused; she refused to let them get away with it this time. The sharp knock on the door made her jump. She stood slowly as the door opened. He walked in, the man who was her father, staring at her as if she were a strange animal. She didn’t know what she was. “Raeven, please don’t make this difficult.” She wondered how he knew. Was he seeing her thoughts? No, perhaps it was the hostility he saw in her clear, emerald eyes. “It hurts,” she pleaded. “I’m sorry,” he said, weakly. Lying. “But it’s going to help everyone get better.” “No!” The walls shook and the metal door knob burst into pieces. “It hurts!” “I’m sorry,” he said again, stepping aside. Several men in white coats filled the room. She fought and kicked and screamed. Her mind was an explosion of green light. An invisible power knocked two of them into the walls. But the others struggled to restrain her. She sunk her teeth into a hand. Someone shouted, “Gah! Hold her!” She could not move. She was breathing so hard, boiling with so much rage and fear. “Come in, Ivory.” A woman appeared, holding a large syringe, a dark golden liquid dripping from its tip. Raeven cried and begged. No one listened. Ivory gave her a mischievous grin and whispered in her ears, just before plunging the needle into her skull, “You are very gifted, my dear. Do not let them take that away from you…” Her voice was lost in the unbelievable pain. Then there was the explosion and she woke up surrounded by a glowing bright smoke that had swept throughout the entire lab, floating inches from the floor. There was the sound of glass shattering. She saw her own face in each shard, contorted in fury, eyes burning angrily in the emerald flames. Her glowing hands stretched over the injured form of her father. There was the cause of Raeven’s misery and the pain. She understood the true meaning of hatred, as she purged his mind into the void of eternal darkness – the realm of death. “I hate you,” she whispered, so quietly into his ears as he slowly died. “I will never forgive you.” She let go of his limp form. She turned and saw Ivory above the wreckage, lab coat spattered with blood, smiling at Raeven like she was a goddess. “I should kill you too…” “Hehehe! Threatening me is unnecessary. I could have given you the full amount of dosage and let them put this into you!” The lab assistant help up a small chip between her fingers. “But I didn’t…” “What is that?” “It’s an implant that was going to be inserted into that precious head of yours. It would have taken away your beautiful gift!” “This is not a gift. It is a curse,” Raeven spat fiercely. “Nonsense!” Ivory protested, indignant. “I have witnessed your suffering for years, Raeven, and there is so much potential within you. I can help you, teach you…” She glared at Ivory. “Teach me what?” “The true meaning of the Joke, of course! But first, you must meet Mr. Clown…” Jae trembled, grasping at her temples. “Stop it! Murderer!” She screamed, choking back tears. Raeven smiled, ending the projected vision. Jae felt so cold and numb. She did not want to be here. She did not want to hear anything else this demented murderess had to say. But the drugs had stolen her strength. There was no going anywhere. “I don’t care anymore! I’ve seen enough…” “Not nearly enough,” Raeven sneered and continued, “You know, he really deserved it Jae, for putting me through such hell.” “Stop this…” Jae whispered. There was so much anguish and hurt. She buried her face in her hands. Raeven bent down and pulled Jae’s hands away from her face. She was no longer smiling. “Don’t be weak. Swallow every tear as if it were a dagger. I did, for nine years…ever since we were separated at birth. Then I was freed.” Jae mumbled feebly, “No…” “Such lies he fed you,” Raven hissed. “You remember the headaches Jae?” “I…remember…” “Father started his tests on me, but soon, he realized that my powers were starting to affect you as well. He didn’t know that as twins we shared an innate bond that would link our lives together, and our minds. The headaches, they were all because of me Jae, the effects of each horrible injection that I received. He figured it out and then tried to ‘cure’ me…just to protect you. You were the last dwindling thought on his mind, before I destroyed it. That’s how I found out about you…” “Why? How could you just…kill him?” “He deserved it! You think he cared what happened to me or you? Wrong. He loved his stupid science project more than anything! More than us!” Jae shuddered, unable to fathom what she was hearing. Everything she thought she knew about her father, the kind image of him, was being torn before her eyes. “SCIF knew about the entire thing,” Ivory put in. “They tried to keep you hidden from us after the explosion. They invented a lie making you believe that Professor Birde was performing tests on another Smasher. But that was just to keep Raeven’s existence a secret from you. The Smasher’s file was invalid because he never existed! There was only Raeven.” The ventriloquist giggled. “It’s all so hilarious! He kept you both separate like two variables in an experiment. Only when things got out of hand, one blew up in his face! Hahahahaha!” “I always wondered why he wanted to protect you from me Jae. Why did he separate us? I see now, what he saw in you. You were the answer, the entire time. It was always you.” Raeven loomed in front of her. “You were part of the ‘cure’ and I was the other half. Together, we could have undone everything. But then, I learned from Clown the Jester and I understood. What would be the point? There is no such thing as Order. There is only Chaos…” A terrible feeling sank into Jae as she stared at Raeven. My God, she sounds just like him. “What have they done to you Raeven?” “They taught me to be stronger, and accepted me. They did not try to change who I am. I know what I am now, and that is an agent of the Joke.” “No, you can’t trust them Raeven? There are better things to believe in! Don’t fall for their lies.” Raeven laughed bitterly. “Good and Evil are alike,” she scoffed. “Trying to control things that are meant to be free. I will not be controlled Jae – never again…” “I never knew. I’m, I’m so sorry...” “Don’t be. I forgave you a long time ago. Everything that I’ve done was so that we would meet, so that I could enlighten you. I am offering you something that means so much more than the lies you’ve been told.” Raeven’s smile returned and she spoke softly, “Don’t you see, sister? We belong together. We are not the same, but we can be, if you join me. You were never weak because I was always there to complete you. We can be together in this Chaos that Clown has created.” Jae’s mind spun with sorrow and guilt. She’s all I have left… She thought, over and over again until her head was sore. I don’t know how to help her. She’ll never see the wickedness behind all the things the Chaos Carnival was accountable for. Somewhere, deep within, she felt like she had to, that she must relent and give in. Everything she thought was pure now seemed so…tainted. What was there left to protect? Then she remembered all her friends. There were heroes still out there, struggling to fight against this corruption. If we fail, then all is lost. “No. I will not join you or this sick carnival. I’m tired of the jokes. I can’t change the past and stop what happened to you Raeven. What Father did to you was unforgivable and I feel like it was my fault, but it wasn’t. No one else should suffer for his sins and deep within, you know that.” “Don’t be a fool,” the ventriloquist cut in sharply. “Super City is doomed. The entire world will kneel to Chaos. And those who do not will perish.” “Never! There’s nothing liberating about what you’re doing. It’s a path that will only lead to self destruction.” Raeven crossed her arms, peering gravely at Jae. “You surprise me, sis. I thought you would understand, but, I suppose the Joke is not meant for everyone to enjoy. I forgave you for the past Jae, but, I will not forgive you for this…” A surge of energy formed in the palm of Raeven’s hand. She stood in front of Jae and smirked. In the state she was in, Jae knew that she was going to die. “Prepare to join father…” A large tremor shook the entire theater. Raeven’s psychic blast zoomed pass Jae, missing her by a few inches. The surprised ventriloquist toppled from her stool. The ceiling began to crack above them. A large beam broke off and dropped towards the screaming woman. Jae turned her head, but she heard the beam land with a heavy thud, crushing Ivory. “Mistress!” Raeven shrieked, stunned. She turned back at Jae, her jade eyes lit in anger. “We’re not finished yet.” She got ready to fire another blast when a second beam came crashing down behind her. The entire foundation was unstable. Fire from the theater’s electrical units broke out and spread quickly. It swarmed around them, forming a thick wall between the two psychics. Frustrated, Raeven grimaced. “I will see you again Jae…and then, I will make you suffer beyond anything I have ever endured.” She disappeared, into the black smoke. Jae could not breathe as all the oxygen in the room was swiftly being consumed by the fire. I hope, she thought, with growing despair, I hope I die here…She passed into the darkness. A shadow swooped in among the destruction around her. It lifted her into the air, carrying her off and away from the burning theater - preventing the demise she wished for.

Jae10 -> RE: (HS) The Puppet Master (6/3/2011 4:18:44)
~Realm of Shadows~ “Together, we could have undone everything. But then, I learned from Clown the Jester and I understood.” “...There is no such thing as Order. There is only Chaos…” “Don’t you see, sister? We belong together. We are not the same, but we can be, if you join me...” “You surprise me, sis. I thought you would understand, but, I suppose the Joke is not meant for everyone to enjoy. I forgave you for the past Jae, but, I will not forgive you for this…” “I will not forgive you for this…” “I will not forgive you for this…” “…not forgive you for this…” “Jae.” Someone called to her. She turned around. She knew this place. Surrounding shelves of books, separated by tall windows that let the evening light pour in. The room was bathed in an ethereal, bronze hue. This was where she grew up. This is where she was raised since the time of her father’s death. She was in the library. An elderly woman sat before her, sitting in a polished oak chair, one hand gripping a closed paperback volume which she held in her lap. Jae recognized the warm smile of her caretaker’s face. “Margaret…” She cringed, beginning to cry again. She wiped the tears away. “Did you know about this? Did you know about Raeven?” The older woman stared at her sadly. “I knew about everything Jae - only after Charles died.” Jae sank to the carpet, weeping profusely. “Why couldn’t you just tell me?” She cried. “Why didn’t you let me save her?” “I couldn’t let you go. You needed to be protected.” Margaret turned towards the falling sun outside. “There were times when I wanted to, Jae. But for the greater good, I held my tongue and let you grow into the strong, courageous woman you are now.” “No. You’re wrong about that.” Jae’s fingers clenched at the ground. “I am not strong nor am I brave. I wanted to die. I wanted to give up...and lose.” “But you didn’t Jae.” “I know it’s too late now! Raeven will not forgive me. I can never make her understand that there is happiness in life without corruption. I fear that she is lost forever…” Silently, Margaret opened the book in her hands and started reading a few lines. Jae immediately recognized the story. It was her favorite story – the one her father would always read almost every other night. For some strange reason, through the agony, she started to laugh. Why did it still amuse her, even during the most depressing time of her life? “The dog that lost his bone,” she whispered, face still stained with tears. Margaret closed the book and set it down on the table beside her. “Don’t you remember what happened in the end Jae?” Yes, Jae thought to herself. I do remember. “He found what was lost, because, he never gave up.” She paused, understanding everything now. She was still fighting against the despair. “But, I can’t save her now. She has no concept of what goodness is.” “Yes, she does Jae. She has that in you…” Opening her eyes to complete darkness, Jae croaked, “Wh-where am I?” “The Realm of Shadows,” came the grim reply. “This is a safe place…for now.” Jae had heard a few stories about this Realm, mostly in reference to Overcast, the villainous Shadow. But, this voice did not belong to Overcast because she knew for sure that he was dead – destroyed by the Super Clown he helped to create. She could think of only one other being that possessed access to this Realm, another ancient Evil. “Ancient Darkness,” she called into the empty black space. Somewhere, he stirred in the darkness. She looked up and found two sapphire eyes fixed on her with an even gaze. “Jae.” The Dark Lord replied. “You were restless. Having dreams again?” “Don’t worry about that,” she stated shortly, already annoyed by the villain’s pretense of concern. “Why did you save me? I was ready to die back there.” “You may have been, but the rest of Super City was not,” he sneered. “That was a fool’s wish. Times are too dire for more casualties of the Clown’s Chaos. We can’t afford to lose any heroes in this madness.” “I don’t consider myself a hero anymore.” She had tried to catch herself, but the thought rung so loudly in her distress that it was hard to hold in any longer. She felt as though all the reasons for joy in life weren’t even worth it anymore. Why am I fighting when I’ve already lost what was most important to me? “Bah!” Ancient rebuked her, saying, “Whether you’re a hero or not, that isn’t determined by words. Actions prove what you really are.” “That’s exactly my point!” she shouted, the pain of loss returning. “You don’t understand…I haven’t done anything for her! I failed her terribly and there’s nothing to be done that will change the past or the present!” The pair of dark, blue eyes narrowed. “Don’t disappoint me heroine. I didn’t save your life for nothing.” “Then why?!” she burst out. “Why couldn’t you just let me die?” “Only you can stop her Jae,” the Shadow being replied. “You think you failed? You haven’t failed yet, not unless you give up. You want her to be redeemed? Then don’t quit.” Jae was speechless, stunned by the sharp, forceful tone in his voice. So, Ancient was there the entire time, listening. This did not surprise Jae, but his clear logic did. His words made so much sense to Jae. There was the story that had always captured her as a child, holding the answer out for her to grasp it. She remembered her own whispering words: ‘He found what was lost because he never gave up…’ That’s what Margaret meant for me to understand, the responsibility I have been avoiding ever since I found out the truth – the option to continue trying, regardless of the pain of loss. How could I be so selfish? Giving up? Quitting when there is still a chance? As long as she lived there would always be a chance - a chance that Raeven would return to her. She would do everything in her power to help the sister she never knew, even if it required a great sacrifice. “You amaze me,” Jae said a moment later. “You’re absolutely right...” “Of course,” the ancient Shadow retorted proudly. “I am not a fool, and I don’t waste my time with anyone that is. My wisdom was acquired from ages before your time.” “Then tell me this: Why are you helping me?” “Hmph! Clown, that vile, destructive creature, has ruined the very name of Evil itself. He thinks he will get away with that and the murder of my friend & rival Overcast, but I will prove to him otherwise!” Ancient Darkness added, “And like I said before, ‘I am not a fool’. I realize that Super Clown is an incredible force that threatens not just the world but, the entire universe – the one foe that I cannot prevail against, depending on my strength alone. For once, I, Ruler of Darkness, require assistance.” Jae nodded. “Thank you, for aiding me.” The Dark Lord did not bother to reply. His sinister eyes remained patiently on her. “Well,” said Jae. Her spirits renewed, glad that the drugs were finally worn off and that her powers had returned. She flickered a pyrokinetic flame between her fingers and grinned. “Hm, I guess we’ll have to find the others then.” “Finally,” said Ancient, his patience finally evaporated, “because we have already wasted enough time waiting for you to come around. I already know where your friends are, and I am fully aware of the extreme peril they are facing as of right now.” “Wait, where are they?” “Enough talk! Matters are too urgent!” he boomed. “We will go there now and fight amongst them. I am anxious to kill the Clown.” The ancient cerulean runes on his body began glowing brightly. She saw literally thousands of shadows stirring in the darkness; their encrypted bodies also lit the Realm, preparing to follow their Master. The entire army of the Dark Lord was there – the Ancient Evil Army… “Come heroine,” he commanded, opening a portal to Aurora Park. “It is time we joined this battlefield!”

Jae10 -> RE: (HS) The Puppet Master (6/8/2011 23:16:33)
~Madness & Insanity~ A dark gray SUV drove steadily over the heaps of wreckage. A fifth of the city destroyed…thousands of lives completely snuffed out. The vehicle paused at what remained of Market Street – ruins of burnt ash and twisted metal frames. The Assistant Director of SCIF stepped out, escorted by two Smasher guards. They crunched over broken glass and rubble. She wondered how many bodies they were recklessly trampling upon. She wore light shades and a breathing apparatus. Through the eyewear she could see within the haze of dust surrounding them. A built-in computer indicated what she was seeing: a metal table, strewn rubber tires, a few scattered stuffed animals; their fur had no doubt been seared by intense flames. No sign of what she had come searching for yet. She turned to the guards behind her, her flaming wine-colored hair flapping wildly in the polluted breeze. “Spread out and search for it. It is here, somewhere…” With a quick nod the other two split, vanishing into the dry mist but, their presence still lingering nearby. According to her sensors, this was where two of their agents had disappeared. Before that, they had lost all radio contact with the two agents after the surprise onslaught that took place in SCIF’s primary base of operations – the Police Department. Since the attack, survivors were relocated to the secondary HQ on the far west side of Super City, hidden somewhere far below sea level. No signs of life so far. There was no doubt in her mind that both Agent Kira and Agent Fang were dead. Unless you were a Smasher or just simply lucky, no one could have survived this destruction. And the Assistant Director did not believe in any such luck. The heels of her shoes cracked through more debris as she walked on, peering silently into the blurry gloom around her. There were more random items, more irrelevant details to sort through. Nothing yet…Where could it be? As she scanned the area, her mind still reflected on the devastation. All of this Chaos, all this ruin – the result of a madman who calls himself Clown the Jester, a Prince of Fools, a Harlequin of Doom. She had read his file, was familiar with his insane and violent actions, but the drive behind his madness completely escaped her. There was no understanding him, no logic to what he did. Files could not teach you the essence of a person. Files could not explain the inner workings of an individuals mind. What makes you tick, Mr. Clown? She pondered, crossing her arms in mild frustration. “Kardinal,” a deep voice spoke behind her. She turned to find one of the guards staring at her. “Have you located it?” Once more, the guard nodded affirmatively. Sparing no more of their precious time, she followed him to a spot where the Mega Plex Theater had once stood. They met the other agent, who redirected their attention towards a piece of red cloth lying at his feet. No, it was more than just a mere piece of material. She realized it was a curtain, torn and half eaten from the fire. She kneeled, swiping away the dirt and ash and revealing the bright purple letters embroidered upon its surface. Despite the severe damage, she could faintly read its message: CHAOS CARNIVAL PROPERTY! “Yes,” she said aloud, more so to herself than to those standing beside her. “Yes, this is it. It’s here…” She pulled away the fallen curtain. Underneath it was a door. This door was not like the others she had seen. This door led to somewhere, someplace secret – a trapdoor. Theaters always had them, she thought, smirking victoriously. Her guards handled the latch efficiently. The door opened and she boldly stared down into a world of darkness. Crack! She swiftly bent an emergency glow stick, activating its bright, green hue. “Let’s go,” she ordered, and without any hesitance began her slow descent. When Jae stepped out the portal, she was totally unprepared for what she saw. Thousands of Clown the Jesters encircled her friends, clones of the original. Her comrades fought, struggling to defeat them – to survive. There was no sign of Super Clown. But still, rage made her blood boil as she remembered Raeven – at what had possibly been done to her sister. The Ancient Evil Army was set loose upon them, joining the frenzy of battle like the dark soldiers they were – led fearlessly by Ancient Darkness. Her eyes searched quickly for Gray Silhouette. She could sense his mind amidst the Chaos. She saw the fury and pain in it; old wounds reopened, and a determination that was much stronger than before filled his thoughts. She found him, grinding his fists into the face of one the Clown’s copies, shouting relentlessly. But, she realized, he was so focused on the Clown before him that he neglected to notice the other that was approaching from behind – slowly loading a pistol and preparing to aim. Jae blasted through each Clown that crossed her frantic path. She had to hurry; before it was too late…she had to hurry. The Harlequin finally lifted the piece of steel to the back of Gray’s skull, mumbling something…about to fire. She closed her eyes, focusing every thought that was racing through her terrified mind. She heard the shot being fired and opened her eyes. There was Gray, unharmed – still mindlessly clobbering his enemy to death. “WOULDN’T YOU KNOW IT?” One of the Harlequins called out, looking up. He dug into his arm, extracting a bullet. “There’s always a psychic to spoil our fun!” Unrestrained anger, hurt, and guilt took over. Jae lifted three of the Clowns into the air and tossed them away from Gray. The impact of their landing formed craters in the ground. “You!” she cried, launching a fractured piece of Pandora’s statue into twelve more. Her gaze zeroed in on the one who held the gun. “What have you done? What have you done with my sister?!” One of surrounding Clowns threw something at her. A grenade. She saw it out of her peripheral vision and stopped the device with her mind before it was in close enough range of injuring her critically. It exploded from the mental force. Her focus shifted to the Harlequin standing there with the largest grin on his face, the discharged gun still in his hand. “It was you that was behind Ivory’s actions. You’re the one responsible for that explosion in my father’s research facility!” She lifted him into the air, wanting nothing more than to just make him disappear – to make them all disappear. She continued, “I know you’ve been driving her insane. Why Clown? Wh-what kind of monster would do this? How can you possibly find this funny?” “A monster that saved your sister from a fate worse than death,” The Clown the Jester said, the grin on his face disappearing, turning solemn. “Imagine what ‘Daddy’ would have done to Raeven when he was done playing with her, if I didn’t save her.” She hesitated, realizing that he was right. It still pained her heart to even think of the evils that her father had done towards Raeven. Jae was still getting over the shock of discovering that missing piece of the puzzle. “But,” Clown the Jester continued, the grotesque smile reappearing back onto his face, “the real question I have is…Why didn’t you save her?” “I-I couldn’t,” she replied, her gaze lowering to the ground. “I was too young to realize…I-I didn’t know. I didn’t know what was going on.” “Really? Too young, not enough…heh heh…gray matter in the brain,” He said. “Funny…you were Raeven’s twin sister…same age as her. If she had the powers to kill Charley Birdwatchingman at the age of six heh heh…so would you. Same capabilities…heh heh…perhaps you just didn’t…care about her.” “I don’t need to explain myself,” Jae said, her mind filling with hate. “Especially to a monster like you! You really don’t care about who gets hurt, about who you leave suffering. Why?” She just couldn’t fathom what this sick and twisted harlequin represented. “As for the pitiful EXCUSE…that you didn’t know,” Clown the Jester continued, ignoring Jae’s statement. “Do you really expect me to believe that a girl who can read minds could not find out from her own father’s mind what…devious things…he was doing to your sweet…sweet sister? The Doc’s mind would have been singing…heh heh…Like a little Birde. That would make you a lousy psychic. So either you didn’t care….OR YOUR JUST STUPID! HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!” “Shut up, you…Monster!” she snapped back. Oh, how she hated him, how she absolutely detested his venomous words. She could only imagine the path of destruction he left behind. How many has this psychopath killed? She wondered, gazing into his feral eyes. How many were left hurt and forever scarred? How many more Gray Silhouettes had he created? Poor Gray… She remembered his state of mind from earlier. The pain and the guilt he felt. Such terrible feelings of remorse over the death of his one true love, Rachel. And now Jae felt the same about the fate of her own twin sister. Was Clown right? Is this…really all my fault? No one had ever been kind to Raeven before. No one had treated her as human. She lacked everything that Jae possessed, everything that gave life its blissful meaning. How could Jae not feel guilty over what her sister had been deprived of for years? “Please,” Jae said, tears started to form in her eyes. “I want you to tell me how to help Raeven. If you have any good left in you, Clown the Jester, please…help me.” The grinning Harlequin stared at her. His mock smile turned into one of apathy…perhaps…maybe even compassion. “Funny,” the Clown said, his eyes sullen despite his smile. “You know…I…I wasn’t always crazy….at least I don’t think I always was…things get twisted in my head. Can’t remember the past so good. Like a hazy dream. I…I….remember trying to live life by your rules. Sane, productive member of society, always willing to lend a helping hand. Ya see…my mind mixes facts up…I don’t know my origin…I see dreams in the wee hours of the night. Sometimes…I see a god of mischief…a deity who loved pulling nasty pranks, forced by the other Gods to release his powers…as a final joke…he secretly snuck the powers into the body of a baby with pail skin, and purple hair.” His smile slowly dropped as he tried to remember more of his strange tale. “Other times, I see the comedy, insanity, and anger of the world leaving the planet and entering a black hole, where a messenger of Chaos formed, preparing to make the world achieve world peace…even if he has to kill them all to achieve it.” Clown the Jester continued. To Jae’s amazement, a tear trickled down his cheek. “Then I see myself as a normal guy…who had a special gal…a girl who this guy could always make laugh…and she loved to laugh. This normal guy was always pushed around…but he never let his feelings make a fool out him…NEVER!” Clown the Jester looked over at Gray Silhouette, still punching the clone. Gray was sobbing as he struck the clone over and over. “The girl loved the normal guy…no doubt of that…they were going to live happy ever after and all that stuff…they are on a rooftop, holding hands, watching the sun set just after having fun at a Circus,” Clown the Jester continued, his sight turning back to Jae, another tear trickling down his eye. She stood there speechless. “He tells her a hilarious joke about two clowns…her favorite part of the Circus...said I was her clown. She hears the joke and laughs so hard. I laughed too…it was fantastic joke…we laugh so hard, we start cry, but in her laugher…my girl's hand slips from my grasp, she stumbles, falling off the roof...dead. Because of a joke.” What is this? She thought, her eyes never leaving his. Had she found something that had been buried? Had she finally discovered the goodness that was left within him? Perhaps…is there really some hope still left for him? “I often wonder if this vision was the true origin…would make a lot of sense,” Clown continued staring into Jae’s eyes. “I also wondered if it was not her who truly fell but me…sometimes I wonder where I landed.” Jae walked to the Clown, lowering him to the ground. Hoping, desperately wishing that he could help her – that he would give Raeven back to her. In that moment all her anger vanished. She ignored the surrounding battle, and took the Harlequin’s cold, pale hands. It was like holding on to a corpse. “No matter how far we fall,” she said, smiling, praying in her heart, “we can always get back up. Please…will you help me?” “No,” Clown the Jester said, tears still trickling down his face, slowly withdrawing his hand. She was crushed, far worse than anything in the world. Why? Why did he refuse? “I would…please believe me I would…but…I can’t…it’s…it’s far too late for going back. Thanks for the smile…it means a lot to me…it really does. I...I still have a show to finish.” Suddenly, he clutched her hair and swung her into the air. “BESIDES! BEING CRAZY IS JUST TOO MUCH FUN! WA HA HA HA!” She landed on her side, dazed. Clutching her abdomen, she carefully regained her footing. How could he just get away with this? “BUT SINCE YOU WERE SUCH A TEAM PLAYER,” Clown cried out, a purple rocket launcher forming in his hands. “We have a lovely parting gift for ya!” He fired at her. She stood her ground, putting all her mental effort into stopping the missile. It sputtered and came to a halt, just a few meters in front of her. She carefully dissembled the projectile, rendering it useless. She was so flushed in anger. How could she believe him – put her trust in him?! “Very impressive,” The Clown the Jester clone said, scratching his chin, deep in thought. "It appears the more stress your given, the more your powers…buff up.” “Tell me what you did to Raeven, Clown!” she shrieked. Laughing, wagging his fingers in defiance. He said, “NOPE! NOPE! NOPE! I DON’T WANNA! NO DICE! YOU WON’T GET A PEEP OUTTA ME!” That’s it…I’ve had enough of this foolishness. She focused on the Harlequin’s mind, hoping to tear the answers from his skull. Immediately, her own mind flashed with images, terrible blood-curdling sights. Murder, torture, destruction….so much chaos…too much insanity. She screamed, grasping at her temples. She felt like her head was ready to explode, like there were millions of fire ants crawling around on her brain. No time to stop and sort through what she was seeing as image after image poured into her head. A flood of violence was slowly drowning her. “What’s wrong my dear?” Clown the Jester asked, a large grin on his face. “Don’t like what you see? I admit it’s a little cluttered.” Get out! Get out of my head! GET OUT!!! She clenched her teeth tightly, enduring the excruciating pain, fighting against it. Can’t let it takeover…can’t…can’t let it… She could barely hear the Harlequin’s muffled words above the screaming in her head. She pressed with all her mental vigor to stop the drowning. Slowly, gradually, the visions stopped – the noise began to fade back into the silence of her mind. She shuddered, gasping from the exerted energy. “So more stress equals more might huh?” Clown the Jester said, his grin widening. “I wanna see what you can really do.” He made his way back to Gray Silhouette, once again positioning his gun to the back of the clueless vigilante’s head. “I wonder… Can you stop a speeding bullet when it’s fired close range?” “Stop it,” Jae said. The Clown Gray Silhouette was punching, suddenly shot out his hand, grabbing the vigilante by the throat. He slammed Gray Silhouette to the ground pulling out a gun of his own, and pressed it to his struggling captive’s forehead. “How about two bullets?” he asked, looking up at Jae. More Clown the Jesters gathered around Gray Silhouette’s struggling body. “How about three?” “Four, five?” “Six? Can ya do six?” “Stop!” Jae pleaded with the Harlequins. “HECK GET SEVEN MORE!” one of the Clowns said. “THIRTEEN BULLETS! HA HA HA! FEELING LUCKY?” The thirteen Clown the Jesters gathered around Gray Silhouette…all about to fire. She could not let Gray die. Never! They needed him. He was so pure, so incorruptible - a miracle, the most outstanding miracle that Super City would ever know! She couldn’t, but there was no time…no time… “I SAID…I…I SAID,” Jae screamed, an invisible force lifting all thirteen Clown the Jesters into the air. Blinded by the blue flash, in anguish. “I SAID STOP!” Jae’s mind crushed all thirteen Clowns. Their bones snapping, blood dripping. All dead. Their corpses fell to the ground. “Oh God,” Jae said, covering her face with her hands. “No, please no.” What had she done? She had actually killed a living soul. For the first time in her life…she had taken not just one life, but thirteen…Even if they were monsters, even if they were just fakes. Now they were dead because of her. She felt so blackened, so tainted by the executions. How could I let go of myself? I just…lost it… She felt a hand touch her shoulder and she looked up into Gray Silhouette’s somber eyes. Tears streamed down her face. “Killing doesn’t make the pain go away.” “I know,” he replied helping Jae up to her feet. “It only gives you nightmares.” The sound of his voice triggered a memory in Jae’s mind. She recognized that voice, from somewhere... “...I…I know you from before,” Jae said searching his mind. “You worked at Corporal…Yes…You were the Janitor.” She remembered – she remembered everything. “That was a long time ago Ms. Jae,” he whispered. “A lifetime ago.” “You used to be at my desk, sometimes, emptying trash,” she stated. “But I-I never thought to ask you your name.” “My name then doesn’t matter. My name now is Gray Silhouette,” he said. “But then, you left a few years back. Was that when, Rachel…?” she began, catching herself, knowing what she was about to bring up. “Yes.” On the outside he appeared unaffected by her question, but Jae knew better. “That’s when I left my temporary job, and started my permanent.” That’s how he became dedicated to taking down Clown the Jester, along with the hundreds of other villains that dared to show their face in Super City. He wouldn’t hesitate to kill them, unlike Jae. She wondered… “Do you think killing Clown the Jester will bring you happiness?” After a long pause he replied, “No.” “Then, why do you kill?” she asked. Gray did not respond as one last copy of the insane Harlequin leapt at them, carrying a butcher knife. He was consumed in a torrent of black flames, as Drakkoniss and Ancient Darkness appeared, just in time to stop him. The last of the Clown the Jester clones. All that was left was Super Clown. However where he has hiding…they had no way of finding out. The battle finally over, all the heroes and their allies regrouped. The only one who was missing was Defiant, but he was no more. Gray pointed out that one of the Clowns had murdered him too. Another loss Smasher…another casualty. A blue armored teen appeared moments later, waving something in his hands. He landed besides Gray, identifying himself as Blue Gear. Jae could sense his intelligence. She tried to focus on what the young boy was saying, but it was hard to think straight. There were so many pictures stuck in her head from her failed attempt at reading the Clown copy’s mind. There was no telling if all the visions were true or not, but their presence alone would be mind-shattering to any normal, sane person. It was difficult to ignore. As the others began arguing over the device in Blue Gear’s possession, Jae tried her best to clear her mind. Just breathe slowly…in and out…breathe…emptiness… “Come with me Jae,” A female’s voice cut into her trance. He opened her eyes staring into a stranger’s face. “Who are you?” “I am Arachnid.” Jae remembered the name. This was the person in the vision Lady Zafara had seen when she attacked the Police Department dressed as Gray Silhouette. “I am on your side, here to avenge milady’s death. Please, will you help me find Shadow Rapter? He swore to help me accomplish this mission.” “I will help,” Jae answered, finally ridding her mind of the vulgar images. They would be suppressed at least. “Many thanks,” Arachnid said, cheerful. “Away we go. We shall return here for the others later.”

Jae10 -> RE: (HS) The Puppet Master (6/12/2011 20:45:12)
~Secrets~ “You have any clue where he may be?” Jae and Arachnid trudged through the forest of Aurora Park, in the direction of the city’s outer limits. She was glad they were not moving back towards the inner city. There was nothing for her there but tormenting memories. She wasn’t ready to go back. She wasn’t ready to face her sister again. I don’t think I can…not yet. “Honestly, I don’t. But he and Range disappeared somewhere around here.” Arachnid stopped to scan the area. They had wandered a long distance away from the rest of the group. Jae remembered when she was new to this city, after Margaret had passed - when she was free to be whoever she wanted to become. She started as a lowly volunteer at Corporal - a paper pusher, coffee and errand girl. With enough endeavor and patience, she worked her way up the ladder and earned a real desk job for one of the most prominent employers there, a man whose name she had long since forgotten. She was the youngest employee at the time. But with her powers and secret ambitions, that position would not suffice. Now here she was just a couple of years later, facing one of the biggest threats to Super City since Pandora’s legendary sacrifice. Time had really flown…yet, it feels like ages. But she remembered this park, before it became what it was now. I used to come here to think and clear my mind. There used to be laughter and many songbirds. She used to sit on a bench under a magnolia tree and watch the people stroll by, calmed by the serene atmosphere - before the siege had taken over, before the utter devastation. I loved this place…I really loved it. Look at what it has become. So many wonderful memories, tarnished by the horror her eyes now beheld. Once beautiful, overflowing with colorful flowers and spring life, Aurora Park now resembled the wasteland of a war torn region. Battered and twisted trees pointed at the darkened sky, a few of their jagged limbs hanging desperately below the frail canopies. Patches of burnt grass from the previous War between Good and Evil Smashers were once more left freshly scorched by Chaotic riots. Such a deplorable condition. Like a dying land, Jae thought to herself. A dying land within a dying city… “I have an idea that may work,” she quietly spoke, moments later. “What’s that?” Arachnid inquired, searching into Jae’s blank blue eyes. “Jae?” Jae did not reply; she was concentrating on the life that surrounded them within the Aurora Park forest – or what was left of it. The foliage still teemed with the simple consciousness of insects, rodents, and a few scavenger birds. She felt the deadly instinctive mind of a snake that was preparing to strike at an unsuspecting squirrel. No, she had to extend her mind further…beyond the park. Fear gripped her. There was no telling whose mind she would encounter but, she would try. For Arachnid’s sake, she would try… She brushed the minds of the countless dying that still lay trapped under the desolation of HeroSpire. Too many voices to distinguish a single coherent conscious, at least, not the one she was looking for anyway. A sickening feeling came over her at the sounds of their agony, their thoughts groaning for relief, even for death itself. The voices of thousands…So many they had failed to save. The dying among the dead… Her mind pressed on, stretching over the remains of West Main Street, Market Street, and continuing on from there. Nothing distinctive of Shadow Rapter’s conscious yet. Same status regarding Range’s. Arachnid had explained that he and Range were pushed into a vortex by none other than the Clown; however, she was certain that he would reappear once more…and soon. But Jae sensed no dimensional disturbance, no reopened wormhole, or portal where her mind traveled. She just felt so cold. What am I so afraid of? She asked herself silently, but she already knew what. “I will see you again Jae…and then, I will make you suffer beyond anything I have ever endured…” Raeven’s words burned a hole in her heart. Once, she thought she hated Raeven, for killing her own father and joining Clown the Jester’s Chaos Carnival. But now, she realized she never could. No, she did not truly despise her. She was only upset and worried for a stranger, someone she had lost many, many years ago – someone that she feared she may never know. Jae felt nothing but love and sadness for the girl. Raeven…please forgive me, but I must stop you. I don’t want to fail you ever again. A powerful mind touched hers. An unusual energy was present. There were thoughts of vengeance and blood. It appeared from seemingly nowhere, startling Jae. This person was close, so close – coming straight for them. It was so familiar; she had felt this conscious before…where? She felt Arachnid shaking her from her deep trance. “Jae! Awaken! Look at who’s found us!” The girl cried joyously. After blinking a few times to clear her eyes Jae peered up, seeking the source of the large shadow that had fallen over them through the thin treetops. She saw, against the bleeding, violet sky, the impossible. A large wooden ship, a…Pirate ship? Some invisible force was keeping it afloat half a mile above them. Someone came down, wielding a long and deadly scythe – a female, with long confident steps. As the mysterious woman walked towards them, Jae caught the leering red eyes and pale moon face, but the smile was graceful and harmless. The heroine sensed no real danger. Arachnid was apparently happy to see this person. She ran to embrace her. Then Jae realized, Oh yes, this was the vampire Clown had used as a pawn. Hmm, after everything that has taken place, nothing surprises me anymore in this city. “Oh Zafara!” Arachnid burst. “Lady Zafara, you live! But, how is it possible? We thought you’d been betrayed by Super Clown.” After straightening herself out, and pausing to cast a curious gaze at Jae, she replied, “Hehe, well…fancy that. Guess I pulled one over on the Clown.” She lifted the glistening scythe in her hands and smirked. “A few tricks for the trickster. This, my dear, is the real deal. Super Clown merely possessed a fake, but just the same…the experience was still quite unpleasant.” “Of course,” Arachnid grinned, so relieved. “I am glad you are not dead. We are in need of assistance.” “No time to stand here and chat,” Lady Zafara interrupted. “Can’t keep Wiiman waiting. Come aboard, and we’ll discuss things there.” How eerie…ghostly… Kardinal’s eyes darted throughout the basement, taking in everything she saw, which was very little. But from what she could see, she knew what they had finally discovered. So, this is where that traitor had run off to… The late Ventriloquist’s private workshop – one of the underground labs of the Chaos Carnival. She turned towards the guard on her left. His name was Silver. “Light it up.” Without a response the Smasher’s skin glimmered, beginning to harden like steel. In mere seconds, his entire metallic body shined brighter than the glow stick in Kardinal’s firm grip. The guard’s eyes were a flash of white as he grimaced, concentrating his core energy in producing the radiant light. Then he relaxed, sustaining the silvery aura and illuminating the entire area. Kardinal tossed the glow stick and stepped over to a row of shelves. Each shelf was stocked with various kinds of power tools, drills, saws and ill-sharpened scalpels – all different sizes and shapes. One could only guess what purpose they fulfilled. She wasn’t very imaginative, but a few gruesome ideas did come to the Assistant Director’s mind. Kardinal ordered Silver to keep his position and moved on to the middle of the room. There were stationed two stainless steel tables with countless grooves and scratch marks on the dull surfaces. No restraints present though. Hm, must have used drugs as a handicap instead… And then, there were noticeable traces of blood, old and fresh. What in God’s name happened in here? What had that psychotic quack been up to? “Tracker.” The other Smasher guard didn’t budge, but she knew his attention was fully upon her. “You know what we’re looking for. Find it.” Although she could not see beyond the dark tint of his shades, Kardinal knew that his eyes were closed and that he was fully focused on his target. She praised herself for this selected pair. They were both the perfect field agents for this special assignment. Smashers…An amused smile crept onto her tanned face. Such valuable assets, when their powers are under control. She wandered to a desk littered with crumpled notebook papers, coloring books and news clippings. One of the coloring books caught her attention. She lifted it, examining the queer cover. A paper slipped out, landing on the toe of her shoes. “Hm?” A drawing. No, it was not just a simple drawing. She picked it up and stared at the sketch. This is a blueprint of…the device… She carefully took out her HAL Droid and analyzed the device’s layout, storing the information for further evaluation back at SCIF’s HQ. Amazing…so Ivory was still tinkering with toys…Kardinal frowned in obvious distaste at the mad woman’s name. Ever since the discovery of the Chaos Carnival member’s infiltration into SCIF’s secret research, things hadn’t been the same. At the command of the Head Director, the SCIF facility’s security was increased and had become far stricter. Things were getting tense. There were rumors going around of more moles within the organization, of disappearing agents - particularly the Smashers. We’ll get to the bottom of this, and clean house, once and for all. The Project is too important for us to fail. Normally, Kardinal was reluctant to lead any team on most missions. But the device was too important and The Head Director had made a personal request for her to be present on this job. She had interpreted his request as a direct order, so there was no turning it down. However, she didn’t mind. I guess I am a bit rusty with the field work. I could use a break from all those exasperating paper reports. She kept the hardcopy of the blueprint, placing it in the interior pocket of her dark suit. The desk area was a mess, hard to search for anything in particular in such clutter. After opening many crumpled pieces of paper and finding nothing but gibberish, she swerved around to the sound of heavy footfall. “Is it here?” she asked the silent guard called Tracker. He nodded. “Yes, it is.” “Very good. Splendid job,” she praised, something that had become a habit over the years for someone of her position. Only this time, she sincerely meant it. “Where?” Tracker led her to a narrow, metal door where the words ‘Storage Closet’ had been painted over with a new label: PERFORMERS! Large, neon pink font. A person couldn’t miss it, unless they were blind. The smeared paint had run down the entrance like blood and stopped just a foot or so before dripping to the ground. Oddly foreboding. Also, another odd thing was that there was no handle, latch, or knob. The door was completely sealed. “Open it.” There was no time for them to figure out the proper way of getting in. Too much time had been spent in this place already. Tracker removed the obstacle with one solid kick. It landed with a loud crash. Kardinal signaled Silver to follow them inside. The first thing to hit her was the terrible putrid smell - indescribable. She almost choked on it. She looked up and a cold shock traveled up her spine. “Unbelievable…” she breathed, gazing on either side down a long row of occupied steel tables. Tracker led her down the left row and stopped at two familiar figures. Agent Kira and Fang? Never had the Assistant Director felt so sick in her entire life. These were Ivory’s experiments – her toys. Performers…ugh… With all the sutures and carnival makeover, Kardinal could barely recognize the two altered agents. She glanced at the other rows and then it struck her. The missing agents…almost every one of them. Thin metallic, tube-like strings extended from the base of the table and pierced into the arms of each victim, like nightmarish IVs. A monitor beeped noisily above Agent Kira and Fang’s head. Alive? What was keeping them all alive? She followed where the tubes led. They all sprung from a square transparent tank at the far end of the room. Tracker pointed to it and said, “There.” Stunned, the Assistant Director stared blankly at the sleeping person within the bubbling green fluid of the tank. The face was expressionless, eyes closed, flowing black hair; A male child of normal skin complexion – nothing substantial about him other than the fact that he was floating in a tank. No sign of the device. Crossing her arms, irritated, Kardinal replied, “Have you lost your touch Tracker? I see nothing but a boy in a glass aquarium. Where the hell is the device?” Tracker smirked, re-pointed at the slumbering form. All the cords extended from a terminal in the back of his neck. The large screen monitor displayed the subject’s stable brain activity. She scrutinized the bright, flashing readings, noticing a vacant black spot within the brain – just on the left temporal region. Her arms fell as she realized the mission was finally complete. There, within the drifting child, was her prize. “Take him,” She stated, " then plant the C4. When you're finished here, meet me back at the truck. Our job here is done.”

Jae10 -> RE: (HS) The Puppet Master (6/24/2011 1:46:53)
~Aura~ A sense of dark foreboding overcame Jae. She slowly turned from the edge of Wiiman’s sea vessel to face Lady Zafara and Arachnid. In silent dread, she suddenly felt her energy slipping away, her focus crumbling. “I’m not sure what’s wrong…” she said, struggling to overcome a wave of nausea. She leaned back against the rail to support herself. “I can’t feel much of anything right now.” Arachnid took a step forward, the strands of her hair whipping around as a warm breeze passed between them. Wiiman, an expert mage and lieutenant of the Arachnid Clan, was now steering the ship in search of the two missing allies, Range and Shadow Rapter. “What do you mean?” she inquired. Jae stared back over the barge, into the purple haze that clouded over the city. My mind…it’s just like this city now…my mental judgment seems so clouded - useless. “I don’t…I-I’m not sure anymore,” she replied. “I’m losing my grip on everything. I try to focus on things, but…I don’t know…” Ever since that battle with the army of Clown’s copies, my powers have been slightly…altered. Perhaps it was the stress. She did feel very tired. She couldn’t remember the last time she was able to have decent sleep, without any nightmares. “We’ll head back to the Park then,” Zafara cut in, “if the others are still there, we’ll find them. Then we can figure out what to do next.” But what would they do next? Half the city was destroyed, criminals were no doubt still running loose; no sign of Range, Shadow Rapter or any other super being had been manifested. And now, her powers were waning. If someone did manage to defeat Clown, then what? Super City may never be inhabited again. Perhaps this siege was a wound that it could never recover from. The main base of Evil, Skull Deep, laid demolished, as well as HeroSpire, the haven of heroes. Hero Spire, she thought sadly, remembering. I had always longed to go there. Now, it is no more… She was quite sure that all the mighty Smashers that had once frequented this treasured sanctuary had also perished in its downfall: Demolicious, Electina, Antares, the good General Smash, and so many more countless losses. Llussion…Her fingers gripped the wooden rails tighter. He had been her very first partner in crime-fighting - a valiant mentor, and very dear friend. She fought the despair that rose within her, shaking her head numbly. These feelings aren’t going to help us win. I can’t let them control me…ever… Lady Zafara ordered, “Turn her around Wiiman - to Aurora Park.” Jae observed the skilled mage steer his vessel from Overlook, veering it back northeast. She peered out into the gloomy expanse and saw myriads of dots hovering over the Park at some distance ahead. “What are those?” Arachnid was leaning forward beside her, squinting at the sight. “They look like…airplanes?” With her black and gold telescope Lady Zafara likewise, stared ahead. She frowned and stated crisply, “These aren’t just your average planes. They’re toting bombs…nuclear by the looks of it.” Eyes widened, Jae asked, “Where did they come-” She stopped in mid sentence. “Oh, Super Clown is behind this.” The vampire nodded. “Of course. Your friends are probably very busy dealing with this fresh nuisance. If anyone of those nuclear bombs is triggered, Super City, along with half this hemisphere will probably cave in on itself from the explosion.” “Increasing the knots,” Wiiman called out after overhearing their grave conversation. “We should get there in no time to assist.” “Good.” Lady Zafara replied, still gazing through her telescope. “We’ve no time to spare right now.” The ship glided onwards. The wind velocity increased so quickly that Jae felt as if she’d be lifted off. The bloated black and red sails flapped noisily above them. With each minute, Jae felt the large craft continue to pickup speed. She decided for one last time to try and reach out for the presence of the missing time walker. Nothing…she could sense nothing around the areas they blew past. No disturbances whatsoever. Frustrated, she tried the same for Shadow Rapter and once more, she failed. This is worse than Ivory’s drugs…My concentration is so unstable…Mentally seeing things now was like trying to hold on to dry sand – almost impossible. She turned to Arachnid. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be of much help. My telepathy, even my telekinesis, are just off right now. I can’t explain why my powers seem to be fading from me.” “Fading?” Jae could see the concern in Arachnid’s eyes. “You mean forever?” “I’m not sure. I feel so, drained…” “Go.” Lady Zafara had appeared, her crimson eyes narrowed at Jae. “You’re in no condition to be standing around here. There are some cabins below where you can get some proper rest. Arachnid will show you.” “I really want to be of some help at least,” Jae protested, leaning feebly against the mast. “Maybe if I could help disable a few of the bombs…” Lady Zafara shook her head, firmly resolved. “As shaky as you’re powers are now, you’d cause more harm than good. One mishandled bomb could end us all. I’m telling you to go away, not asking.” Although her words stung, Jae knew that she was right. Too much was at risk for her to be tampering with the balance of things. “Alright,” she agreed, feeling suddenly, more sluggish than anything. “Lead the way Arachnid.” She followed her from the clamoring deck and down into the bowels of the ship, where they strode past a hall of narrow corridors. Arachnid turned right at the very end and entered one of the cabin quarters. “Here,” she said, holding the door open as Jae shuffled past her. Jae collapsed immediately on the cot, the energy she had left literally seeping from her exhausted body. All the fighting and sleep deprivation had taken a severe toll on her. Now she realized she had exerted too much of her mental strength. A single beam of light shot down into the darkness through the porthole above her head, illuminating a small portion of the space. “I’m going back up,” Arachnid declared. She smirked. “Don’t worry Jae. We’ll handle whatever Super Clown throws at us. This fight shall be over soon. I’m very sure of it.” Then she was gone and all Jae could think about was the deaths she’d caused. It still clawed at her conscious to have ended thirteen lives so easily, so quickly – all with barely a thought but one of blinding rage. Is that why I’m dying? She pondered, feeling a bit of regret over the lie she’d told Arachnid moments before, in order to conceal something much worse than fading powers. She knew she was losing more than just mental energy; that her vitality was also declining. It didn’t make sense why, but she had come to accept this sobering truth the very moment it dawned on her, that she wasn’t going to make it – that once she drifted off into eternal sleep, she would never be awakened again. Jae managed a rueful smile. I’m quite fine with that…sleeping forever…She closed her eyes to the light above her. The boat rocked as it landed in the nearby river. The sound of rushing water was like music being played from far off. I have done my very best – whole heart, soul, and mind. My friends…I know they can face the coming danger and come out victorious – they must…save this city… She murmured, “I want to rest now, only for a little while…maybe more…” The dying heroine, ready to embrace death, suddenly recoiled as a loud, piercing scream shattered her mind. Her bright sapphire eyes shot open; the hazy world of silence broken. Her pupils constricted as shock overcame her. She knew that terrible scream. Jae clutched the back of her head as a spike of pain propelled her forward. It was like someone jabbing a screwdriver in the base of her skull from behind. “RAEVEN!” She gasped, choking on air. The only word she could manage to utter before stumbling onto the hard floor, thrashing her legs about. The screaming drowned in merciless agony as another burst of pain came through. Her head throbbed intensely with a headache worse than any of her childhood. Jae could not end her shrieking as the miserable stabbing continued over and over, until she felt she could take no more. Wallowing on the wooden floorboards, trying desperately to relieve the explicit torture that was continuously ripping her conscious apart, Jae quivered violently. She beheld something frightful, a vision that had latched onto her mind like a vicious animal. Through the mental bond she shared with Raeven, she vibrantly felt her sister and all the rippling pain she was enduring. A shrill voice flooded into her head. The echo of laughter. A familiar painted smile. Muffled words drifted into Jae’s own mind, searing her thoughts with insanity. She pushed them away, struggling to free herself from this mental link. She could not stop the mounting hatred, neither the morbid sense of indignation she felt rising within. “Can’t you see she’s hurting?!” Jae shouted furiously, upon deaf ears. “Leave her alone, you Monster!” How she wished she was there to end her sister’s suffering; she wondered if Raeven could hear her pleading for her sister’s life. “Raeven…where are you?” She thought she knew this place, or at least, she felt Raeven knew this place she was seeing now. It was cold and smelled like rotting death. Barely a speck of light, but even in complete darkness, Jae could recognize the unnatural grin of Clown the Jester anywhere. His pale fingers stabbed the long sharp end of a needle into her sister’s skull. The twins’ proved inseparable, sharing this unbearable pain as one: A crackling stream of chaotic energy coarsed through Raeven. Her entire face felt as if a bucket of acid had been dumped there. Her anguish became Jae’s as the pain penetrated through both their minds, making it as real as ever. The nightmare was far from over as long metal coils appeared, descending, like wrathful snakes, from above. They dug into Raeven’s arm like fiery leeches embedded in her flesh. Her inhumane screech cut Jae far worse than any blade. “Father…” Raeven’s hollow voice echoed, somewhere beyond the pain. “Father…it hurts…” Tears stained Jae’s face as these whispered words plagued her mind. Raeven’s thoughts was an erratic storm of confusion and bottomless anger. Jae struggled, she fought hard to reach her…to heal her… “I'm here, Raeven. I am always here. I will not leave you. I promise! I won’t let you fall…not to the Clown, not to his lies.” “No…no, they are not lies...I understand now…I understand everything…” Raeven’s bitter voice crept into Jae’s conscious, barely a voice at all. “Leave me…alone…” “Please Raeven…listen to me, I beg you.” “I said…leave me alone!” “But, I want to help you Raeven…I’m your sister, Raeven. I care about you, more than anything! Please, let me help you…” “Help…me? Ha…ha ha…Hahaha…HELP ME?! AHA HA HA HA HA HA HAHAAAAA…HELP ME!?!?” Raw, untamable, haunting laughter. Raeven’s mind had finally snapped, unleashing a feral surge of psychic energy. A bright frenzy of emerald light purged Jae’s vision as the madness sunk in, swallowing Raeven’s brittle conscious. The essence of her sister’s spirit fallen into Chaos. The link severed… Raeven was completely lost now. Jae tried vaguely in search for Raeven again, but to no avail. The vision had depleted the rest of her energy. Seized by tremors, she stared vacantly up into the empty porthole from the ground. All her will had gone out from her. There were no more tears, not even pain. In the end, she let go of all reality and plunged into a blue world of infinite radiance.

Jae10 -> RE: (HS) The Puppet Master (6/29/2011 18:39:26)
~The Great Vanishing Act~ The ship arrived just in time as their allies attempted to gather the majority of the incoming planes in one combined, telekinetic grip. One of the Smashers tossed something into the giant ball of air crafts, effectively disabling them all. Unfortunately, the remnant of nuclear airplanes that they could not stop released their deadly burden. The sky began raining bombs. If even one of them exploded, an entire chain reaction would destroy the super beings. The rest of Super City would be blown to bits and the whole area littered in nuclear fallout radiation. The land would be virtually uninhabitable after such devestation. Wiiman immediately let Zafara assume his position at steering and quickly cast a spell – it was random and instinctive, but now, it became their last chance at survival. Everyone onboard the vessel ducked as the bombs exploded. They expected the rest of Super City to be torn apart. Instead, they heard nothing more than the sound of crackling, like firecrackers. There was no deafening nuclear explosion, nothing more deadly than a bright display of bursting lights and colorful smoke. Wiiman had saved them all by a simple festival trick. Zafara smirked at the dark irony of it. “Fireworks,” the mage said, grinning nervously. “Hm, interesting spell,” Zafara replied. She was mostly relieved that it had actually worked on their behalf. She slowed the heavy ship to a stop, by the river’s shore. There was Ancient Darkness, War Pro, Velmur, Thundersmite, Drakkoniss, a kid named Blue Gear, and to her great surprise Shadow Rapter was also present among them. But, she swiftly recovered from the unexpected discovery. So, he made it back…of course…She knew now was not the best time to deal with him, not while their lives were endangered by a much more immediate threat. Whoever this Range was though, he was evidently still missing or presumably dead. Blue Gear called out to them…something about Gray Silhouette, but she could not properly hear him from where he was hovering, so they were all welcomed aboard. The first to confront her was Drakkoniss, looking more serious than usual, a worn expression on his face. Without wasting time, Lady Zafara demanded, “Where’s Gray?” “He’s going to weaken Super Clown,” Drakkoniss answered, secretly amazed that the person standing before him was alive and well. He thought about the various circumstances that could have made this possible and came to the conclusion that Lady Zafara was simply unpredictable in many ways. “Yes,” Blue Gear confirmed a second later. “We need to go back to Gray Silhouette. This whole stunt was just a way for Clown to keep us busy. I know he’s going after him.” “‘Weaken Super Clown!?’” she exclaimed. “By himself? Is he crazy? That fool is going to get himself killed.” “He knows what he’s doing – what he’s risking,” stated Drakkoniss, calmly brandishing his axe. “Still, it’s suicide. We’re going to find him, and we’re all going to help. He’s our friend, whether he accepts it or not.” “Whoa,” Velmur interrupted. “What is that?” He pointed to the bow of the ship where the water began to ripple and stir. It swelled until a giant mechanical duck arose; turrets popped from its nostrils & began pouring a torrent reign of fire power at the Smashers still hovering in the air. Wiiman, once more taking immediate action, veered the ship’s cannons towards the colossal mechanical Ducky. “Fire! Now!” He ordered as several of his crew returned the Ducky’s attack with a barrage of cannon blasts. Their cannon balls barely left a scratch on its metal surface. “QUAAAAACK! QUAAAAAACKAKAKAKAKA!” it screamed. “This is completely ridiculous,” Ancient Darkness muttered angrily. He shot black shadowy beams at the Ducky, doing his best to consume its constant stream of bullets. The armored water fowl ceased fire and spread one of its wings at Wiiman’s vessel, striking it with such a tremendous force that it was lifted several feet into the air. “Abandon ship! Abort!” He cried. The entire crew leapt overboard. Velmur, Blue Gear, Shadow Rapter and Thundersmite managed to save each member, gathering them to some safety ashore. The ship plummeted back into the river, sending a wall of water towards the Smashers. The sails snapped from the force of its impact and the entire vessel slowly descended into the watery depths. Thumdersmite appeared, sheathing his sword and sending a raging blizzard that froze the oncoming tidal waves. He struck them with a bolt of lightening sending several, sharp, pelting shards of ice at the mechanical fowl. The giant Ducky, hardly dissuaded from its chaotic task, swerved within the water, shooting a single missile at the scurrying crew. War Pro quickly acted, trapping the rocket in a black swirling vortex that spun it back from where it came – striking the metal duck with a great force. The surviving crew members loudly cheered as smoke and flames exploded around the armored bird. It disappeared from sight for a few moments until a horrendous screech overpowered the ruckus of their brief celebration. This battle was far from over. The smoke cleared and there, the unharmed Ducky floated. Its giant mechanical bill parted, launching several heat seeking missiles. Two of the missiles knocked Thundersmite and War Pro from the sky, hurling them several hundred meters downstream. “We have to think this through!” Blue Gear yelled over the frenzy of more gun power from the duck’s turrets. He shot more lasers at the turrets, hitting one directly. It exploded, fire licking the duck’s nostrils. “I’ve got an idea!” He aimed at the other turret, making sure he didn’t miss and then went in close range, tossing two ionic detonators into each smoking crevasse. The electric shockwave of both detonations short-circuited the Ducky’s built-in devices, rendering them now useless. But, there was still its thick metal armor to break through. “QUACKAKAKA! QUACK, QUACK! QUAAAAACK!” The monstrous bird flailed sluggishly, shrieking. Ancient Darkness, along with War Pro and Shadow Rapter were now using extreme amounts of energy, focusing their combined power into containing this threat within a giant mass of darkness. The Ducky’s huge metal wings extended, trying desperately to combat the mounting pressure of their dark force. Lady Zafara suddenly lunged behind the duck, swinging her lethal scythe upon the mechanical beast’s neck. The ancient force of her weapon pierced its surface like paper. She slashed repeatedly, vengeful, until the creature’s head ripped from its neck, plunging into the river. She bolted as the decapitated bird’s entire body started to sizzle and spark violently. “Hold it together!” Wiiman shouted anxiously at the three villains, reinforcing their dark prison with his own strength. Their black spherical force field managed to contain the malfunctioning beast as it burst apart. Then, it suddenly imploded leaving no visible trace of the titanic bird. “Whew! Glad that’s finally over,” Velmur said. “Hopefully, there will be no more surprises.” “One can never be too sure,” Lady Zafara stated coolly, her eyes searching the spot where their foe had just been annihilated. “I think we’ve wasted enough of our valuable time and energy here...” Ancient suddenly loomed in front of her. He grimaced and crossed his shadowy arms. “Drakkoniss has already gone to find that stubborn vigilante. He said Gray was in some serious trouble and then departed during the battle, hours ago I might add.” “So impulsive,” she murmured, severely frustrated. “There’s no telling where Gray and Drakkoniss are now.” “I think…I might know where Gray went,” said Blue Gear, landing between the two. “It’s just an idea…a possibility.” “That’s good enough,” Zafara replied, casting a solemn glance at Wiiman. Now there was just the matter of how to get there. She hoped they wouldn’t be too late…If Gray and Drakkoniss failed together, then all of their struggles would have been for naught. “A real shame,” Wiiman sighed. “I’ve no ship to take us. That foul water fowl destroyed it.” From nowhere, Arachnid’s terrible cry made them all jump. She pointed frantically at the river. “Madame! The ship! It’s – it’s gone!” “Yea?” Velmur responded to the bewildered Arachnid. “Remember? It got blasted by our old friend, Mecha Duckzilla.” “No!” she gasped, staring at where Wiiman’s ship had sunk. “In the ship! Jae! She was in there! Jae’s…gone!”

Jae10 -> RE: (HS) The Puppet Master (8/5/2011 18:06:08)
~Epilogue~ The Smashers had finally arrived at a place that marked a battle of epic proportions, lead by Blue Gear. The blue armored teenager took them to a ruined block where the apartments that once stood there were nothing more than just a pile of rubbles, as well as every other building in the surrounding vicinity. It was amazing that so much destruction had occurred without their noticing. But their entire struggle since the beginning of this endless Chaos had left them all more preoccupied than usual. They had battled what seemed like an endless obstacle of the unexpected to the most insane of impossibilities, ranging from chaotic riots to a giant mechanical duck – and so much more in between. And now, the long grueling struggle against the Madness was finally over…or so it appeared. A storm had passed over the main metropolis of Super City, turning the pollutant dust clouds to sludge. A land mine of large and small puddles rippled gently as heavy droplets pelted what was left of the exposed asphalt. However, the weather was the last thing in everyone’s thoughts as they huddled around the headless remains of a familiar pale and purplish form lying lifelessly still in a murky lake of water. Awe was etched on all their faces. An unfathomable reality was sprung upon them, and the haunting presence of nearby Death brought an empty silence among the group as they carefully approached the startling scene. Was this truly it? Was this genuinely the end of one the greatest Disasters that had ever existed within the marred boundaries of Super City? War Pro prodded the limp form of what appeared to be formerly, Super Clown, now reduced to a harmless heap of matter. “Um, is that really Clown or is this just another one of his clones?” said Velmur. “This could be another joke of his…” A sudden chill had seized them all as the rain continued to pour around them, rain drops clinking like a symphony of wind chimes against stray, broken metal beams. “No…It’s Clown alright,” Blue Gear confirmed a minute later, picking up a pen-shaped gadget. The heroes and villains immediately recognized it as the anti-malachite device that Gray had forced Mr. Purple to create after “rescuing” the evil inventor from LOCKDOWN. “Gray definitely used it. It’s empty. He managed to drain all the extra malachite energy from him.” That was the good news – the best thing they could ever hope to hear. This was what they had all wanted, what they had risked their very lives to accomplish – the end of this mass murdering Clown. But then there was the bad news, which they had dreaded. “Where is Gray?” Zafara peered at the surrounding destruction, scanning the debris for signs of the vigilante. “I’ve a better question,” Velmur spoke up. “Where’s Drakkoniss? You think it’s possible he did this to Clown the Jester?” “No doubt. Look…Drakkoniss was definitely here.” War Pro surveyed a trail of large craters and fissures in the ground - damage that was clearly trademarked by the bold warrior’s art of battle. “He finally ended that deranged Harlequin’s pathetic ‘Game’.” “Hmm, I say we split up and do a more thorough search of this place,” Ancient Darkness cut in impatiently. He peered evenly at the Clown’s lifeless body. A discernable smirk appeared. “Who gets the last laugh now Clown?” he murmured, crossing his arms smugly. He had always detested that perpetual grin, the defiling laughter. His reckless behavior had almost ruined everything the Shadows stood for. Such conduct bore intolerable consequences. Ancient Darkness knew precisely the true nature of Evil; it was more than just a place for lowlifes to gather. There were things worse than the abominable creatures of Skull Deep, far worse things than Clown’s brief period of mass chaos and wanton death…and Ancient would certainly be there when those things were unleashed. He was an Evil Shadow lord after all. “Wait - does that mean it’s over?” Arachnid anxiously inquired. “No more crazy pranks or terrible punch lines? Clown the Jester’s…really dead?” “It would seem so,” said Zafara, still clutching her scythe tightly. Rainwater continued dripping from its lethal tip. “Gray and Drakkoniss succeeded.” “You mean all that hard work and we miss Clown’s final demise!?” Velmur complained, but he was really relieved inside. They all were. It had been a long, disheartening fight and the victory was bittersweet. More than half of Super City was now an abandoned desolate wasteland – not to mention the total loss of Skull Deep and Hero Spire. Stray convicts from LOCKDOWN and other breached prison facilities were undoubtedly still running loose. It was a new period of darkness for the city – one to rival that legendary day where a valiant Heroine dared to challenge the incredible force of a mysterious Foe. The second Dark Age. Much had to be done and there was still the dwindling hope that perhaps this scorched land was redeemable. A noise rumbled in the distance, growing louder. The small black silhouette of a vehicle came drifting slowly over dunes of broken clutter, growing more distinct as the distance between it and the Smashers diminished. “Is that a… an ambulance?” Velmur exclaimed, squinting more than usual in order to obtain a better view. The blue and white ambulance crunched over broken glass and metal beams and parked abruptly just in front of the bewildered Smashers. The flashing sapphire and amber lights illuminated the transparent gloom of fiberglass and twisted metal shards. A short petite girl with a red ponytail of long hair stepped out of the driver side and quickly approached them, accompanied by a taller, darker fellow holding a long, metal rod. The odd pair stopped a few feet short of Thundersmite and the girl shouted, “You’re all alive? This is…amazing!” The perplexed Olympian’s brow rose a few inches. “You are…?” “I’m a nurse! Nurse Medic!” she introduced, in overwhelming delight. The spindly, mysterious Smasher who had ridden with her stepped forward and said, “I’m Spear, a weapon specialist.” At the tip of his long silver and turquoise javelin, electricity sparkled. He grinned, shaking Thundersmite and the others’ hands - everyone’s except Ancient, who proudly refused by crossing his arms and leering at the strangers. “A little late to find us after all the trouble we’ve gone through to be rid of that fool Harlequin,” he sneered. “That’s certainly true,” Shadow Rapter agreed. Both the newcomers’ eyes widened. “Clown’s…dead?” Medic asked, completely taken aback. Zafara pointed tersely to the drenched, limp form. The nurse gasped, her hands reflexively went to her mouth in surprise. “You mean…you guys stopped him and his crazy Chaos Carnival? You saved the city!” “Kinda,” said Velmur. “We, uh, sorta helped…a lot, actually. Gray came up with the brilliant plan, of course, and we all agreed and did our best to execute it.” “Wasn’t easy,” Zafara added. “We lost a number of brave Smashers. Gray is probably dead and there’s hardly a trace of Drakkoniss left anywhere. We don’t know what happened here, but all that matters is that that psychotic Clown was finally put down thanks mainly to those two.” “But, we lost so many,” Arachnid reiterated gravely. “Blackshock, David Blitz, Defiant, Jae…not to mention everyone in the city and even those that perished in the fall of Hero Spire.” “And that of Skull Deep,” Ancient Darkness interjected. “Overcast was another senseless casualty…the worthiest of my opponents. And the time walker Range has also vanished, a great mystery.” Spear crossed his arms, reflecting on all that the heroes and villains had spoken. “So Dr. Blackshock was one of them?” Thundersmite and the others nodded. “A shame,” Medic sighed. “He was really good at his work, helping others whenever there were those who needed healing and aid. I used to be apart of his staff years ago, when I was just an intern and I barely had the ability to control my own powers. He was inspirational!” She wiped away a few tears that had formed in her eyes and tried to regain her endearing smile. “It seems that you all saved Super City from the absolute worse.” “You think we saved this city? Look at this place…it’s in utter ruins! There’s really nothing left that counts as salvage,” he sharply pointed out. “Besides, my only objective was to kill Clown and revenge the tarnished reputation he has cast upon me and the entire League of Skull Deep. That’s it.” “Oh...We are very sorry.” The villain barely regarded this apology. Medic continued, “But, our work is far from over. We were in Liberty Square when the first Chaos raid struck the city. Professor Smash immediately contacted us to lead as many civilians as possible to a safe location outside of the city limits, towards the south east. We had to be very careful. Smashers who had lived under secret identities found us and offered to help us set up a recovery base. It seems your efforts distracted the Clown from finding us there. Without your offensive tactics, he would have surely continued to extend his reign of terror and completely engulfed the entire planet in worldwide Chaos. But now we can restore some of the peace and begin to restore Super City, little by little. “Professor Smash plans to immediately launch a huge recovery effort. That’s why we’re here. Now that everything’s over, we can patrol the ruins for more victims that may be trapped under collapsed buildings and such.” “So you plan to rebuild the city, huh?” Zafara shifted her scythe. “Sounds like a challenge. You know, there are still a few outlaws loose within the city – not to mention the remnant of Clown’s Chaos Carnival. You might run into some trouble along the way.” “It’s expected,” Spear stated. “We’re prepared to handle any and all resistance. This has to get done, or Super City will never be returned anywhere close to its former state of glory, before it became Clown’s playground.” “Count me in,” Thundersmite eagerly volunteered. “I can battle the Chaos Carnival all night after what they did to Hero Spire and all the innocents that suffered at their hands.” “Me too.” Velmur adamantly replied. “I’m willing to do all that I can to help…anything to restore Peace and Order. Someone has to put an end to all this misery and keep it that way.” Zafara, Arachnid and Wiiman did not object and were also willing to be of some assistance. On the other hand, War Pro, Ancient Darkness and Shadow Rapter were silent until Ancient spoke up, saying, “We’ve done our part to help defeat Clown and now its time I attended to more pressing matters. Restore this hopeless city if you’d like. I don’t care…I have plans of my own.” He vanished from them, trailed by what remained of his shadow armada. “I agree,” said War Pro a minute later. “This restoration project is a waste of my precious time and dark energy. I’m no longer needed here, nor do I wish to spend anymore time on your futile attempts at ‘Peace.’ I’m out.” Then he too disappeared. “Heroes…” Shadow Rapter scoffed. He caught Zafara’s eye and glared. “You and I will meet again, Vampire…” Like the others, Shadow Rapter departed within the blink of an eye, refusing to be bothered by ‘petty’ tasks. No villains left to cause disturbances, at least for the time being. What remained of their small group joined in aiding the restoration of Super City, which was led mainly by Professor Smash. “Hey,” Arachnid piped. “What happened to Blue Gear?” Several pairs of eyes darted in search for the missing teenage boy. He had wandered off during their meeting and had not yet returned. “Blue Gear?” inquired the puzzled nurse. “Who is that?” “He’s a Smasher too. He helped us defeat Super Clown by repairing the anti-malachite device that reversed his powers, and he’s also the reason we’re here.” “Anti-malachite device? What a clever idea…But, I suppose we should get out of this rainy weather and then you can explain more inside.” Medic quickly ushered them into the back of the ambulance, and handed them towels to dry off. “Where exactly is this base that you’ve established?” Thundersmite asked the nurse after they piled in. As Spear started up the engine, Medic turned once more and grinned pleasantly. “Oh, it’s well hidden and quite…secure. We managed to sneak out as many of what remained of the police force and residential stragglers, not to mention the Smashers that volunteered to help us – those who were not in Hero Spire when Clown downed it, of course. In fact, after our patrol, we’ll be heading back there to stock more supplies and rotate the rescue shifts. You’ll be surprised who managed to slip through the Chaos Carnival’s fingers…” “Should we wait for your friend to return?” Spear called out from the driver’s seat. Zafara thought about it. She had a vague feeling that Blue Gear wasn’t coming back and she sensed he had departed for a reason, a reason she would not bother to pry into. Besides, she didn’t feel she had a right to do such a thing. Blue Gear had his destiny, and so did they. “No, we must press on…without him, I’m afraid,” she finally answered. “He can hold his own. I’m sure of it.” “Alright then…” The vehicle began to lurch forward, trudging deeper into the heavy mist of downpour that enveloped Super City. “…We’re off…” We used to always ask…Why? Why can’t they see what we see? Why can’t they see that... everything, all that they stand for…is nothing more than a waste of time? But we do not ask anymore. We know the Truth – the Reality. The…Joke. They are all the same…hilarious spectacles! They are…victims of the Joke…Of course…we understand who they really are, what they fight against. It is a meaningless plight. Give in to the sanity that is Insanity…It all makes sense because nothing makes sense, heheheh. They are all the same…always the same…since the Beginning until the End. They are always the same… There is no such thing as control. No! We will not be controlled. Never again…never… We know…what we must do. We will…force them all to see. They will all finally see…what they hide from. Face the Pain of Life and submit to Laughter… Yes, hehe, they will laugh, all of them... Smile…yes, they will smile for us, all of them. No, we will not stop their fragile ‘plans’ now. It is…amusing…hehehe…terribly funny…to think that they can even have ‘plans’. There is no such thing as control. Let them rebuild this city. Let them tie the strings around themselves, hehe. Reset the board and place every piece in its proper position. Then, we will spread the Fun…once more… I am…Raeven…I am... the Jester… And I call…a Rematch…WA HA HA HAHAHAHAHA…

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