Beyond time and space, beyond thought and imagination, a single Entity of immence power lies, awaiting for its chosen ones. For nearly seven thousant millenia, it has waited, watching, hoping that its chosen ones would show up to greet it. To embrace their destiny. HEROS OF LEGEND : REALITY AND MYTH A MAGIC TECH PRODUCTION WRITTEN BY SHAUN GARIN Altered Male Heros Jordi Lehmann.............................................Iceman* Mike Pappachan..........................................Spiderman* Glen Leavitt.................................................Superman* Shaun Garin..................................................Iron Man* Garrick Herr.................................................War Machine* Ryan Reeves.................................................Batman* Chris Gillard..................................................Captian America* Blaine Proud.................................................The Incredible Hulk* Anthony Berdan...........................................Hawkeye* Devon Demitor............................................Daredevil* Brad Proud...................................................Wolverine* Josh Dean.....................................................Bishop* Travis Tanaka..............................................Banshee* Kevin Litke..................................................Scarlet Spider* Altered Female Heroines Sallee Reimer................................................Black Cat* Jen Hudema...................................................Rogue* Serena Lambert.............................................Jubilee* Laura Dean....................................................Supergirl Marie Bordeau...............................................Batgirl* Candy Sheffield..............................................Mystique* Kendall Madrigal............................................Storm* Lindsey Schlecht............................................Scarlet Witch* Altered Villians Tyler Petch...................................................Magneto* Crux Phiri......................................................Kraven the Hunter* Daniel Eaton..................................................Apocalypse* J.T.................................................................Juggernaut* Kyle Garin......................................................Carnage* Preston Hawes................................................Joker* John Hubbard..................................................Scorpion* Darcy Mainville..............................................Chamelion* Jordan Nerding................................................Dr. Doom* Becky Fedusenko............................................Poison Ivy* Raelene Gascoyne...........................................Catwoman* Ben Becker.....................................................Venom* Original Heros/Villans Dick Grayson..................................................Robin Edward Nigma.................................................The Riddler Harvey Dent...................................................Two-Face Oswald Cobblepot............................................The Penguin Wilson Fisk.....................................................Kingpin Dr. Otto Octavius...........................................Dr. Octopus Silvermane......................................................Vulture Soundtrack is composed of tracks from Transformers the Movie, Slayers, Slayers NEXT, Bubblegum Crisis, Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy VI, some Aerosmith, and other such Anime songs. Download them and listen with a MP3 player. Produced by Magic Tech Productions, in associationg with Thunder Sound Studio Copyrighted (c) by Shaun Kirk Berto Garin, October 26, 1999 <><><> Act I : Origins <><><> December 31, 1999. Five seconds before New Years Eve. “FIVE!” From out of the sky, a star started to fall. “FOUR!” With glowing intencity, it dove towards several homes in a small, rural town. “THREE!” With glowing power, it sought out its recipients. “TWO!” The Power prepared itself. “ONE!!!” It slammed home, absorbing itself into the people before it without a whisp of light or sound. “HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!” The Entity had chosen its Paladins. <><><> New York, 2005 AD, New York University, Neogenics lab... <><><> Michael Pappachan, a tall indian man, short black hair, deep brown skin and wearing a striped shirt with jeans, took notes on the man lecturing before him. He was a scientest in the University’s new Neogenics lab. The man turned on the machine, and unseen to anyone, a small spider dropped from the roof, and came between the pulsing radiation. In defiance of its death, the spider crawled up Michael’s pant leg, and bit him on the hand. Mike yelped for a second, brushing off the spider. Then, the blackness of unconciousness wracked him. Later, as he walked along the road, a horn blazed. Yelping, he leapt away. As he opened his eyes, he noticed a couple of things : one, he was sticking to the wall. Two, the road seemed to be abandoned. ‘What the heck?’ Mike asked himself, touching his hand to the wall. It stuck and he blinked in surprise. ‘I’m... sticking to the wall...’ <><><> Metropolis, 2005 AD, Daily Planet Office... <><><> “Lois!” Lois Lane, a tall woman of asian decent looked up to Perry’s shout. “Yes Perry?” “This is Glen Leavitt from Lacombe.” “Smallville?” She said, snickering. “That’s Lacombe. Pleased to meet you Miss Lane.” Glen was tall, rather broad shouldered, and wore a blue suit. He looked like a freshman, just out of college. “I want you to bring him along to the Luthor unveiling. Show him around town.” Lois sniffed. “You can’t be serious Perry.” “I am. Don’t worry Leavitt, her bark is worse than her bite.” “I’ll bet,” he said under his breath as he followed her towards the door. <><><> Gotham City, 2006 AD, Reeves Manor... <><><> “Are you staring out the window again Master Ryan?” Alfred asked the slightly gothic man in the corner. “I am,” Came the responce. “Might I ask, why sir?” “Alfred, I went out tonight. I saved a young lady.... as Batman.” “My goodness Master Ryan. Is Batman all nessessary?” Ryan Reeves swung about, the shadows keeping his face concealed. “It is. This city needs a protector, and I am him. If not for myself, then for the ones I vow to protect.” “Then might I suggest that you repair the Batsuit? It took a lot of damage in the last run about.” Ryan smiled. “Thanks for the advice Alfred.” <><><> Pentigon, 2000 AD, Private Testing Facility... <><><> “Gentlemen, we have our test subject : Private Chris Gillard.” Chris came out of the room, only in his boxers. He stepped into the pool of green liquid and immersed himself to the neck. The scientest threw the switch and the machine roared to life. With a sickly green glow, the liquid was absorbed into Chris and his body grew exponentially. “Private Gillard is the first in our line of Super Soldiers! Gentlemen, meet Captian America!” Unknown to anyone, a man spirited away a copy of the Super Soldier Formula, locked in his mind. <><><> Garin Enterprises, 2010 AD. <><><> “Okay, lets see...” The mid twenties asian man slipped on the helmet, the forcefield generators powering up the heavy flexmetal fabric. The cloth tightened about his body, accenting and amplifying his strength, speed and power. “Am I at Full?” he asked his friend. The other, a sandy brown haired man nodded. “All systems go. Congrats Shaun, you’re going to live.” “Thank goodness. The metal chip has been removed but I can’t walk anymore. Now, thanks to technology, I can.” “What are you going to call the suit?” Garrick asked curiously. Shaun paused before answering. “Iron Man Mark II.” Garrick nodded. “Good deal.” “You get one too,” Shaun said, thumbing a switch on his suit. From a locker, it opened up to reveal a frowning grey and silver suit, twice as nasty and looking more menacing. “Garrick old buddy, meet War Machine Mark III.” “Nice, very nice...” <><><> A New York Mall, 2002 AD <><><> “ACK!” Serena thrust up her arms and bright sparkles of light sprang forth, snaping back the head of the large Sentinal. Stumbling backwards and ruing the day she was registered, a spear of ice ripped a large hole in its head. The Sentinal slowly toppled over, and landed with a heavy thud. “SERENA!” Her head snapped up in shock. She KNEW that voice. “Jordi?” “SERENA! OVER HERE!” “Darling, move it!” That voice was familiar. It was Jen, dressed in a fully body green and yellow skinsuit, a long overcoat on her body. She wore yellow gloves, keeping her whole body covered. And she was effortlessly...flying? Man, her friends had gotten WIERD. Jogging over to them, she asked, “what the heck happened to you?” Jordi shrugged his ice covered shoulders as Brad retracted his claws. “We’re mutants. Like you.” “Welcome to the family,” Brad grunted, cracking his neck. Storm and Wolverine watched, wry smiles on their faces. <><><> Gotham City, 08:32 PM <><><> “Now I’ve got you, you... Marie?” Marie kicked upwards, catching the man in the family jewels. “THAT was for Commissioner Gordon! And THIS,” she whapped him across the face, cracking his jaw, “WAS FOR ME!” Extending a hand, she fired a line towards the rapidly approaching shore and it caught on a pillar. She swung upwards and landed, just as the boat crashed with a spectacular explosion. Behind her, a figure smiled. “Nice work... Marie.” She swung about, replacing her cowl and red wig. “Thanks... Reeves.” “Drop by sometime,” he said, almost literally vanishing into the shadows. Marie watched him go and grinned a bit. “I’m going to LIKE this superheroine buisness.” “Nice work Marie..” Marie turned about and there was a oddly familiar woman in a black catsuit. She slinked over and smiled, tracing a finger over her face. “Almost didn’t realize you’d be here.” “Who’re...Raelene?” “Nice of you to drop into Gotham,” she said, laughing. <><><> New York, 2007 AD <><><> “We need a name,” Lindsey said, leaning forward on the table. “Something catchy... something...” “I have it,” Chris stood and placed his Indistructable Shield on the table. “The Avengers.” The assembled heros, Captian America, Hawkeye, Banshee, Daredevil and Scarlet Witch nodded in agreement. “Avengers it is,” Banshee said in agreement. Chris clenched a red and white fist and lifted it to the air. “We all gained super powers in the past. Now, it’s time to show America and the world what Superheros can do.” The resounding cheer rocked Avenger Hall. <><><> Testing Facility, New York, 2005 <><><> “Testing beginning. Power levels at seventy five percent.” “That’s a bit low. How’s the safety levels?” The technician looked over it. “Um... at one hundred percent.” “Okay,” Blaine Proud adjusted his goggles and said, “Let’r RIP!” As the energy built, a lone circut, unseen and untested, started to throw sparks. A warning siren was heard from the alerts. “Malfunction! Everyone OUT!” The technicians ran out the door, and Blaine dashed for it, as the Gamma Rays broke through the shielded glass, and bathed him in a green glow. His body grew, stretched, and his brain, predictably, with the amount of muscle gained, shrunk. “HULK SMASH!!!” The green skinned behemoth slammed through the walls, and lumbered down the streets of New York, scaring and scattering people around the streets in a panic. “Hulk feel funny,” he muttered as he traversed the roads. <><><> Wartorn New York, 2132 AD <><><> “Powering up TransTime Portal... good luck Bishop.” “Don’t need luck,” he said gruffly, the red M tatoo about his eye glowing. “Got my gun.” An ominous clicking was heard from a REALLY BIG GUN. He stepped through and vanished. In the past, Professor Xavier was about to open the door to his apartment, the doorknob rigged to the door.... From a darkened corner, a cajun man watched, his eyes glinting in anticipation. “Finally...finally it’s begun...” <><><> Gotham, 10:52 PM 2006 AD. A medical lab... <><><> “The mirror.” The doctor backed up a few steps. “THE MIRROR!” Nervously, he placed the mirror in the mans hand. As he gazed into his reflection, a low chuckle grew into a chillingly maniacal howl of insanity. The mirror shattered on the countertop with a single blow. <><><> ... And the Legend Lives On... <><><> Episode I : Along came a Spider... <><><> New York, September 11, 2032 AD <><><> The skies of New York were clear for the morning, as a webbed figure swung from an organic thread of webbing. Again and again, his hands spat forth streams of webs, until the red, white and blue figure alighted on a hanging flagpole. “Another day, another gripe from J.J. Makes me wonder why I still work for him.” Spiderman withdrew a camera and checked the digital feedback. Several shots of Spiderman fighting The Lizard from that little incident a few days ago were shown. Sighing, Spidey leapt to another building, spun a web and swung away. Down below, a figure watched him. It was not human in any way, save for the covering it wore. Psudo-flesh covered its skin. A Buma. Narrowing its sensors towards the swinging figure, it transmitted information to its masters. Seconds later, it tromped towards the shadows of an alley, and vanished from sight. <><><> Mike replaced his shirt and grabbed the small camera before exiting the mens washroom. Outside, the normal bustle of the Daily Bugle was heard, and over the din, was heard the shout of J. Jonah Jamieson. He was arguing with some of the other reporters in a loud voice. Mike adjusted his shirt and walked towards the crowd. “Mike!” Mike turned about and there was a africian american man, dressed in a dark rose shirt, tie and brown slacks. “Oh, hello Mr. Robinson,” he greeted. “How’s the work with the Daily Planet going?” “Quiet, Jonah might hear you. He’s pretty upset because of the new superheros in Metropolis.” “Which superheros?” Mike asked curiously. “They say there is a man of steel. They call him Superman. And there is a blonde girl that has the same powers as he does. Speed, strength, heat rays. They call her Supergirl. Jonah wants two of our best reporters to go and scope out information for these two.” “So, why is he ranting?” Mike asked, stowing his camera into his pants pocket. “Jonah is worried, because all of his reporters and photographers are out in both our Gotham Branch and some have been working the Mutant Case.” “Pappachan!” J. Jonah Jamieson barked gruffly, “good you’re here. I want you and Robbie to take the next flight to Metropolis. There will be a contact from the Daily Planet there. His name is Glen Leavitt.” “Glen?” Mike asked, surprised. “What? You know him?” “We went to school together. High school actually. It’ll be good to see him again.” “Then get going. Your flight leaves in four hours.” With that, J.J. exited stage left into his office, shutting the door behind him. <><><> “Glen? I haven’t seen him for a LONG time. Wonder how he’s been lately...” Mike stared out of the window of the plane, watching clouds go by. It would be a two hour trip and Robbie had already fallen asleep. Mike sipped at his soda thoughtfully. “I hope he’s been okay...” <><><> “Smallville!” Glen looked up, a bit peeved. “It’s Lacombe,” he pointed out to Lois. “I know that. I just like annoying you. Come on, we’re supposed to meet the Daily Bugle’s reps at the airport.” Lois pulled on her purple jacket and waited impaciently as Glen adjusted his glasses, picked up his pad and pencil, and joined her in the elevator. As they decended, Lois shot a sideways glance at him. “They say you know one of the reporters that are coming here. Names’ Mike Pappachan.” “Mike? Wow, didn’t know he was working at the Bugle.” “Hmmph...probably a hotshot reporter that seems to know everything.” The ride to the airport was short and quiet, and soon, they were standing in the open aired terminal. Lois had wrapped her arms about herself from the cold and Glen just endured it. Soon, people started to stream out from the airliner. Soon, two men, both dark skinned came out of the plane, toting bags. Glen’s eyes lit up and he grinned. “MIKE! OVER HERE!” Mike quickly pushed his way through the crowd and slapped the guy on the back. “FIGHT CLUB!” He crowed and they both laughed at a long since gone inside joke. Robbie nodded at Lois. “I’m Robbie Robertson. You must be Lois Lane.” “Charmed. I suspect that your companion knuckling under Smallville over there is Michael Pappachan?” “The one and only,” Robbie said with a grin. “Thanks for meeting us here.” “No problems.” <><><> “So, anything new happen while we were out of touch?” Mike asked, chewing on his fast food. Glen swallowed before saying, “Well, there have been successes in our class. Reeves is head of Reeves Enterprises, and Shaun is head of Garin Enterprises. Heard from Jordi the other day, he just came back from SKIIING.” “Must be great to SKI the way he does,” Mike said with a grin. How about the others?” “Other than the X-Men, nothing else is new. Chris works for the government but he hasn’t told me what he does. Said it was “For his Own Eyes Only” stuff.” “Typical.” Mike munched on his burger for a few seconds before saying, “So, how’s working with Miss Lane over there?” “...Interesting. Very interesting.” A short pause. “That’s it? Nothing else?” “Nope.” Mike blinked for a few seconds before shrugging. “Whatever. Say, tell Mr. Robbinson that I’m coming in late. I need to get settled in.” <><><> High above in the stone canyons of Metropolis, a webbed figure swung on lines of webbing, strong enough to support a human. Mike alit on a pole, swung about a few times and leapt towards the nearby wall, where he landed. “Hmm, not so much different from New York. Wonder if...” Suddenly, a sensation ran up his spine. “Spider sense, tingling!” On instinct, he leapt away, just to allow a missle spray over the brick wall. Leaping to another wall, he did handsprings backwards as an unseen assailant fired repeatedly. Soon, it came into sight and Mike slapped a hand to his forehead. “Not ANOTHER Spider Slayer!” It was indeed a spider slayer, like the Scorpion Slayer but much more buff. For one thing, it held the Loaded-for-bear look to it, and two, it had the emblem of Luthor Industries. That means that the Kingpin was working with Luthor. Crap, here comes another one! Mike cast a line and swung away, the missles launching after him. He let them explode on a building, and then mounted his camera on the nearby building. “Gotta lead them away from the buisness sections,” he muttered, casting another line. <><><> “My Spider Slayer is making mincemeat out of Spiderman. And armed with your piece of Kryptonite, we will kill two birds with one stone Mr. Luthor.” “I do not want any of this to be traced back to me,” Luthor said, stepping out of the shadows, and standing beside the Kingpin and the wheel chaired man. “If something is printed against me, all contracts will be destroyed.” “So you say,” Wilson Fisk said gruffly, folding his hands behind his back. “Everything is well in hand. But, to even the odds...” he tapped a medallion on his Armani suit and a man, dressed in red and yellow, two gauntlets on his arms appeared from the darkened office. “Shocker, go with Rhino and keep Spiderman busy. If you encounter Superman and Supergirl, use the Kryptonite blasters.” “Yes boss.” “I do hope you know what you are doing Fisk,” Lex said, staring out the window. “It would be...unfortunate if everything went wrong.” <><><> “Dodge, dodge, dodge, spin,” a thread of webbing splattered on the Slayers’ optics and it reeled for a second, while he landed on a rooftop, “can’t these things do anything else but shoUGH!” Mike felt a familiar bolt of shockwave energy slam into his back and he rolled to the edge of the roof. Standing up, he dodged a second and third bolt. “SHOCKER!” “Greetings Webhead. Crispy arachnid anyone?” Shocker used his gauntlets, sending white energy bolts towards Spiderman. He leapt, landed, and got knocked into a airconditioner. Spidey saw stars for a brief second before he opened his eyes again. “Rhino?! What, the zoo let you out again?” “You may be laughing now webhead, but this is the new, IMPROVED Rhino!” He charged, but suddenly, a blue and red blur knocked the man off his feet, and into a wall. “Picking on a Spider? Naughty man.” “Superman? Man, am I glad to see you.” Spiderman got up from his place in the wall and launched a ball of webbing at Shocker who went down on his back. “Good thing too. Duck!” A largish four finned missile spiralled over his head, and impacted on a building. The large Spider Slayer moved into view and Superman raised an eyebrow. “Friend of yours?” he asked. “Old aquantance,” he acknowlaged, leaping away from several lazer blasts. Superman barrelled forwards, and slammed a fist into the Spider Slayer’s metal hide. Suddenly, its eyes glowed green and blazed with Kryptonite Green. Superman was knocked into a building. “Great. Now what?” “Now, we finish you off Webhead.” Shocker started to blast, raking his place with energy. Rhino had pulled a pistol from somewhere and started to fire as well. Hardpressed to dodge, he leapt away, doing backflips. “Now what? Wait...Superman...THE EYES!” “Hey ugly!” Spiderman shouted at Rhino who was shooting at him, “Bet you can’t hit me!” “You asked for it Inscect!” Rhino started to follow him with a intence blue beam of energy from his pistol. “Shocker!” He shouted, landing on his head, and then leaping off. “You can’t catch me!” Twin beams of energy lanced about him as he ran. ‘Perfect. Just a second more...’ Leaping atop the head of the Spider Slayer, he shouted again. “I’m right here you stupid microbrains!” A beam of blue energy and twin beams of power slammed into the Optics of the Spider Slayer, disrupting the Kryptonite beams. The Spider Slayer jerked for a few seconds before landing far below with a tremdous crash. A second passed and it blossomed into a great fireball. Shocker slapped a hand to his forehead in disgust. “Damnit!” By now, Superman had gotten back to his feet, knocked out Rhino and Spiderman had decked Shocker. “Not bad Spiderman,” he said, tying the pair up with webbing that Spiderman had given him. “Not bad at all.” “Not bad yourself. Thanks a million. Hey, when you’re in New York, drop me a line, okay?” “Watch the skies,” Superman said, grinning. Spiderman turned, casted a line, and swung away. A ways away, he retrieved his camera, checked the digital outputs and grinned madly. <><><> “Great shots!” Robbie enthused as he looked over the shots of the fight between Shocker, Rhino and the Spider Slayer. “And there were shots of Superman in there as well!” “Thanks Mr. Robinson.” “I’m impressed,” Lois said, peering over the shoulders of the men. “I’ll bet Smallville couldn’t get something like that.” “Don’t call me Smallville,” Glen said, sipping at his coffee. “Hey Mike, c’mere.” Mike gave the pictures to Robbie and went over. “Yo.” “Mike,” he said, dropping his voice to a whisper, “you’re Spiderman, aren’t you?” “Wha..? How’d you...” He trailed off as Glen grinned and tapped the side of his temple. “X-Ray vision...” he breathed. “Wow, Glen, Superman himself.” “Right. I’d like to hear your story soon,” Glen said, straightening up. “Same with you. Say, on your next trip into New York, come by and we’ll swap stories. Cool?” “Cool. See ya later.” Later that day, a plane took off for New York, carefully watched over by a blue and red caped figure. Fins. Or is it? <><><> Episode II : The Dark Knights <><><> Gotham, September 12, 2032 AD. Reeves Corp. <><><> Ryan Reeves tapped at his computer for a second before acknowlaging the beep at his door. “Come in.” he said. A secretary poked her head inside. “Mr. Reeves? Miss Sylia Stingray here to see you.” “Let her in,” he said, standing up and straightening his tie. In came a woman, brunette, a hint of a chill acompanying her presence. She wore a impeccable suit, and carried a briefcase in her hands. “Mr. Ryan Reeves I presume?” she asked coldly. “Sylia Stingray.” “Ryan will do,” he said, extending his hand in greeting. “Konichiwa.” “Konichiwa.” She shook his hand and nodded. “I will be brief Mr. Reeves because I know how short a time schedule you have. GENOM Industries in Japan is trying to take the funding from your company for themselves. Already, they have five of the twelve council members agreement on their side and I was hoping to..” “Say no more.” Ryan moved to his computer, tapped a few controls and said, “A donation of twenty million dollars have been sent to Stingray Industries, with my signiture on it. Alongside it, a message to my creditors in Japan is sent with it, telling them all to funnel donations to your company.” “Thank you,” she said, bowing a bit. “Now Miss Stingray,” he said, a roguish grin on his face and moving from out from behind his desk, “I would be honored if you would accompany me for dinner at Gotham Plaza, tonight at seven.” “Perhaps another time...” Just then, her cellular rang and she snapped it up. “Stingray..” her face frowned. “Priss? What did you do now? Again? The engine is blown out? I told you not to race it...alright, we will stay.” She snapped it closed and with a bit of irritation said, “Mr. Reeves, I will take up your offer. My associate, Priss Asagiri has blown out her engine, racing. She needs about a week to repair it.” “Then all means, please, prepare for tonight.” He escorted her out the door and closed it behind her. <><><> “A DATE?!” Nene shouted in surprise. “Wow! A date with one of the most wealthy industrialists of the time, Ryan Reeves!” “Feh, he can’t be that great,” Priss said, her legs slung over the chair. “I’d take Shaun Garin of Garin Enterprises. He at least is asian.” “Not everyone gets invited to dinner by a rich, wealthy billionare playboy,” Linna said, stirring a cup of tea. “Besides, we could use the money to repair our own hardsuits. Besides, doesn’t the idea of Sylia married to a rich, hunky billionare turn your mind?” “Knock it off,” Priss said, snorting in disgust. “PRISS IS JEALOUS, PRISS IS JEALOUS!” Nene and Linna chorused. “I AM NOT!” Priss roared. “Yes you are,” Nene said, smirking. Linna snickered. Just then, Sylia came out, dressed in a beautiful black dress. It was cut low in the back, and showed a modest bit of cleavage. She wore heels that lifted her about two inches more, and had a short sweater that was more of an accessory than anything. She wore earrings in the shape of dragons, and had her hair styled nicely. Linna whistled. “Nice dress Sylia!” “WOW! That dress is BOUND to knock him dead!” Sylia picked up a handbag and checked her makeup in the mirror. “Well, wish me luck.” She walked out of the building and found to her surprise, the Reeves Limo waiting for her. A british man, stiff but gentle, opened the door. “Right this way Madam Stingray.” Climbing inside, Ryan waited, sipping at a bit of warm tea. “Hello Miss Stingray.” “Sylia will do,” she said. “Sylia,” he acknowlaged, nodding. “Alfred? Gotham Plaza.” <><><> Well, Sylia noted, the food was excellent, Ryan has generously granted us a donation, and there has been no Buma attacks. Then again, Gotham has its own group of wierdos. Placing her fork down, she said, “Well Ryan, thank you for the generous donation and meal. I am in gratitude for your services.” “No problem Sylia.” Just then, from beyond the rooftops, a bright white spotlight appeared, a black bat symbol in the middle. He blinked a few times at the symbol and sighed a bit. Sylia turned to look at it and said, “What’s that?” “The Commissioner of Gotham is summoning Batman.” Beneath his wrist under the table, he pressed a button on his watch. <><><> “Alfred, there’s a signal from Ryan... we need a stand in.” “Might I suggest Master Dick that you go as Robin?” “You’re right Alfred.” Dick Grayson got up from his chair in the Batcave and walked away to suit up. Soon, Robin came out, adjusting his belt. “I’m taking the Winger Alfred. Something’s up and Ryan can’t get away from his date.” “Good luck Master Dick.” Robin revved the Winger and it blazed off into the night. <><><> “He should be here by now. Shut it down.” “No need for that Comissioner.” Comissioner Gordon turned at the voice and peered into the shadows. “Batman is occupied at the moment. He sent me instead.” “Robin. Nice of you to show up. We’ve got a problem : the Gotham National Bank is being robbed by Poison Ivy. Apparently, she needs some funds to research some more plants.” “As always, her motive is plant preservation. Any details on the robbery?” “Well, it seemed...out of style for her somehow. It was a typical crash and burn job.” “That definately isn’t her style. After the accident, she never was one of the explosion types.” “You seem to know her quite well Robin,” Commissioner Gordon said. “Well in any case, we’ll keep an eye out for Ivy.” “Alright. Later Commissioner.” With that, he vanished when his back was turned. <><><> “Batman?” Linna asked, raising an eyebrow. “That’s what Ryan said.” Sylia hung up her black dress before sitting down to comb her hair. “Come on Sylia, a man, dressed like a bat, no armor and goes out to fight supervillians? That’s a little far fetched.” “As far fetched as becoming armored vigilanties with an intence hatred for GENOM?” Sylia deadpanned. “Let’s face it Linna, there’s more to life than meets the eye.” Linna considered the words for a minute before shrugging. Then she collapsed on the bed and fell asleep. Sylia stayed up for a while before retiring that night. ‘I wonder what this Batman is really about.’ <><><> The insane cackle of a clown faced man was heard in the amusement park, the Joker dancing about, waving a bag full of money. “PERFECT, PERFECT! My little scheme is taking place! Soon, all the other villians in this town will be chased after night and day by the police and Batman! It’s ingenius!” “Gee Mr. J you seem chipper tonight,” Harley said, leaning on a barrel. “That I am Harley my dear. I’ve pinned two more crimes on that addled birdbrain, Penguin, and in addition to my lists, I have now blamed Ivy and Two-Face for two each! It’s PERFECT!!!” “But Mr. J, what if they figure out who set them up?” “They won’t. I’ve taken the liberty of working with an man from out of town. He’ll take care of everything. Ah,” he cupped his ear to the sound of something flying overhead. “There he is now.” A green figure landed, dressed in green armor and elaborate wings. He was tall and muscular with a look of intelligance in his eyes. “Joker,” he greeted. “Ah Vulture. How nice of you to drop in. Harley, this is The Vulture.” “Hi,” Harley stammered nervously. “Joker, my payment. You cannot expect that I would work without the funds we agreed with.” “In a minute Vulture, I just want to know. Why a supervillian from the Big Apple come here to work with the Infamous Joker, hmmm?” Vultures eyes narrowed as he grabbed Joker by the lapels of his jacket. “Listen up you clownish freak, The funds are going to the KINGPIN. And he will NOT be happy if this money is not delivered. Capesh?” Joker swallowed hard. “Yeah, I get it. Here, take the money.” Vulture released him and took the bag of money. “I will be back later.” Then, he flew away. As the Joker was brushing off his jacket, Harley pouted. “Mr. J! He had no right to manhandle you like dat!” “Actually, he did have a right Harley,” Joker admitted sadly. “You see, the Kingpin is a criminal genius. Only a select few people have ever seen him face to face. He sent Vulture to bust me out of Arkham a few months ago, and said that if I didn’t do these things, then the Kingpin would have me locked up in the worst prison on the face of the moon. With enough food to last me a week.” “But he can’t do that!” She protested indignantly. “I’m afraid he can Harley. He wants me to be his,” Joker shuddered, “Gopher.” <><><> “Garin Enterprises is a powerful company,” Brian J. Manson declared from behind his desk. “Already, GENOM is suffering from the brilliant technological advances that GE has created. Now, what are we to do about it?” “Perhaps send a Buma assasian,” one of his subordanates suggested. “Then we can blame it on a rampage.” “Gotham is Buma-free,” Manson said, narrowing his eyebrows. “They are under the Japan/US treaty that declairs a Buma-free city. We cannot allow them to use that against us.” “What about the Knight Sabers,” Magdin suggested. “If we could make it look like a superbuma was being created there in a hidden Gotham research facility. Then they might inadvertantly carve a path for us to take control of GE.” “Good idea. Proceed immediately.” <><><> “Batman.” Batman didn’t turn to acknowlage the teen behind him. “Robin. What’s up?” “GENOM is in town. And carting a Buma with them.” “Gotham is Buma-free. Do you have information on what’s going on?” “In fact I do. Check this out.” Robin removed a photo from his belt. “Got this from our inside GENOM contact. They’re trying to take over GE.” “Garin Enterprises? Shaun’s not going to be happy about that.” “What’s worse is that they said that their going to manipulate the Knight Sabers into paving their path towards GE takeover.” “Well then, lets pay Shaun a visit, shall we?” <><><> “Mr. Garin? Ryan Reeves is here to see you.” The medium height asian man looked up from his work and removed his glasses. “Show him in.” The secretary backed away and soon, Ryan came in the room, followed by his ward, Dick Grayson. Also, a happy addition to their group was Marie Bordeau, another of his old school mates. “Hey guys, sit down, take a load off.” “Good to see you did well. What’re you working on now?” “Oh, this and that.” Just then his desk pager beeped. Reaching over, he tabbed it on. “Yes?” “Garrick is coming up. Shall I let him in?” “Sure. Tell him some old PAA friends are here.” “Very good sir.” Removing his finger from the button, he strode over and poured himself a glass of ginger ale from the bar. “Anything to drink?” he asked them. “Just water,” Marie said. “Pepsi.” Dick said also. “Ginger ale.” Shaun poured the drinks and distributed them. He sat down on the end of the couch and drank. “So, this normal buisness or...other.” “Other. VERY OTHER.” Just then, Garrick Herr pushed into the office. “Garrick! Security arm.” “Oh, sure.” He tapped a hidden button and all the external sources were tabbed off. All recording devices were deactivated and the such. “This is important, isn’t it?” “Yes. Our inside contact in GENOM sent us some information. GENOM is looking at a hostile takeover of Garin Enterprises, here in Gotham.” “And by extention, Reeves Enterprises. I get it. Come on, I have some new things in the works for everyone.” <><><> “I expected that GENOM would try and sink both our buisnesses since we both live here in Gotham. So, I’ve taken some of the basic designs of the Batsuits, and came up with these little numbers.” Shaun flicked on the lights, revealing three suits of flexmetal forceshield fabric. Each one were beefed up designs of the two Batsuits and the Robin suit. “Okay, let see. The armor is flexmetal, so it is running off the basics of my own molecular forcefield suits. There is an addition of armor over your mouths that slide into place when faced with something like gas or something else.” “The wrists have grappling lines built into the wrists, and from a hidden compression pocket, a series of twelve batarangs can be fired, a total of six from each wrist. The capes have mandril telsa lines which extend into gliders. From the boots are cold launchers and full flight capabilities. Several heatsinks are included, plus a visor over the eyes to protect from blinding explosions.” “In the belts are homing devices for each other, plus other incidentials for explosion and such. Taking into account of your dislike for guns, I’ve added a magnigrip mechanism your left hands for long range disarmament. Plus is a low powered repulsor beam, 44mm that can only go to heavy stun. No kill devices. But then again, I’ve added a Unibeam to each and every suit for the big stuff like Superbumas and the such.” “Not too shabby. But what about you and Garrick?” Marie asked. “You two have the big stuff.” “Well, I just added a minigun and a shockwave cannon on my shoulder mounts to replace the electromagetic cannon that got slagged in the last fight. Garrick has a sonic cannon installed as well. Don’t worry, we’re good.” “Say, what about stealth? We’re not a tank division.” “Oh, a stealth generator is installed as well, and a link to link radio system in the suits. It shouldn’t be like you’re going to walk into the middle of Gotham waving a big neon sign that says, “BATMAN IN ANIRON SUIT, PLEASE SHOOT.” “I AM impressed,” Garrick said, suiting up into his War Machine suit. “You’ve out done yourself this time.” “I take pride in my work,” Shaun said. He then shed his shirt to a gasp from Marie. “What the heck happened to you?” “Oh, didn’t Reeves tell you?” At the shaking of her head, Ryan elaborated for her. “Shaun suffered an accident that crippled him. He wears that plate under his shirt to keep walking.” “Whoa.” “Well lets suit up. We’ve got some Buma heads to bust up.” <><><> “Sidehacker to Mackie. Is there anything in range of the GENOM Research Facility?” “I can’t get anything,” was the reply. “All systems are go.” “Okay, we’ll maintain radio silence. Sidehacker out.” Nene snapped off her radio link and then activated her link to the other Knight Sabers. “Mackie can’t detect any movement inside the compound. He did notice a couple of K-12 Armored Divisions in the area.” “So then, we’re going to bust into the compound and blow up the Buma before it becomes active, right?” Priss locked her Railgun into active mode. “That’s the basic plan. And Brian J. Manson is supervising the new Buma activation.” Just then, Nene’s sensors snapped to activation as she detected a hint of motion from the roof. “I got something. Someone or something moved up there. A hint of electronic energy. Wait its gone.” “Never mind. Let move out.” Barely two seconds into the compound, the ground erupted and combat-replicants burst from the ground, flanked by 55C’s and other K-12 Armored Divisions entered the fray. Priss barely had a second to swear before she was dogpiled by several Bumas. <><><> “We’ve got movement Batgirl. What’s your position?” “I took out two of the 55C’s with a well placed Batarang, and a K-12 with the Electrodistrupter.” “Good. What about you Robin?” “I’m halfway away from the target zone. Wait, there’ some movement... Holy Iron Giant! There’s a beefed up D.D. Battlemower coming out from the facility!” “Copy. Do you guys hear that?” “Copy. War Machine is coming into the fray.” <><><> Priss was in pain. Extreme pain. So much pain that she could barely walk. Her railgun was shattered, the beam saber was wreaked, and her Hardsuit was in tatters. Nene wasn’t that better, her hardsuit shattered from the waist down. Sylia was flat on her back, wrestling with a combat-replicant, her visor cracked and splintered. And Linna was begin swung around by a old 55C by the nanostreamers. Just then, an explosion threw Priss into the ground as a HUGE D.D. swung into view. “Oh fuck,” she ground out as it started to fire. Suddenly, a Buma exploded into a shower of metal and nutrient fluid. Then another, a combat-replicant exploded into something you’d find in a strange art form. Over to the side, Nene ejected her helmet and lost her lunch. Then, with a sequence of several black and red splatters, another 55C Buma collapsed, strange sharp objects imbeded into its vital areas. Then another exploded with a bright burst of blue energy. “What the hell?” Then, the answer came into view as a dark figure in black landed atop a Buma. A brief struggle was seen before the Buma below it quit moving. Then, it rose and the BATMAN rose from the ashes of the Buma below. Then, A K-12 dissapeared under another batlike figure, and stopped squirming. A third was floored, a bit less gracefully by a figure in dark red and dark red green armor. The remaining ones were destroyed by a figure in battleship grey armor. “The BAT!” Came a cry of alarm. “WAR MACHINE!!” The remaining Bumas were destoyed and the K-12’s were subdued. Suddenly, a ear splitting laugh came from the D.D. Battlemower. “WELL BATSKI, IT LOOKS LIKE I’M THE ONE WITH THE POWER! NICE SUIT! REALLY OUT DO’S THE OTHER ONE.” “Joker!” Batman frowned darkly. He knew Joker before the accident that claimed his sanity and face. “What do you WANT?!” “I cut a deal with GENOM. Now, they’re working for me and the Kingpin!” “Not THIS TIME CLOWN FACE!” Suddenly a red and gold figure barreled into the D.D. Battlemower, plowing it into the wall. He landed before the armored figure. “Time to finish it Joker. You and me.” The D.D. rose from the wall and seemed to smirk. “So, Iron Man. How did you like that little Joker bomb? It must be hard to be a cripple. Now,” he rose the manipulator and a cache of missles popped from it. “DIEEEEE!” The missles blazed towards the Iron Man who engaged his Minigun and Chainguns. They blazed with rapid fire, shells flying everywhere as the weapons sought and destroyed the deadly missles. “NOT THIS TIME!” Iron Man rose into the air and from his feet, the backpack revving and taking over the blaze of jets. The feet jets stopped for a second and then raw plasma started to blaze into two huge balls. “CHEW ONTHIS!” The twin bursts of superheated plasma melted off one of the Manipulators, knocking the Joker back a few steps. He followed up with a flurry of missles from his backpack. Several detonated about the D.D. and one stuck into the ground. “Nice move Iron Fly! Try this one!” He unleashed a series of missles which spiralled lazily for a few seconds, spitting out trails of smoke. Iron Man’s minigun blazed for a few seconds, destroying a missle. But suddenly, one ripped the minigun from its housing, and Iron Man was flung into the wall, shattered it and lay still. “Iron... YOU BASTARDDD!” Priss grabbed an undetonated missle, and with the remaining strength, her muscles screaming, ribs snapping, and her vision flashing, she flung the missle into the chestplate of the D.D. It erupted into a blaze of glory that sent the Joker spiralling high into the skies. “YOU’VE WON THIS ROUND IRON MAN, BUT I’LL BE BAAACKKKKKK!” With a peal of demented laughter, he protruded a flightpack and soared off into the skies. War Machine ran over and released Iron Man’s chest plate. “Oh man, this’ll take weeks to repair. He’s going to be in surgery for a LONG time.” Sylia stumbled over and knelt over the injured man. She scanned the readouts and paled under her mask. “We have the technology to help keep him alive.” “Your thanks is gratifying,” Batman said, standing up behind her. “But you have injured of yours.” Priss lay in a pile of rubble, her breathing short and staggered. Nene wasn’t that better either. Linna was still extracting herself from the wall. “I see. Do you have some facilities we can use?” “Come with us.” Batman swept over and picked up Priss in his arms. Robin picked up Linna and Batgirl picked up Nene. War Machine lifted Iron Man into his arms. “Help me. He will die if his power levels reach zero.” “Why?” Sylia helped him shoulder the man over his grey armor. “He can’t breathe without the energy fueled by his suit. Please help me get him into the truck. <><><> Garrick exited the room, wiping his wet hands with a clean cloth. “It took several hours of extencive reconstructive surgery but all five are on their feet within a few days. The surprising one was the woman Priss. She kept on insisting to help me even with multiple muscle tears, several fractures, a severe concussion and a malfunction in her cybereyes. Strong girl that.” “So is Shaun okay?” Marie asked, sipping at some warm liquid. “He’s alright. But I had to stop his heart for a few minutes to repair the ribs. One was threatening to puncture his heart. Then I had to use the nanohealers to reconstruct his muscle structure. There was a lot of nerve and internal trauma that I had to route some new nerves into his body. All power levels are go and full. He’ll live.” “Can we see him?” Marie asked. “It’s best you don’t. He’s under a rebreather and won’t wake up for a while. Maybe in an hour.” As Garrick headed into the coffee area, Marie mused for a bit. “Do you think that Shaun’ll pull through? He’s never been in such a fight before.” “I honestly don’t know.” Ryan stared into his cider before taking a long sip. “We’ll have to wait and see.” <><><> Priss awoke in an unfamiliar room. As she tried to rise, she noted that her leg throbbed painfully, and she was dressed in a surgical gown. A slight depression was seen where a cut was made. The IV dripped fluid into her arm as she blinked. Her sight was back. And better. Someone did some tinkering with her cybereyes. Turning her head to the left, she noted that Sylia was breathing deeply as she slept in a chair in the corner. Her hands and head was bandaged, minor cuts were sealed as she slept deeply. Turning her head to the other side, Nene slept, looking a bit worse for wear as her legs were tightly bandaged up to her middle. Linna was a mess, bandages everywhere. But the most disconcerning was the man to her side. He was about middlesized with a mess of wires, electronic circutry and a resperator was attatched to his mouth and nose. The wires and other electronics were attached to a metal plate that wrapped his torso. A thin strip of metal went down to his feet on the outerside, barely disernable as it was flesh colored, and wrapped about his ankles. She knew the technology well : it was the lifesaving plate that GE Technologies had created for medical use. And this was Shaun Garin himself. Iron Man. She then looked about. It was a surgical lab, but filled to the brim with technology that would save lives. She rasped her voice. “Sylia.” She tried again. “Sylia. Wake up.” Sylia awoke and rubbed her eyes. “Priss. Are you all right?” “Fine. If you like being picked apart and restitched together in a couple of hours.” “Yes, Garrick does good work.” “Who?” “You know him as War Machine. We have some powerful allies now.” Priss contemplated it for a while. “Cool.” <><><> Several weeks later... <><><> “Thank you for assisting us Ryan,” Sylia said, limping over to the couch painfully. “It means a lot to the Knight Sabers.” “Don’t mention it. It’s kind of funny though, within the past few weeks, all of us have gotten close together.” Sylia gave a small, warm smile. “Priss has fallen for Shaun, even with his mechanical assistance, Dick has gained Nene’s trust and friendship and Linna, well, she has Garrick now. A medical doctor is said to have good hands.” “I know.” Reeves smiled warmly. “Tea?” “I’d like that.” “Alfred? Alfred?” The elderly man stepped out of the kitchen, carrying a tray of tea and snacks, a wry smile on his aged face. “Here you are good master. I must say, it is NICE to see you settle down now.” “Thanks. Sylia, this is Alfred, my best friend and mentor in the whole world.” “Pleased to meet you. You know, I belive I’ll be happy in Reeves Manor.” “I’m glad. One lump or two?” “Two.” End Episode II Or is it done? <><><> Episode III : The Avengers <><><>