Heroes: The Rise of Omnicorp

[Agent Fisher]

Ghost nodded, sitting down in the shade, the helmet from the suit next to him. "Saibot. Well, I have to say, he seemed stable. Goals were making sure norms had nothing to fear from Metas. Traps? Well, it just sort of seems the place to have them, you know?" He said.

[Dark Silver]

Kyosuke was gone.

The man had taken a quick-buggy out through the hanger level, and was speeding off. It'd get him almost to Vegas, before the battery charge ran out, and he'd have to walk.

Saibot sent him off with the Box and Ghost's requested photo alblum. It was better they were sent away, just incase. He didn't know what this feeling of dread that was overcoming him, like something was about to attack.

All he new was that the base wasn't safe for them. They both had to leave.

He be damned if he was giving up his base though. He'd wait, and whatever it was, if he had to, would put it down hard.


He sat in the command center, watching the display screens and the security cameras. Whatever was coming, he would be able to see coming.

[LadyTevar]

Argent nodded as Blackheart made his call. "I'll fetch him. Be ready when I return, and I can set the team down about 20 meters outside the base." She hestitated, then reached out and touched Blackheart's arm, limiting her empathy to just the two of them. "Finish it. Please." The empathy carried the full story: worry for Elias, for Blackheart, for the team. And a strong desire for peace that she had to voice to make it clear. "I want it over, I want him gone, so he doesn't haunt us anymore."

With that, she turned and vanished into the shadows again, jumping between.

+++

In Nevada, a few more minutes had passed before she returned, remaining in dragonform. "Blackheart wants Elias to back him up," she said bruskly, trying not to seem worried by that change of plans. "I'm in charge of you, Dan, but first I need to take you somewhere better." Without further ado, she wrapped Elias and Dan up and carried them out of the hot Nevada sunlight into the chill of between...

... Emerging into a place Ghost would recognize as her MCity studio apartment, and where Tachyon had yet to visit. Like her SanFran home, it was decorated to be harmonious, with opaque fabric draping the floor-to-ceiling windows in soft relaxing tones of blues and greens. The 'rooms' of the apartment were marked out by rugs and furniture placement, with a long L-shaped counter separating the kitchen from the living and dining area. One side of the apartment was blocked off by large ornate Chinese panels, carved and painted with different scenes to mark which bedroom was which. An expensive stereo system was playing, one song winding to a finish, just enough left to recognize it, and then another starting.

As she had before, when she bought Ghost the first time, Argent listened closely to the songs and then smiled. "They worked fast," she said, looking up to Elias with a shy smile. She quickly walked into the bedroom and emerged with a large box. "Here ... I asked them to make it for you."

[Agent Fisher]

"Before you go, Elais, could you leave the ring here, I don't want to risk Saibot getting it back." Ghost said.

[frigidmagi]

Blast raised his hand.

[Cynical Cat]

"Yes?" said Blackheart.

[frigidmagi]

"What do you want Hotfoot, Hydro and I to do?" Blast asked.

[Marcao]

He watched Ghost as he replied to his words. "A laudable goal, I just don't see him as the type to be able to pull it off." From what little
he knew of Saibot, he simply did not seem the type. A meta with a anti-meta sentiment was more than a little odd to him. Ultimately though he had to admit that he did not know enough about Saibot personally to be able to make an honest judgement. He also had a feeling that if they met, honest conversation was not something that would be on the top of the list.

"And yes, I imagine that a base would be ideal for that." Traps satisfied the egomaniac within everyone. Besides, everyone going through the trouble of building such a construct would likely place a trick or two to try and protect their investment. He went silent then, the seconds dancing their way into minutes before Argent arrived. His head turned as she emerged from in between, her words lingering in the air for a moment before she wrapped herself around Ghost and himself and took them between.

They arrived on a different place, one that he had never seen before. It seemed that Li Na had a penchant for acquiring real estate. The surroundings that he could see he could readily recognize as her tastes, the winding of the music met with a blink. Had she come here before and set everything up or had she left that thing running on automatic? The thought was dismissed almost as quickly as it arrived.

"Nice." He said. Her words about working fast was met with a blink, her shy smile noted and appreciated for a few seconds before she walked into the bedroom and emerged with a large box.

"hmm?" His curiousity was obvious, the box taken gently from her hands and placed down on the L-shaped counter. He opened the top of it and peered inside, arching a brow at what he saw.

"Very nice." He admitted, his left hand reaching into the box in order to finger the fabric. It would more than suit his needs.

"I will be a moment." He said, grabbing the box and disappearing into the very bedroom that she had disappeared into moments before. He closed the door, Ghost was present and if Li Na managed to sneak in she may manage to entangle him for a time they did not have. He reemerged from the bedroom wearing the clothing that Argent had procured for him. Black and Green were auspicious colors, the combination of the black pants and jacket with ballistic patches/armor suited his taste. He had been fond of his Ultima uniform, but this would become something more. A green shirt peeked from beneath the armored jacket.

"So, what do you think?" He asked Li Na, it was then that Ghost spoke and he found himself smiling briefly.

"Have a little faith Ghost, Saibot is not getting it back." He hesitated for only a moment before his right hand produced the ring that had been given to him. Yes, it was likely that the ring had been provided to Ghost by either Kyosuke or Saibot both people that were not high on his list. Saibot in particular was a wanted criminal but Ghost had seemed to be honest with him and had not done anything that he had not liked so far. More importantly, it seemed that Li Na trusted him and was at the very least somewhat fond of the meta. There was history between Ghost and Team Mirage, history that he was not prepared to overlook over the man's stubborn insistance that he served another master.

"You offered the ring to us without hesitation and Argent seems to trust you. So, I am returning it to you. I hope that you use it wisely." And that he had been honest with his comment about mass producing the things. Personally, a part of him wanted to destroy the ring and in doing so keep it from the hands of the CIA or whatever organization it was that owned Ghost's allegiance. However, maybe Ghost had earned this. The ring was placed down on the counter as he glanced towards Ghost. Emerald eyes all but stating that he hoped that Ghost did not make him regret this decision.

"Please send me to the others Argent. I will be back before you know it."

[Cynical Cat]

"I really don't know how to Hyrdo fits into things," said Blackheart. "So I'm going to wing it. You and Hotfoot are reserve. You, because you have immense raw power and Hotfoot because he can react and take action whenever the situation goes south."

[LadyTevar]

"So, what do you think?" He asked Li Na, it was then that Ghost spoke and he found himself smiling briefly.

Argent straightened up from where she had been programming a certain combination of music into the stereo. She looked Tachy up and down appreciatively while he spoke to Ghost, then stepped closer to walk around Tachy and admire the view from all angles.

"Whatever they charge me for that, it will be worth every penny," she said at last, stepping within arm's reach and slipping her hands inside the open jacket to rub across the shirt. She gazed up at him and a burst of worry over his safety broke against his shrouded mind before she dropped her eyes slightly. Multiple pleas crowded her mind, fighting to be said: please don't go, please stay here, please be safe, please come back to me. Her eyes met his again, one hand rising to touch his face. "Please ... be careful, <mandarin>my Tiger</language>?"

[frigidmagi]

"I really don't know how to Hyrdo fits into things," said Blackheart. "So I'm going to wing it. You and Hotfoot are reserve. You, because you have immense raw power and Hotfoot because he can react and take action whenever the situation goes south."

"Alright, I'll keep Hydro with us if possible. Saibot likely doesn't know about him, so he can be one hell of a surprise." Blast said.

[B4UTRUST]

"Such a colorful cast of characters you've become associated with," came the voice from behind Saibot. It was a familar voice, one he knew almost as well as he knew... his own.

He began to turn to look when the blast of energy caught him, jerked him upwards and slammed him back against the wall above the consoles. He looked down and saw himself, or at least someone dressed as he once did.
"You've been a very bad little bastard, haven't you? Gotten yourself into all sorts of trouble. Not good, not good at all."

The glowing field held Saibot pinned easily and then he felt his hand being forced open and his own ring pried off his finger before it floated away and came to rest in the outstretched hand of the White Guardian.
"For a replacement, my replacement, you are pathetic. A mistake. A mistake we intend to correct."

Behind him two other Guardians appeared, one in red and one in black. The grip around his throat tightened, cutting off the air.
"Look on the bright side, given the fact that you heal quickly, you won't die anytime soon. It might hurt like a bitch though."

With that the weighted glove came across and rocked his head to the side from the impact, sending a spray of blood that stained the front of the otherwise pristine white uniform. He had been right. It hurt like hell, but already Saibot's body was working to repair the relatively minor damage.

"So who else knows about this place? Who else is coming for a visit? Your one friend just left in the dune buggy, and you were talking about someone else. So who?"

Another fist rocked his head.

[Dark Silver]

One moment, Saibot was watching the security screens.

The next, he was knocked out of the chair, and held in the grip of a ghost.

Within the cleared portion of the helmet, his eyes widdened...

"Who are.."

His voice was cut off by the power of the energy field, his body being squeezed, his throat cut off. As his Ring was forced off his own hand, the helmet's visor slid shut.

""Who the fuck are you," he asked as he gasped for breath, his head rocking back with the force of the blow delivered.

The words suddenly echoed in his head 'Replacement....a my replacement...'

His mind was swimming to much, he couldn't think as another blow struck him. The pain was unbearable, and his vision blurred, until he focused on the other two appearing next to the White Guardian.

Red and Black....

"No....dead..." he hoarsely whispered, as the White Guardian's voice, his own voice, demanded another question...

"Ghost...." he croaked out, his comm system attempting to open a channel to his recently former partner. The channel took a few seconds to establish, and it crackled loudly as it connected.

The pain was fading, the blood was drying and the cut was gone already on his lip.

His mind was tearing apart, something in his mind clicked as the voice spoke, as the power slammed into him, a sense of rightness. Within him, he felt like he was wrong...the lizard brain licked it's scaly lips, and hissed at him.

"Argent..." he whispered, he never did get to properly tell her good bye...her image appearing in his mind, quickly replaced by the image of his uniforms, all standing shoulder to shoulder....

"Who am I...."

[Marcao]

Some time ago he would have felt awkward and apprehensive beneath Li Na's admiration. Those days had come and gone. He chuckled when she made her assertion that the clothing was worth any price. Was she referring to the clothing itself or the man wearing them? Amusement rippled through the link he shared with her. She stepped within arm's reach and without hesitation his arms sought to gently snare her to him. The pleas that danced across their link were impossible to miss, his eyes meeting hers as her hand rose and touched his face.

"Don't worry, there is nothing that will keep me coming back to you." He replied softly. His head moved, his face turning enough to kiss her hand before he leaned forward, the tip of his nose brushed against her cheek before he kissed her forehead.

"The sooner you send me to the others, the sooner I can return to you." He managed to whisper.

[Agent Fisher]

Ghost smiled, watching the two love birds. It was a smile of happiness and sadness. He turned and looked down at his helmet, tilting his head as he heard crackling from his helmet. Ignoring Argent and Elias for a moment, he picked it up, slipping it back.

He heard Saibot's voice and then he heard it again, only more distant. He heard Saibot say Argent's name, then heard the sound of a blow.

Ghost opened the visor and looked at Elias and Argent. "Somethings wrong with Saibot." He said.

[LadyTevar]

She was about to kiss Elias deeply and tell him she was going to hold him to hat promise when Ghost interrupted. Without breaking her embrace, she looked over her shoulder at her guest. "We knew that," she said, then noticed he had his helmet on. Elias could feel her stiffen as she realized what that meant. "He's transmitting over the radio? What is he saying?"

[Agent Fisher]

Ghost rolled his eyes at her first comment. "Yes, over the radio. I don't wear this helmet just for looks." He said. "And as for what he's saying, sounds like he's talking to someone, and he mentioned your name. It's fuzzy and keeps breaking up."

[LadyTevar]

She couldn't help it, her mind went to that blank hole inside herself where Garth's link used to be, trying to reach out and feel something, trying to read him.

It was still dark and empty, swallowing her queries down into nothingness.

"I don't like this...," she admitted, looking up to Elias, her entire body tensed.

[Marcao]

The exchange between Li Na and Ghost was met with silence initially. He had nothing substantial to add but when Ghost clarified what he meant, he found himself frowning.

"Could it be Kyosuke? You already mentioned that they were together Ghost." He said before looking down at Li Na and noticing the tension as it spread through her body. He leaned down and brushed his lips against her temple, sending reassurance as best he could through their link.

Why would Saibot want to communicate with Ghost now?

[LadyTevar]

Argent relaxed a little as Tachy sent her reassurance. She turned her head, stretching up enough to kiss him full on the lips. Whether it was kiss for luck, love, or both, it broke far too soon.

"Ghost, in about five minutes there will be food arriving from downstairs. If you want to grab a shower first, go ahead. The ring would have stored the clothing you had on before shifting to the uniform, so you'll have clean ones," she said, her knowledge of the ring's powers coming from her time with Saibot. "We're going."

Nothing more was said as she wrapped herself and Tachyon in shadows, vanishing between. She reappeared in SanFran just long enough to grab Mirage team, giving them no more time to debate as she snatched them up and took them between.


The team reappeared about 30m from the one-story concrete bunker that marked the Guardian base. Blackheart, Gravitas, Hotfoot, Blast, Hydro and Tachyon were all there, left facing the building. "Before you scream at me, Blackheart, Saibot's radio started broadcasting. From the sounds, Kyosuke and Saibot are fighting, so now was the best time to charge in shooting."

Argent's voice came from the shadows, not even her eyes giving away her position. "Be careful."

[Agent Fisher]

Ghost sighed. "I didn't say it was Kyosuke." He said to an empty room, shaking his head. He turned, walking towards the bathroom. Ten minutes later, he was at least rinsed off and back in his normal clothes.

[Cynical Cat]

"Well, I think we would have found this without too much trouble even if Ghost hadn't turned himself in," said Blackheart. "And at least Argent hasn't taken me away from enemies I could kill easy and dumped me among hell knights who are stronger than me and have armour that can take my best hit so clearly our relationship is improving," he joked.

He headed to the door.

[SirNitram]

"Let's focus." Gravitas said, adjusting his suit. "Specifically, on getting evidence in our grubby paws, then making the desert swallow this place." The Meta followed Blackheart, raising his defensive field around the group to provide support.

[LadyTevar]

Blackheart was being joking and playful. So was the tendril of shadow that reached out and playfully swatted (groped?) his behind for the bad jokes at her expense.

"Bye Bye, boys... have fun storming the Castle!"

[Cynical Cat]

Blackheart kicked in the door, despite it being barred and three inches thick steel, and stepped inside. He took off his sunglasses. His eyes blazed blue-white like captive stars.