Heroes: The Road of Good Intentions

[Agent Fisher]

Ghost sighed. He decocked his pistol and safetied it, sitting down on a chair facing the couch. The spook reached out and set the pistol down and then rubbed his face with his hands.

"Thanks, Saibot." He said. "I could use your help. I'm hoping you can get me info on an Ultima Meta, named Gazer. The basic info, nothing really serious, date of birth, SSN, his address, that sort of thing." Ghost said, not fully ready to admit he wanted revenge, not until he was sure Saibot was willing to help with revenge.

[Cynical Cat]

"Primordial doesn't offend me. As a label it only means 'old' and that part of me is certainly old. The other baggage, of being powerful and alien to human moral concerns is certainly correct. Let me put it this way: we are the sum of our experiences and our biology. My biology has been changing since the pieces of me first came into contact, but my experiences have merged. Only one part had a brain working above the basic animal level and so the human part makes up the largest part of the joined personality."

[LadyTevar]

"That does explain your actions when I was possessed," Li Na said thoughtfully, before throwing Blackheart a wicked grin. "I hope she was tasty."

[B4UTRUST]

"This is KPIX News Team 5 San Francisco with Juliette Goodrich reporting. In US news tonight an earthquake struck a small town in New Mexico nearly collapsing a mountain and destroying the nearby town of Dulce, New Mexico. Dulce is home to a large Apache indian reservation, which by early reports, has been almost completely destroyed. Red Cross and FEMA relief teams, as well as numerous search and rescue groups have moved into place in an effort to locate any survivors.

"The earthquake, hitting at over 7 on the richter scale, set off numerous sympathy quakes ranging all the way into Arizona. The cause of the initial quake was suspected to be the collapse of numerous old mining tunnels in the Dulce mountain area. Aerial photos of the mountain show that it has in fact sunk over fifty foot below its previous height, indicating severe internal collapse. We will of course keep you updated with more on this as it breaks."


"This is KGO-7 ABC news with Eric Harris. Tragedy struck today in a New Mexico town as a large earthquake rocked the area. Many are believed dead and government agencies are en route to help. The quake registered at over 7 on the richter scale..."

"This is CNN news. This just in, a 7.2 Earthquake has just hit New Mexico, outside of Alberquerque. Reports say the quake was felt as far away as California. The local Homeland Security office is asking for people to stay calm as the damage is assessed...."

"This is MSNBC. The earthquake that was felt as far away as California is assumed to be caused by the collapse of multiple mining tunnels, abandoned over a century ago in one of the mountains on the outskirts of Alberquerque. As you can see in this footage, Dulce Mountain has actually collapsed in upon itself, losing several dozen meters in height as the old mines collapse"

CNN: "...as we reported, the earthquake was a 7.2 on the Richter scale, yet amazingly all damage seems to be limited to the Dulce Mountain area. Minor injuries were reported elsewhere from falling objects...."

MSNBC: "... calls placed to the offices of Raising Caine Enterprises have been answered only with a recorded message stating the company was currently closed."
A clip of the recording follows:
"We would like to assure you that as soon as our business is resumed, announcements will be made in all fahsionable government publications"

"In financial news, Omni-tech the world-wide tech firm that is remembered for ending the Microsoft a few years back, has closed the doors of several of its factories today. This came as a shocking development on Wallstreet as Omnitech stock plumeted in light of this. The stockmarket itself fluctuated wildly as a result.

"In an interview with Aaron 'Omni' Maddenson earlier today he stated that it was all for the good of the company and that there was nothing to be worried about. This seems at odds with the development, though Omnitech has consistantly hit its projected profit goals every quarter for years and has showed no signs of failing to do so now. Omnitech is one of the world's largest diverse tech companies, with divisions ranging from entertainment to biotech research and marketing along with military contracts for design and development of powered body-armors and weapons."

"W-wait, this just in..."

The video feed cut to a reporter on scene in the Mojave desert at one of the Omnitech facilities. The video was filled with static and noise and the reporter's face was covered in dirt and caked blood oozing from numerous cuts.
"Can you tell us what's happening, John?"
"I-I don't know. The place started powering up again! The ma-machines all came back online. A-and the workers... Oh oh God, the weapons platforms..."

A roar was heard in the background as the reporter's body was thrown out of view of the camera. A second later the camera crashed to the ground, the lens cracking but it still transmitted. A pool of blood grew in front of the camera on the ground and a figure stepped into view. The camera was lifted as it was turned.

The man in the camera view was Omni himself. He no longer appeared quite human, his body and face pitted and scared with wires and tubes and unknown mechanical implants visable. When he spoke it was with a monotone voice, not unlike that of a computer.
"Omnitech is now under my control. The flesh of humanity is weak. We shall correct this..."

The camera went black in an instant and ceased transmission. The video feed went back to the studio.
"I-I'm not sure what to say to this. Our deepest sympathies go out to John's family. We can only hope for the best..."

[Cynical Cat]

Blackheart was blind, but not deaf. The first part of the news report struck him like a hammer. "A town? He wiped out fucking town?" Rage filled his body. "That fucking murderous piece of shit! I should have killed him." His rage dwindled as additional reports came in to suggest that the damage might not have been as severe as earlier reported.

The second piece penetrated his haze of anger. "Fuck. We've got to do something."

[SirNitram]

"So much for time to rest and recuperate.. What the hell." Gravitas grunted. "I didn't know you people had tech-demons."

[frigidmagi]

Blast walked into the room for the tail end of the news report. He had been about to report to Blackheart his conservation and deal with Hydro but this... Kinda lousy timing. A good chunk of the team was still hurting and depleted. Still letting that thing run loose? Seemed a bad idea.

"Well.... Fuck. What do we do boss?" Blast asked.

[Cynical Cat]

"Talk," said Blackheart. "Sound off about how chewed up you are and your opinions of our options. I'm almost fucking useless. No death beam, no vision, and a shit load of significant injuries."

[frigidmagi]

"I got juice and I'm pretty untouched. Wish I could get some rest but I can keep going. Also, if this guy is a machine... I think I can shut him down, just grab and drain him dry. Maybe just some of us go?" Blast said pulling his mask back on.

[LadyTevar]

The soft stream of Chinese curses trailed off as Blackheart admitted the obvious. They were too depleted to do anything. "Blast, you, Hotfoot, Hydro, and Gravitas are the only ones with any juice left," Li Na reminded him. "Blackheart's right; I'm about to fall over, Elias is running on empty, and Leg ...." she trailed off with a guilty look to the blanket-covered figure laid out on the couch, unable to even say his name, much less finish the sentence.

[frigidmagi]

"Grav can warp us over there. I have to ask Hydro if he will help us though. It's up to him. Where's Hotfoot?" Blast said.

[Cynical Cat]

"Sounds about right," said Blackheart. "Objections or counter proposals?"

[General Havoc]

Hydro had heard the sound of the flesh-beast light and sound production machine from out in the garden, and had silently slithered over to the door, his tendril staring mutely at the Flesh Beasts in the room as they debated what was to be done with this new information.

He tendered a question.

"You intend to engage and destroy the Pyronic entity displayed upon your viewing device?" he asked. This seemed clear enough. "Are you familiar with it? Was it in league with the pyronic entities responsible for the more recent engagements?"

He was still unclear as to who these flesh beasts were and what their objectives were, but there was something else to it.

"Based on such observations as were made by the flesh beast projected from your viewing device, the entity would appear to possess the means of inflicting severe physical traumas upon objects or entities. Are you not all suffering presently from the aftereffects of such traumas? I do not understand the situation at present here, but it would appear based on previous experience that this entity, if aligned philosophically with the Pyronics, will be eager to inflict further traumas when and where it finds itself capable."

Hydro paused for a moment.

"Do... you possess the means to engage such an entity and destroy it? You... are proposing an expedition with that end in mind, yes?"

[Hotfoot]

Hotfoot appeared in the room with a flash, his shield shed as he walked into sight. His body seemed more animated, he was swaying back and forth, an attempt to hide the shaking he couldn't control any longer. "Couldn't find anything, what's going on?"

[frigidmagi]

"Do... you possess the means to engage such an entity and destroy it? You... are proposing an expedition with that end in mind, yes?"

"Yes." Blast said. He thought about giving Hydro another speech about how that was what they did and how it was their duty but in the end there didn't seem to be alot of time. Besides Actions spoke louder then words.

[SirNitram]

"There's a few of us uninjured." Gravitas said simply. "If you're up to it, you could be helpful. Appears to be flesh-circuitry amalgam. How would you say 'Electric Beast'?" A smirk. "I'll open the spatial warp once Hotfoot and you decide if you want in."

[General Havoc]

Hydro considered Blast's simple answer for a moment. Bubbles formed within him and gurgled as they reached his surface. His tendril swung lazily back and forth between various Metafleshbeasts.

"Perhaps... I can be of some assistance in that regard?" he said perfectly normally. "If that creature is an associate of the Pyronics, then I should prefer to see it destroyed. Moreover, I do not understand why I have been brought to this place, but I would estimate that my being present here precluded my own destruction in the events that took place shortly after our departure from the Pyronics' laboratories. Insofar as this is the case... if you require aid in destroying the pyro-metallic entity, it should pose no particular difficulty providing it.

[frigidmagi]

'Thank you. I appreciate it." Blast replied.

[SirNitram]

Hotfoot appeared in the room with a flash, his shield shed as he walked into sight. His body seemed more animated, he was swaying back and forth, an attempt to hide the shaking he couldn't control any longer. "Couldn't find anything, what's going on?"

"The mountain collapsed, obliterating an entire town. But more pressingly, we've got some kind of guy fused with technology at Omnitech." Gravitas flipped the channels, knowing some 24 hour one would be constantly replaying the footage. "Flesh is weak is a bad sign. The idea is we warp in there. Blast tries to drain him, Hydro either bludgeons or short circuits, or honestly, whatever the guy wants, and we try and contain, I think. Think you can run civ crowd control while I try and handle the automated defenses sure to be online?"

[Hotfoot]

Hotfoot paused as Gravitas spoke, nodding loosely. "Yeah...yeah sure. When are we leaving?"

[frigidmagi]

"No time like now I would say." Blast answered Hotfoot.

[SirNitram]

"Sooner we hit the site, less time he has to dig in, take hostages, convert baselines." Gravitas pointed out. "Hydro?"

[Hotfoot]

"Right...right. Let's stop them, it, whatever," he rubbed his eyes, blinking a few times. "Just give me a moment," His shield snapped back on and he left the room. Within the space of a minute, he was back, chugging a large bottle of a sports drink.

[frigidmagi]

"Alright, then..." Blast looked over to Hydro, who seemed to have no objections... Or opinions for that matter. Yeah... He looked over to Grav and nodded.

"Kick it man." He said. He grinned at Argent and Blackheart.

"No worries guys, promise we'll be back before bedtime."

[SirNitram]

"Resistance will be heavy. Local law enforcement, national guard, local freelancers. Ultima response will be once their first teleporters are go and they have an assault team." Gravitas said as he began to alter reality.

"Cooperate in taking him down, then we bolt. Hotfoot, burn pavement if you get seperated, Hydro, there's enough waterworks you could hide. Blast, stay in contact with me. Ultima knows our faces."

The wormhole opened. Gravitas raised his personal shield. "Combat drop!" And he leapt through...