TL&TOHJ~Hope: Thomas Morrison

I wanted to go with them. I really wanted to. But they decided to go to each other's homes, one at a time. Plus, Goliath and Angel refuse to go back to their normal forms until Gemini finds a way to hide his powers. Great bunch of kids, I hope they'll be OK. It started snowing, I expected as much. It was just the beginning of December. It always snowed out here. I noticed that I didn't feel cold, at all. I guess I built certain immunities, like certain temperatures.

I was flying home. I checked my inbox on my phone, Dad says he got the partner set-up. He's not telling me before I get home. I hope I don't miss curfew this time. I got home with two minutes to spare. I clicked my bracelet and went inside. I said 'Hey' and checked the mail. I gotta say I was a little curious. I opened the seal and looked inside.

Name: Morrison, Thomas
Age: 17
Hair: Dirty Blond
Eyes: Gray
Condition: Paralyzed from the waist down.
Reason: Car crash, about a year ago.


Paralyzed? Oh, My Gosh. He must still be getting use to this. I bet his parents put him him up to this. There was a picture along with the letter. Thomas........Why does that name sound so familiar?

The next day, after school we went to the meeting center for everyone to meet their partners. I kept looking at the paper for the correct room number. Lets see, room C-4. My parents thought it would be better if I went to meet Thomas by myself. Oh, here's the room. I took a deep breath. I opened the door to a room that no one was in. No one except the kid in the bed, who was turned over and sleeping. I said, "Uh, You wouldn't be Thomas Morrison, would you?" His response was, "Go away." How rude. "I, uh, I think you may be my partner for the next four weeks." He said, "What part of 'Go away' did you not understand, kid?" I said, "Come on. That's no way to be. Your like, what, seventeen? And you're acting like my baby brother." He pick something up from the table next to him and turned to throw it at me. I ducked just in time. I got a good look at his face as the heavy bottle of medicine clanged on the floor. He saw me and froze after that.

He said, "Do......do I know you?" I snapped back. "I don't know. Do you throw stuff at everybody, or am I just that special?" He was glaring again. He said, "If we're gonna have to be together, you have to know I am not as helpless as you think." I said nothing. Mostly because, well, that was what part of me was thinking. The rest of me didn't know what to think. I said, "I wasn't thinking that." "Yeah right." I changed the subject without meaning to. "I really think I've seen you somewhere." We looked at each other in the eyes.

I realized who he was, but I didn't let it show.

Greendale: More Cowboys

I laid down on my bed, enjoying the semi-quiet. I heard the door crack open a little. I opened one of my eyes to Bell's head poke through. She smiled and said, "Hey. Doc, Anton, and Butch said they found a bank on the edge of town. Next to the clock tower. Do you want to drop the money off there?" I thought about it. The town's really busy today. "Wait till nightfall. Nobody will be able to see us then." She nodded and was about to leave when she said, "Oh. One more thing. There's a town faire tonight, everyone's going. Could we, um......." "No." I said. She said, "Aw, pleeeeaaaaase? I heard there'll be dancing, games, pie. You know how Anton feels about pie. He's gonna be awful sore at ya." I said, "Well, you can explain to him that fairs require you to give up yer guns. If we're recognized and attacked by cowboys, then we're dead. We are not going." She sighed and left. 'Bout an hour later I get a knock at my door. "Who is it?" I called out. It was the bartender. He said, "I-I think you should go outside."

I went outside and looked around. The towns people were looking and murmuring towards the clock tower, so that's where I went. I saw the scene. That slack-jawed idgit was holding Doc in the air by the scruff of his neck. "Where is he? Where is that little sunava...... Where is He!?" His buddies were with him. Two of the biggest of them were holding Butch to the ground. There was another holding Antonio with his hands behind his back. Bell was uselessly flinging fists onto one of them. She said, "Let him go!" The man laughed and back handed her, she fell to the ground. I pulled out my gun, but before I could aim it there was a "Bang!" and the man fell over with a bullet in his head. Everyone looked at the shooter, and he wasn't much older than us. He had standard clothes: boots, gun belt, hat. He had an angered look on his face, but at the same time he had a bit of twinkle in his eye, like a child enjoying himself. I walked up to the gang. "You let them go, right now! Or there gonna be four more graves to dig!" He looked at me and the kid. He let Doc drop. He got up and dusted himself off. The others let Anton and Butch go. I could tell Butch was itching to kill someone. My friends move over to my side and drew their guns (Doc pulled out his smaller, non-fancy, one). The new guy was standing between me and Bell. I heard him whisper, "You alright, darlin?" She sniffed and nodded. I'll have to worry about my position of authority later.

I said, "You should have just walked away. Boy." I grinned as his face went red with anger. He raged, "You think you gonna kill us and get away with it? Do you know who I is? Who we is?" "Doesn't seem to matter now." Doc taunted. He said, "I am Jeremiah Winstenchester! I am a Cowboy! You kill me, and the rest of us will hunt you down like the dogs you are!" I smirked. "Greendales. Let the one with the big mouth live. The rest of them have Judgement Day to see." We shot all except Jeremiah. He cowarded in fear as his buddies dropped around him. After he was done he scrambled away, yelling behind him. "You ain't seen the last of us! You can't win!" I shot a bullet in his direction, but a little above him. We laughed as he stumbled over when he heard the shot.

After he scattered away. I looked over and saw a flower of a girl. She's an Asian girl. She looked about fourteen, or fifteen. She had a purple dress and hat. She had long, dark hair, and I caught a glimpse of her gray eyes. She's carrying a basket, and standing next to a grown white man. Who rushed her over elsewhere, saying, "C'mon, Jade. Time to get ready for the faire tonight."

Maybe a night of fun isn't such a bad idea after all.

81+1 Heroes Ch. 42: Dr. Quake is Such a Cartoon Character

I was in school, at lunch. I was bored out of my mind, This was the day I didn't get to see my friends. I was in a daydream when a random person sat at the table. I said in surprise, "Pandora." She nodded. She had a small box with a skull on it, and a lunch bag. She was staying here, she was just a scared girl looking for her place in the world. Isn't that what we all are. I tried to start a conversation with her. "So, did you find a room that you like, yet?" She shook her head. Then she said, "Well, the one called Amy offered. But I'm not to sure if I can trust anyone here." I smiled. "You don't have to worry about that. We super powered types got to stick together, right?" She eyeballed me. She knew I didn't have any super powers. I said, "Well, you super power types, and I, got to stick together. I'm as much as an outsider as the other guys." She nodded.

The floors shook. I looked at the far side of the room, at the windows, and I saw the same old villain that fails at life. Dr. Quake. I'm not kidding. He's a whack-job scientist, who uses these gauntlets that create sonic vibrations in the Earth, or anything for that matter. He's convinced that all super humans are connected in a genetic way, or something like that. He wants the source of them so he can become famous. He may be a joke around the lunch table, but he can be a serious threat if he had to.

Even from this distance I could see that something was awfully strange about him-I mean, stranger than usual. He usually had a mullet for his brown-turning-white hair, a blue leather jacket, goggles, ragged slacks and combat boots. He was never one for cleanliness or fashion. This time however he looked, different. Was he shorter? He looked a little brighter, even; like something out of a cartoon.

He got within a few feet of the school, and, in a totally different voice, he said "My Monsters! Attack the Heroes!" The monsters came out from behind him, also like in a cartoon. What the heck is going on? He couldn't pull monsters out of thin air like this!

The six or seven monsters attacked the school. One of which was a floating eyeball, used something to melt the wall. before the two-headed dog could get the kids closest to the wall, something slammed into it.

I realized that it was Kenny, using his powers to slam a streetlamp into it. Jessie came from behind him and raised the dead. The twelve skeletons, who were wielding maces, spears, and swords, ganged up on the monsters. Mira came around too, and started blasting away, with her laser-rainbow powers.

I watched as the monsters gotten beat up, but what I realized is that the monsters were winning, in a way. A lizard monster got jabbed with a spear, but the skeletons might as well be poking at gelatin. Plus, whenever a Skeleton bashed one of them on the head, you would see a big knot form and it would go back down, again, just like in an old cartoon. Mira and Kenny's attacks were to no avail.

What is going on here?

TL&TOHJ~Hope: Goliath, Angel, and Gemini

The trio of heroes and I went to a high rooftop somewhere in the city. We sat down and I said, "OK, talk." The highlighted hair one said, "Why should we talk? Maybe you should explain it to us." I gave him a simple look that every girl knows. He said, "OK. We'll talk. Sorry about that." The giant stepped into the conversation. He said, "You probably wouldn't believe us anyway." I said, "This wouldn't be because of a light coming from the sky and smacking all of you in the head, would it?" They all looked at me in shock. "So we ain't crazy." The giant said. The angel spoke up, "Wait, shouldn't we at least know each other's names before we say anything?" I nodded. "Right, well, as you know, I am called Haley." They all nodded. The giant said, "Call me Goliath." "Angel." Said the winged one. The third one said, "Hhhmmm, I will be Gemini." He said it like it was spelled Jim-mini. Angel corrected him. "Its called Ge-mi-ni! And that's the greek legend for twins! Not Triplets!" Gemini rolled his eyes. "Whatever. It still fits, and its tight."

"Anyway." I said, trying to get back on track. "What happened to you guys?" They all looked down. Goliath spoke, "Before this, I was a football jock, Angelica was a book-worm, no offense to you, and Jared here was, and still is, a class clown. We got paired up in a field trip to the meuseum. We had to stick together at all costs. We ended up missing the bus back to school, and then..... I remember a tremor, and us crying out in surprise. We ran, not knowing what had happened. We soon discovered what we could do, and we hid for a few days. After talking about it some, we decided to do what you do, and started helping people. Its hard, people thinking you're out to get them, I can't handle another brick in a purse." He was now rubbing his head, as if remembering the pain. Angel then said, "I don't know how I'm going to explain this to my parents. I never missed more than one or two days of school! I've missed more days this past week, then I had in my entire life!" Gemini snapped back, "Uh, excuse me. I'm a little more worried that I'm going to be split into three in sports. Would they choose me and the other guy choose three more kids, or would I just be considered an unfair advantage? Oh, yeah. It doesn't matter! We are NEVER going back to the way it was! We've changed, like, forever."

I stood up. "Hey! Calm down. We were given these powers for a reason, to protect others. We can do it, we just need to practice at it. Plus, I think that if your parents really do love you, then they'll except you, no matter what happens. I can turn off my powers. You should be able to as well." I clicked my bracelet and I returned to my normal form. They all stared at me. Goliath look down at his belt. He reached down and pinched the top and bottom of it. In a flash he was replaced by a six-foot-two, jersey wearing teen. Angel looked at a necklace she had under her suit. She popped it open and a flash of light engulfed her. She was replaced by a shy looking girl, who had brown hair and glasses. We turned to Gemini. He looked at himself up and down. No necklace, no watch, no belt. How does he change back? He got angry. He formed a sphere of electricity in his hands. "This. Is. Ridiculous!" As he said this he slammed the ball down at his feet and created a big flash of light. When the light died down, I thought I would see the regular Gemini (or whatever his name is), but there was nothing different. He cursed. I said, "Don't worry. I'll turn all of you back to normal. I promise. I know someone who can help. But first, I think you should tell your parents that you're all OK. At least."

TL&TOHJ~Hope: Private Fight

I flew to the source of the commotion. I saw a strange scene unfolding. I saw a bunch of gangsters fighting the police, but the police were standing around watching the gangsters shoot at a third party. The first one was about twenty feet tall, he had short, black hair, and had a full body suit. It wrapped around his head and connected to the goggles he was wearing, his sleeves were cut exposing his forearm and muscles.

The second one was a blond with, what looked like, a one piece white bathing suit with jeans over them. She had Pure white wings, and was flying around and kicking the crap out of anyone within reach.

The other three looked like they were triplets. They all had brown hair, with highlights in each of them. One streak of hair was a different color. One was red, the second was blue, the third was yellow; it was the same with the the third of a circle on their chests. They had bronze colored armor covering their shoulders, knees, shins and feet. The rest was covered in light brown bodysuit, with a thick white line running down the middle. They were using electricity in different ways. I saw one using it as a tether to wrap someone up in. One was kicking around an electric soccer ball. The third was using an electric stick as a bat.

Who, or what, are these guys? They must have been hit by the same light as me! I have to be sure though. I pulled out the glasses and put them on. I saw a faint aura around each of these guys. It was pure and white. These had to be good guys. I put away the glasses and I felt a tingling sensation in the back of my eyes. What is--

Two energy beams shot out of my eyes and hit a gangster who recovered enough to pull out a gun. Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared up at me in surprise. Well, since I have their attention I might as well say something. "Is this a private fight, or can I join?" The three new guys finished off the remaining gangsters. I realized later that the gangsters that day, and from that day forward, all wore the same goldish-rust jacket. They all had blood stains on them, and the one of each of the gangster's hands were covered in a bandage.

After the last man fell, the trio returned to face me. The giant shrunk to about ten feet in height, which didn't make me feel any better. The angel landed and tucked in her wings tightly, I just now noticed that her eyes were unnaturally blue. They were hypnotizing, in a way. I shook it off. The other three merged as one. Now his hair had three color streaks in it, there was a full circle with the different colors on its chest.

I said, "So, you guys new around here?"

TL&TOHJ~Hope: The Blood Synicate

The Next Day/During School..........

The gangs of Den-Martin are, for the most part, vicious. There are a lot of small gangs, the big dogs, and a lot of freelancers. They are always trying to get more money in their pockets, or trying to kill other gangs; always picking fights for the police to sort out (or shoot out).

Today, though, was different. Nearly every gang member was here, in the abandoned warehouse, where most exchanges are made. Someone made each of them an offer. All the big man had to do, was tell one man, then the whole underworld new. Rumors travelled fast. The man walked in with two guards by his side. They all had a goldish-rust colored hoodies. They all had them zipped up and the hoods up. The middle one stepped up to the crowd and instantly had every one's attention. He put down his hood to reveal dirty-blond hair, and silvery-blue eyes that seemed to shoot out an evil aura around him. He said, "Now I know you blokes haven't got much to say to each other, but I do. I came all this way from London, see, and I can see that you all are disorganized, stupid, and continue to act like sheep."

At these insults, the gangsters said nothing. This person, whoever he is, has an aura of fear around him. You treat him with respect, or you don't get to treat him at all. He continued, "We all have forgotten the true enemy. The pigs. We make gangs to stick together, to be family. Some of us, to make money, or to make good on revenge. How well is that going? Now that we have Pigs, killing us off? And now we got this.....Hero, running around and locking us up?" He paused there. The gang members are murmuring amongst each other. He said, "The only way we are goin to survive is if we work together. Put aside your petty differences and join me and my crew. The Blood Syndicate. Together, we are going to rule this city, and soon, the entire country!"

Later..........

I was in the last period of the day. I think I'm finally starting to get the hang of this. Balancing Homework, with my other stuff. I just get it all done in lunch period and the other periods, whenever I have freetime. I got a buzz on Link. I asked if I can go to the bathroom and the teacher was so cool that he actually said yes. I listen to Link and it said, "Level 7! Level 7! Multiple Meta-Humans! Robbery in progress! 23rd Westoned Street! Many lives in danger!" Uh Oh. Is it Rex again? He's still out there somewhere. At least, that's what I saw on the News. I went into the stall, clicked my bracelet, and was on my way outta here.

The Life and Times of Haley Jones~Hope: Responsibility

"Here, take this." I turned to Dr. Richards. He decided to stay here and I would bring help for him to rebuild the reactor. We were about to leave when he stopped us. He gave me a pair of glasses, except that this pair of glasses looked high-tech and retro at the same time. I said, "Oooooh. Just what I wanted. I can cross that off my Christmas List!" He answered, "They will allow you to see whether or not a person has Positive or Negative Energy running through them. If you can help them before they ignite it, then there would be less damage, and it would also prevent casualties." I nodded and put them inside of my vest. I said, "You have a good heart, Doc. If it helps any." He lowered his head. "If I had a good heart, I wouldn't have helped in building this blasted thing." I put a hand on his shoulder. "Your trying to fix it now, that's all that matters." He looked at me and gave a half smile. "We'll be back, as soon as we can." He nodded. I grabbed a hold of Candy and left the base. We just got to Devlin's house and I got a call from my parents.

"Hello?" "Haley Juno Jones!" "Oh, hi Mom." "Don't you 'Hi' me little Missy! I am looking at your grades right now, on the computer, and I am seeing NHI's all over!" "Mom I--" "I want you home right now, doing your work. If I see another NHI when I check it again on Friday, you will be grounded for the rest of the month. No contact with the outside world. Cellphone, Computer, TV, and all that jazz. Do I make myself clear?" I can hear Butch snickering in the back round. I said in defeat, "Yes Ma'am." "Alright. How was your day at school?" I smiled a little. That was just like her. "It was fine. I'll see you home." "Love you, sweetie." "Mom." "Say it, hon." I whispered into the phone and wrapped my hand around the receiver and my mouth. "I Love you too, Mommy." She hung up.

God, she is embarrassing sometimes. I turned to Candy who smiled innocently. "Juno?" She asked. "That never happened." I said through gritted teeth. "Of Course it didn't. I can get Joe Joe out here to help with your work at your house." I shook my head and said, "No thanks, I appreciate it though. I'm done with most of the homework, but there are just one or two questions I need to finish." She nodded. "Call you later." She said. "Definitely." I said back. I flew off towards home.

When I came home, I came to a shocker. My parents stopped me and told me the news. "You what?" I said. "I got you a job." He repeated. "I heard you the first time, I mean, Why?" "Its time you learned how to be responsible. Plus, its not even a real job. It's more of a program where kids get to help other kids, less fortunate kids: only two days a week." I raised an eyebrow. "What is it, exactly?" My mom smiled. She said, "A child is signed up with a partner. You get to help him or her as a nurse. You'll get to know each other, and become friends." "Who is it?" I asked. Dad shrugged. "Don't know yet. Results are coming in through the mail." I nodded and I heard Butch's immature rantings. "Haley has a job! Haley has a job!" I looked at him. "Yeah, I have a job, I'm gonna get money in my pocket and when we pass the toy store, I am not buying you anything." That got him real quiet, real quick.

Of course, I knew that I was getting no money out of this.

TL&TOHJ~Hope: Dr. Richards

We flew for the longest time. We were going out of the town. I had to keep my eyes open, if I do something, if I hurt somebody, then I need to know exactly who or what. Because I deserve it. We went deep into the woods, I never realized how close we were to the forest.


I saw a facility. I assumed it to be a docking bay, the rest of it must be underground. The doors closed behind us. Candy and I stood there for a moment, waiting for something else to happen. I walked over to what I think is the door leading inside. We entered a small hallway and the walls blasted air in our faces. Of course I didn't realize it was air and it scared the ever living crud out of me. It must have been a cleanser or disinfectant of some kind. We walked through the next door, which opened to a maze of hallways. I felt my body tense up again. I grabbed Candy and before I knew it, we were zipping through hallways. Candy was screaming all the way. I was too.

We finally stopped in a huge room. In the middle was a big pillar that looked like its top has been popped open. There was a computer terminal in front of it and standing at it was a scrawny man. He adjusted his glasses and looked over to us. He reminded me of Paul. Except he had black hair and blue eyes, Paul has brown hair and hazel eyes. He said, "I've been waiting for you Miss."

"Who are you, and how did you do that?" I asked. He sighed, "I am Dr. Richards. I am a scientist, working on the Prototype for the world's first Fusion Reactor." I glared at him for a moment.

He sighed again, "I only needed to get your attention. I mean no harm." I loosened up a little, but not much. I said, "Well, you certainly have it. What do you want?" He said, "It was never about money, or power. All we wanted was an unlimited Energy source, one where pollution isn't a factor or result. As you can probably tell, the reactor was a disaster. We discovered that by creating Fusion, we also created two types of Energy. These energies can be found in nature, to a certain extent, but we never would have been able to figure it out before a few days ago. We decided to call these energies Positive and Negative Energy. Positive Energy is calm and often creates life, or adding on to the life or even the abilities of certain organisms."

He paused there, then he said, "The Negative Energy, however, is rather different. It increases the abilities of certain organisms to an even greater extent, but it also increases aggression or desire in the host. I told those fools that the container would not be enough. We needed more time to study it, to test it, and they would never allow it. They just wanted to fire it up and see what it would blow up. Well, it blew up alright, as in everyone here!" He was rambling now. I looked over to Candy, she had a sorry look on her face. I walked closer to him and said, "Is there anything we can do?"

He looked at me and said, "No. It would take weeks to even design the next reactor." I said, "What about a containment unit?" He said nothing. Then, "I'm not sure. A maybe at best." I nodded. "Well, that reactor gave me, and a whole lot of punks, powers. We need to find a way to save them. That stuff, it messes with your head, and I need to save as many of them as I can. Will you help me?" He looked at me. We stared at each other for a minute. He smiled and laughed a little. "Your Nobility knows no bounds. I will do everything I can. However, with what I have to work here, that may not be much." I looked at the reactor. I said, "Ya know, all things considered, that wasn't too bad of a blast. Can't you just, like, reinforce that reactor and make it stronger, or something?" He looked at it and I could see the calculation in his eyes. He said, "That......could be a possibilty." I smiled. "Hold on, you won't have to work at this alone. I know someone who can help."

TL&TOHJ~Hope: Mind of its Own

I was walking to Devlin's house with Candy. Devlin said to go ahead of him, he had to stay after school and make up a test. He said the house was already unlocked, and that he called his mother ahead of time. I was talking to Candy about how the people not really trusting me yet.

"I know that Brenda framed me that one time, but can't they see that we are completely different people? We look nothing alike." She nodded. Then she said, "What happened to her, anyway? After the incident at the mall, she's been missing. No one has seen her."

I stopped and looked at her. "You tell me this now? I had no idea!" She took a couple of steps back. "I'm sorry. I thought you knew. I saw it on the news." I sighed. "Its OK. There's nothing we can do now. I'll just have to try harder." I thought about something, as we continued to walk to Devlin's house. "You don't think that big dark guy took her do you?" As soon as I said it, I heard a beeping sound.

I automatically put the Link earpiece to my ear. When I didn't hear anything I was confused. Candy then said, "Uh, Haley. I don't think that's Link." I looked at her and she was staring at my bracelet.

I looked at it too. I saw that the jewel was bleeping on and off. "What the...."

Streamers of light erupted from the the jewel and covered me, like they always do. For the first time, I felt scared. I became my Hero alter ego. Apparently, my clothes fix themselves if they've been ripped. I felt myself fly away. Candy grabbed my boot while saying, "Haley! What are you doing?" "I'm not doing anything! My body has a mind of its own!" I felt my arms grab Candy and then fly off. I held on her tightly and she did the same thing.

I am so scared.

Rising Ch. 13: Fight or Flight

I stopped by the flower shop to by a rose. I thought she might like that. I got to the address. I was about to knock when I felt something. Like a pain in my heart. Why do I feel like this? Maybe its because I'm finally getting back with Nicole. Yeah, that's it. I know who I want to be my girl. Maybe I should just look through the side window next to the door.


I saw Nicole at the table in what I suppose is the dining room, she was leaning towards something in front of her. I couldn't she her face, was she whispering to someone? I had to look into the window at the other side of the door to see the whole scene. I saw Nicole........and Pierce. They were kissing.


My heart just died. The rest of me was filled with rage. I slammed on the door and waited impatiently. I heard scrambling of feet, then Rachael opened the door with a nervous look on her face. She started to say something, but I ignored her and walked myself in. I said, "Pierce!" He jumped, and then got up slowly from the table. Nicole did the same. Nicole said, "Now, uh, Gabe. I-I can explain. It was just--I just--the moment, and--" I ignored her. "So you can't beat me in a fight," I began, "so you go and try to steal my girl?" There was silence.


"You know, it's funny," I said, "I thought you were different from your father. But it turns out your a bigger snake than he was!" That made him charge. He tackled me and ran me into the wall. I grabbed the back of his shirt, and threw him out the window and into the backyard. I went after him.


He was just recovering when I slammed my fist into his face. We just punched and kicked at each other, neither one of us even bothering with dodging each other. I could hear Nicole's cries, but I was lost in my own head. I finally did an uppercut with all of my weight behind it. That sent him head over heels.


I grabbed him by his neck and lifted him up in the air. "About time I reunited a family." I said with every word dipped in the acid of bitterness, hate, and every bad emotion I had about him. I heard a scream, and it barely registered. I looked over at Nicole and I saw that she was knocked out in something's arms. It looked at me and gave a smirk.


It said, "You have a choice, kid. Save your home town sweetheart, or save your red-headed girlfriend." I was startled. I dropped Pierce and said, "Hunter? What happened to you?" He had a robotic eye and arm. He was shirtless, and had what looked like jump-suit pants. That's not what I was looking at though. I was looking at the wings on his back. There were four of them. They looked like they were stitched onto him. He had a set of big ones, coming out of his shoulders, and a pair of smaller ones, that were lower on his back; the abdominal area. The big ones stretched out to about eighteen feet in length, the smaller ones stretched to about, four feet each.


He grinned and said, "Its Predator now. And let's just say that I got a few angels looking after me. Meet me at the Lincoln Memorial, in an hour. Don't be late, bird boy."


He flew off and I was left standing there with a downed rival and no hope what-so-ever.

Greendale: Taking out the Trash

We rode into the town. Bell had been right with the carriage. We followed its tracks here. The town looked simple enough. Stores and businesses on the sides, a clock tower under construction in the back. We had to keep the money well hidden in order to sneak them into town.

Everyone is staring at us. I don't care, they probably don't get too many visitors around here. I stopped in front of the town pub. I heard Doc behind me. "We stopping for a drink, partner?" I said, "Just some directions. Stay here, this won't take too long." I got off the horse and entered the pub.

I realiz only now that I don't exactly look like an adult. I may be a good six feet tall, but I still have a baby face, and haven't grown a single hair on it. This isn't going to go well. Just act natural and it'll all be OK. I walked over to the bartender. He looked me up and down and said, "Ya lost, son?" I responded. "Yeah. We're new in town, ya know where we can get some rest around here?" He pointed to the rafters. "We got rooms upstairs. If ya willin to pay the rent, yall can stay." I looked around, I just now realized that the place was deserted, with the exception of a group of men at a table: Whoopin and Hollerin. I gestured to the place itself. "You don't get a lot of business in here, do ya?" He shook his head. "I'd get rid of them if I could, but I'm a bit past my prime, as you can see." I nodded and walked over to the group.

The noise was coming from one man, cursing and yelling at the others. I walked up behind him and tapped on his shoulder. He was a short, fat, bearded, and had a hat that was as ugly as he was. He said, "You here to take our order boy?" I ignored what he said. "I'm here to tell you to leave." He looked at his boys. They had expressions of both relief and pity. The man said, "Oo-wee. We got some sortta sheriff up in here! What if I want ta stay? Huh?" I glared at him. "Last warning. I am telling you ta leave, while you ain't in a stretcher yet." He stood up. He said, "And I'm tellin you to go ta Hell!"

I smirked as I reeled my fist back and punched him dead in the face. He fell back on the table. His friends looked at him, then at me. "I'm guessing I won't have to tell yall the same thing?" They shook their heads and got up from the table. I said, "And take yer trash with ya, will ya?" They scraped him up and left. I went to the bar tender and said, "Now, about those rooms........."

Demigod: Demon King

I had a plan in order to get my revenge. Stock up for battle and find a portal to the under world. This should be simple, I'll just go to Athens, find a way to the Fates and I'll get them to tell me a way to escape the underworld. Except, I was lost......again. I ran out of food yesterday. I can't get to Athens if I starve to death. I looked over at the horizon. I saw a pillar of smoke.

Must be a forest fire. Wait, there are no forests in this part of the Greek Empire. This is all Savannah. I should go check what's happening.

What I saw was horror. There was a small village. There were men there and some of them children, barely older then me. They were setting the houses on fire and killing the village people, with different asortments of weapons. Even the younger ones.

I have to do something, but what? As I thought that, one of the flames reached over and formed a man next to me. I sneered at him, I knew very well who it was. "Hades." I spat. The man nodded. He said, "My son, I look forward to the day I collect your soul. However, this village refused to worship Ares as their god. They continued to give offerings to the rest of the gods." I snapped back. "I don't care for your offerings! The people are in danger!" I ran to the village.

Hades called out after me, and for some reason I stopped. "Wait, son. Take these gifts." I turned to reject him but I come face to face with a Skeleton of a man holding a sythe. He offered it to me. I took it nervously. Hades then said, "And use this." He held a silver flame within his hand. He threw it at me.

Despite me putting up my arms, the flame hits me in my chest. I felt no pain, nothing burned. What in the name of......."What did you do, Demon King?" He smiled. "It will burn the guilty souls, use it well." He burts into flames and dissappeared. The skeleton fell apart and was absorbed by Mother Earth. What did he mean? I shook off the questions for now. I need to save the village.

Cyrus Noble II Ch. 24: I'm Back

I stood on top of a building that over looked the city a bit. There were taller ones, but I just chose this one to clear my head. Despite that, I feel like a monster! I looked in the mirror earlier, and I saw that my muscles are bigger, my teeth are sharper, and I never felt more alive! I'm faster, stronger, nimbler, just overall better. According to the rest of the world, I'm dead. The kids, they must be so depressed. Jazz, I need to get to Jazz. Who cares? They can handle themselves. You can do whatever you want. They don't need you anymore. That's not true! They love me, and I love them. I am Cyrus Noble, Beast to most, Father to others. Why did that voice say that? Bishop. This is one of your tricks, isn't it? It ain't gonna work this time. You better hope I never find you.

.......................

I am not Bishop.

Well whatever you are, I'll find you, and I'll kill you. But first, I need to go and find my family.

I found them at Operation: Broadsword main base. I came around the corner to see Jazz raging at General Cutler. Zero, Angie, and the rest of the gang were there, watching the scene unfold. "What do ya mean 'Don't Have the Time to Find Him'?! You are the biggest Military Force on the face of the planet! You find him or so help me I'll--" I stepped in to make sure heads weren't going to get ripped off. I said, "Whoa, Whoa!" Everyone froze and stared at me. The gang said, "CYRUS!" I was tackled with hugs, affectionate shoulder punches, slaps on the back, but when I looked at Jazz she just stood there. She had the most horrified look on her face. She said, "Please, please tell me, Am I seeing things? Or is this another one of those robots?" I walked over to her. I said, "No. I promise you, I'm the real deal." She almost whispered, "How?" I said, "As far as I can tell, it hit one of my hearts, so it took me a little longer to heal." I gave her a hug, and she hugged me back and cried into my shoulder. I held her there and everyone came around in a group hug. This is great, I'm with my family again.

General Cutler decided to break it up. "Kid, I'd hate to be a bugger, but while you've been saving your girlfriend and playing dead, we've been preparing for war."

Oh, right! Dark Trinity, and the assault on Black Eden.

Cyrus Noble II Ch. 23: Fairy Tales

We woke up the next morning and I looked over to Cyrus. No, still dead. I had a dream last night that Cyrus came back, then we all went to Disney Land and had a good time. We were being silly and laughing and not caring what anyone else thinks.


But no, it was all just a dream. Cyrus really isn't coming back. I told the others they should go and eat something, even though none of us felt like eating. Sara and I were the last ones out. I turned back to Cyrus, Sara holding my hand. I walked over to him. This is so stupid, this only works in fairy tales, but........
I gave him a kiss. Then I looked at the heart moniter. Nothing. I guess there really is no such thing as a happily ever after. I was about to leave with Sara when she ran over, gave Cyrus a quick kiss on the cheek and ran back to me. I smiled at her and we both left. Just two girls in a dream world I guess.
Later that day.....

The nurse was walking down the hallway to the room that belongs to the hero that is Cyrus Noble. She needed to do her daily duties and move the equipment so that they can clean it for the next patient. She passed the guards and entered the room. She saw a problem and slammed the Emergency Alarm Button on the wall. Not that there was much anyone could do. The window was open and the subject is gone.

Rising Ch. 12: Pierce, Meet Nicole

He may think every thing's alright. But he has no idea.

I went up to this house. This is such a big mistake, but I needed help. After I got away from that, Angel of Death, I got attacked by a gang, with dogs. They thought that since I was a freak, no one would miss me. They were right, but I came out on top. They won't be bothering anyone anymore.

Anyway I went up to the house and rang the doorbell. I hope it's some dotty old lady who doesn't remember to watch the news. The door opened, and we both almost jumped out of our skins. It was the girl that was with Gabe in the first place! Great. We both say at the same time, "Its you!" We pause. "What are you doing here? You first!" We continued.

I sighed. "Ugh. I need help. Do you have any medicines or whatever?" She looked behind her. There was another girl there. She motioned her to move and she did. The brown haired girl dragged me inside and shut the door. "Ow. Ow! Do you not see the cuts on my arm?" I say as she did this. She rolled her eyes and called up the stairs. "Rachael! Get the first aid kit!" She 'OK'ed from upstairs and the brown haired girl dragged me to the dining room table. I was a little nervous that we were sitting next to the window, with the curtains open. She sat me down and went to a cabinet. She opened it and said, "Does it hurt a lot?" Without thinking about it I said, "Yes." That made you look pathetic! How are you supposed to defeat your enemies if you look like a wounded jackal? Pull yourself together!

She tossed me a bottle. "Pop two of those." I opened the bottle of pills and I pop two in my mouth. I almost spit them back out when they hit my mouth. That was disgusting. Her friend came back down with the kit. She was trembling. "Would you, um, like anything to, uh, drink?" I said my answer very calmly to show that I wasn't going to do anything. I'm not the bad guy here. "Just some water would be nice." She nodded and got a glass of water. The blue eyed, brown haired girl continued to wrap the few cuts on my arm. She talked while she worked, "What's your name and what happened to you?"

I paused, but then I answered. "Pierce. I got jumped. Just some gang." She didn't respond to the answer. Rachael came up and whispered something in her ear. She then ran into what I suppose is her room. We were silent for a minute. "So, what's your name?" I asked, just to fill the silence. She was trying really hard to not look at me. She answered quickly, "Nicole." We sat there for a few minites more. She was just finishing up when she asked, "So. Why were you trying to kill Gabriel?" I hesitated, but I told her why. I told her about my mother, how I saw my father die, just everything. I don't know why, but those eyes, they just get in your head. These were eyes that no matter what mood they were in, they said you could trust them. I don't know why that punk would choose that Jean Parker over this. His lost.

"What's your mother's name?" She asked with a little more kindness in her voice. "Maria Valdez." "What a pretty name." She said. I nodded. I reached into my pocket and took out the only thing I had to remember her by. "Is that your mom?" She asked, pointing at the picture I took out. The picture was of her, holding me when I was first born. My powers didn't show up till I was twelve. She said one of her friends took the picture for her.

She saw my forehead and said, "Oh! I missed a cut here." She got the cloth next to her and dabbed it with an antibiotic of some sort. She continued to rub the wound on my forehead and, for the first time tonight, she looked at me in the eyes. I don't know what she sees in my bright green eyes, but I now I like those sky blue eyes of hers. We stared at each other's eyes for a few moments. I don't know what happened next, but we were suddenly kissing.

You know what? For the first time, in a long time, I felt happy.

Although, I should have known it was too good to last.

Rising Ch. 11: Breaking Up Isn't Hard At All

I got a call during school. Apparently they want me to host a memorial service for the unfortunates in Chicago. I'd be happy to do it, but I'm a bit depressed by something else at the moment. I told them I'd do it anyway. I can't hardly get through the day, I don't care for homework anymore. All I want to do is sleep. I went home that day and flopped on my couch. I got another phone call. It was Jean.

"What?" I said. That came out more angry than I'd have meant to. She didn't seem to notice it. "Hey Gabe! I thought that tonight, we could go to a fancy restaurant, ya know for more publicity, and I wanted your opinion on where we should go." Hell, maybe? I said, "Uh, yeah, listen. I wanted to say this to you in person, but this is not going to work out." "Oh, OK. We can just reschedule and--"

"No." I interrupted. "I mean, we can't be dating, not even pretending. Look, you're a nice person and all, but I can't live like this. I hope you understand." There was a pause. I heard a click and the phone say, Sorry, but your call has been disconnected. Oh, well, that went better than I hoped. I got up and went to Nicole's house.

I knocked on the door. Mr. Miller answered it. "Uh, hey. Is Nicole home?" He shook his head. "She went to a friend's house after school. What's up, bud?" I sighed. "I just wanted to tell her that, I'm sorry, and that I broke up with Jean. For real." He raised an eyebrow. He said, "Do you know where Racheal's house is?" OK. Random question. "No. Why?" He gestured for me to come on in. "Nicole forgot her bag. I was going to go and give it to her, but I guess I can save a couple of gallons of gas if I have you run, er, fly it up there for me." While he said this he grabbed a stuffed bag and handed to me. Then he gave me a wink after he was done talking. I smiled. "Uh, Thank you." He nodded. "Don't worry about it, kid. Here let me write the address for you."

I am probably the luckiest kid on this planet.

TL&TOHJ~Hope: Extinct

"Need any help?" I spun to the source of the voice. It was that dark creepy kid again. "What? You wanna throw down too? Come on! I'll take on both you and the Dino team back there!" He held his hand up. "I did not come here to fight you. I came here to assist you." I laughed a little. "That's a good one. You should do stand-up." He glared at me. "I guess you can handle this by yourself then." "Yes. I can. Now go away before I rip you apart." He smiled now. "I detect an interesting darkness in you, Haley. You could be my greatest Ally." I could feel parts of my body twitch. "Not. On. Your. Life." I said very clearly. He shrugged and shot a energy ball at me. It went past me and slammed into Steel, who I had no idea he was behind me.

He swooped down and scooped him up. He held him in the air by his neck. A minute later he said, "Hmmm. It would seem that I cannot absorb their Dark Light Energy. I need to get it from the source. The Original Victim." I gasped as I realized that there was a way to beat him! Every guy has at least one weakness: Pride.

I flew to Rex who was still laughing and trashing everything. I said, "Hey! Dino-Breath!" He spun around to me. "How pathetic can you get?! You can't beat me yourself so you have to get a bunch of groupies together to fight your battles for you!" His team froze and looked back at him. Attila said to him, "Boss......." Rex snapped at him, "Shut Up!" There was a dark aura around him. The Dinos around him morphed and started becoming human again. Dark spheres formed and were reabsorbed by Rex. I smiled. This is exactly what I wanted.

He sprouted wings and came at me. I snatched him by his neck and threw him back down. I continued to stomp him into the ground with both feet. He tried to reach out to his crew, but I stepped on his wrist. "You aren't going anywhere!" I zipped to an untouched stop sign, ripped it from the ground and zipped back over to Rex. I placed his claws behind his back and twisted the stop sign around his wrists. I'm improvising for handcuffs. After I was done, he couldn't escape. I looked around. The other gang members were passed out. I guess having a bunch of power being sucked out of you doesn't feel too good. The policemen that were here earlier came out of their hiding places. One of them pulled out a gun and said, "Freeze!" I gave a wave and flew off. I guess its going to be a while until the town completely accepts me. It's getting late, I need to get home.

Later.......

Police are escorting the super powered criminal to a more powerful and more secure prison hold. The prisoner was in a truck with chains covering everything but his eyes. The truck was attacked. The policemen were thrown out of the truck, and the truck itself was picked up. When it landed, the doors opened and revealed the kidnapper to the prisoner. Devlin smiled. "This is going to be a delicious meal." he said to nobody in particular.

TL&TOHJ~Hope: The Jurassic Era

Link buzzed in my pocket. "Aw man! I was so beating the crud out of Joey on this thing!" He said, "Pshhht. You wish. Go save a kitten or something, Hero Girl." I ignored him and went into the bathroom to listen to Link. "EMERGENCY! EMERGENCY! Downtown. Suspect identified as REX. Many lives in DANGER. All police forces in route." Uh oh.

I clicked my bracelet and was out the door in seconds. I flew over the city and immediately saw what was going on. I saw Rex down there tearing up cars with his T-Rex head and tail and feet; but there were others with him! I saw one that had Pterodactyl wings and talon feet. Another one had a hunch back, he had stegosaurus plates along his back and it had a spiked tail. One had spikes along his back and a tail with a club on the end. One was zipping around with claws on his hands and feet. One had a domed head and was crashing into everything with it. The last one had a shield for a head with three horns sticking out of its face. Great, I have to fight Jurassic Park now.

I flew down and kicked the Raptor one back, to get the other's attention. Rex saw me and gave a big toothy grin. "Ah, yes. Haley, is it? Or is that your real name?" I glared at him. "I'll stick with Haley, thanks." He shrugged. "Not that it matters, I believe you haven't met my crew." He gestured to the others. (I'll go in the order as above.) "Sludge. Attila. BackBiter. Raptor. Steel. Alaska." I laughed a little. "You have a Triceratops named Alaska? That's hilarious!"

"You won't think so in a second. Jurassic Era! Attaaaaack!" They charged at me. Steel head-butted me in the gut, taking the wind out of me. Sludge grabbed me by the shoulders, with his talons, and flew upward. He then kicked me back into the ground. The process ripped up the tiny vest I had.

I picked up a car and slammed it into BackBiter. He didn't even flinch! He flipped around and slammed his tail into me. I went flying.

When I landed I looked up to see people still running and screaming. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I can't win. I'm way outnumbered here. Just then Raptor zipped in front of me and slashed at me. I barely dodged them, but one claw made a cut at my arm. I cried out in pain. Out of anger I grabbed Raptor by the neck and chucked him as hard as I could in the other direction.

I need help.

The Life and Times of Haley Jones~Hope: Rex's Return

"Daaaaaaaaaang man." Joe Joe said appropriately. The basement of Devlin's house was awesome! The walls were vertically striped in a light and dark shade of gray. It had a Big screen TV on a stand on one side of the room, with a X-box 360 to the side. The furniture was set up around the TV. There were little speakers around the room. "Surround sound man?" Joey observed. "You been holding out on us Dude!" Devlin chuckled a little. "Sorry dude. Dad literally got this room done last night." "Devlin." I said, still amazed. "This is awesome!" He smiled. "Yeah, I thought the regular hideout was a little.......inappropriate for awesome guys like you. So, me casa su casa, ya know?" Candy tackled him with a hug and I followed. I looked at Joe Joe. "Get over here Joey!" He chuckled a little and joined our group hug. Then Devlin said, "Not that I appreciate it and everything guys, but that Xbox isn't going to play itself. Plus, I got Halo Reach waiting in there." That broke up the hug and started the fun.

Meanwhile.............

Rex stood in front of his old gang. All six of them seemed to look at him with fear in their eyes. He could hardly contain his excitement. He said, "Friends, as you now see here, I have power. While I was in prison, I discovered that I can share this power with whatever I choose." He let that set in for a moment. "I decided to share it with you. I am the new leader of this gang, of the......Jurassic Era." He corrupted the person next to him. He screamed and morphed. He grew wings from his back, similar to those of a Pterodactyl. He corrupted them, one by one. Triceratops head, Velociraptor claws and feet, Stegosaurus back and tail, Ankylosaurus armor and club tail, that uh, hard headed dinosaur's head. Bah, whatever, this is gonna be the biggest comeback in History!

TL&TOHJ~Hope: New Hangout

A familiar criminal sat in his cell, the powers within him are great enough to escape this prison. However he wanted to sit there for a while and strategize. How did he loose? That-that Hero, Haley, put a beat down on him. He needs to win. He looked at the bird that landed on the cell window, just in between the bars. He growled a little. Rex hated birds, he only liked them when they were fried, or grilled and served with a side of potatoes. Great, now he was hungry.......again.

Almost by instinct, and before he even realized what he was doing, he formed a sphere and threw it at the bird. The bird squawked and fell out the window and onto the ground. Rex looked at his, uh, Claws. Did he just do that? He heard a squawk, but it didn't sound like a bird. He looked at the window and in the same spot as the bird, was a miniature Pterodactyl. He got closer to it and it called out to him. Rex smiled at his discovery. Then he had a thought. He held his hand up to it and the sphere that he threw at the creature reformed and returned to his hand. Thus, the miniature dinosaur disappeared and was replaced by the same bird as before. Incredible. He had a idea.....and this one was for the History books!

Meanwhile.........

"I got off scot free! I told you I have the bestest big brother ever!" I told Candy as we walked to the hangout. Candy smiled and said, "I still can't believe I'm going to have a baby brother soon. Mom still wants to name him Jared, while Dad wants to name him Chris." I thought about this. "They're both great names." I said. She responded. "I know, but Mom wants to name him after one of her grandfathers and Dad wants to name him after some famous Football player he's distantly related to." We were at the place we went up and met Joe Joe in the lobby. He said, "You do not want to go up there." I asked, "What, did you set off one of your old stink bombs up there?" He shook his head. "Nope. The place is trashed. Every thing's been destroyed. The seats, the table, they even ripped up the tarp for crying out loud!" I was in shock. "What? How? Why? We never did anything to anybody!" He nodded. "I am really getting sick of this town and its gangsters thinking they've gotten something to prove. I'm moving outta here." I put my fingers to my temples and sighed. "What are we going to do now?" Candy asked. At that time Devlin came in with a smile on his face.

He saw our faces and his smile disappeared. "What's up guys?" We explained it to him. He scratched his chin and said nothing for a minute. "Where are we supposed to hangout at now?" I asked. Devlin spoke up a little. "Actually, my Dad has been getting a lot of stuff for the basement. We got the perfect couches and we just put in the HD Flat screen TV. The entire room is now an Entertainment center." We all looked at him. Joey says, "What, are serious?" He nodded. "You guys want to come along? Please, don't feel like you have to." We looked at each other, then back at Devlin. Then we all say simultaneously, "Why not?"

Rising Ch. 10: The Hunter's Meeting with Mr. Williams

The hunter entered the building, the guards didn't give him a second glance. When he entered the lady at the desk quivered a little. "Mr. Williams is waiting for you on the top floor, s-sir." He said nothing. He went to the elevator and pressed the highest number there was. When he got there, there was a long hallway with a single door on the end. He went up to it and knocked on it. A servant opened it. He simply said, "Ah, you must be the guest Mr. Williams is expecting."

Hunter only looked at him funny. "Please, follow me." He did so. Whoever this guy is, he better be holdin on to somethin good. The Mr. Williams he heard about was sitting in an expensive chair. He wore a business suit and he had a little girl sitting in his lap, leaning on his shoulder. She looked about ten. She was asleep, and had her thumb in her mouth. He has stroking her hair. She must have been adopted. He was white, and she was Asian. Probably Japanese. She had little pajamas, with a random cartoon character on them.

The man saw Hunter and smiled. He whispered something in the girl's ear and she woke up a little. She crawled off his lap and ran off to the other room. He turned to Hunter. "Beautiful, isn't she? Please, have a seat." Hunter continued to stand. The man only shrugged and continued, "My message to you was given thanks to my step-daughter. Do not mistake for the Telepathy you would see in movies and whatnot. She has a form of sonar, one so advanced that she can send entire thoughts. Unfortunately this ability has its limits, however you were within range." Hunter gave away nothing. He said, "Boy, does it look like I give a--" "Ah, ah, ah." Mr. Williams interrupted. "Watch your tongue Mr. Hunter D. Schaller." Hunter arched an eyebrow. He knew his full name, better do what he says....for now. He took a seat and Mr. Williams continued, "I understand your feelings right now, and I'm here to tell you I am giving you a choice. You want to kill Gabriel Andrew Collins, for that you will need power, and I can give you it." He arched his eyebrow again. "Bullsh--I mean, I don't believe you." Mr. Williams smiled. "Let me give you a little history lesson, Mr. Hunter. Throughout time, there have been numerous mentions of "People of the Sky" or perhaps "Angels" or maybe even a "Bird People" or two. These mentions are more than just coincidence, Mr. Hunter."

Hunter speaks back, "This don't got nothing to do with Aliens or nothin, does it?" Mr. Williams chuckled. "Not at all. You see, scientists failed to discover a hidden gene within that of a human's. Few get the full effects of it, but it spells out the DNA sequence in a completely different way. Adding some new......features to the human product." He let that set in for a moment. "I am speaking of Winged Beings, Mr. Hunter. Humans with the natural ability to fly. Isn't that a wonderful discovery?" Hunter growled a little. "Swell." He answered. "I guess you would have to see it my way. Anyway I have a, shall we say, 'Shadow Division' of this company. One that has been studying the Avian Sapien Gene for quite some time." Hunter interrupted, "Why haven't I heard of something like this on the news then?" Williams shifted uncomfortably. "I have my reasons. Anyway, I can even the score for you. I can make it so that you can have certain advantages over Gabriel."

He nodded. Then he stood up. "Then quit yer yappin and do it."

Demigod: A Child of Death

I was always told that I was a mistake, a curse, a monster. For a while I believed all of them, but my mother would always prove me wrong. Her name was Ellysia, named after the Heavenly Realm of the underworld. She was a beautiful and caring woman, why anyone would ever want to outright murder her is beyond me.

I'm sorry, you must be rather confused right now. I'll explain here. My name is Malesus. The name was given to me by the people that had to live with me. I have forgotten my true name, not that it matters. My mother I told you already, my father is someone much, much worse. He fell in love with my mother, when the Olympian gods wanted her to hand me over, she refused. She ran away, and we lived happily for a while, but when I was thirteen the father came back. Hades took my mother away, and I made a promise that day, that the Lord of the Dead will be on his own deathbed.

I am Malesus, Child of Death. It has been a year since I lost my mother. I have nothing to remember her by, nothing but this little coin she had. It was unique, because it was made to have her face on it. It doesn't do her justice, but its all I got.

I was sleeping in yet another barn, with a rude awakening. I heard someone coming in, so I opened one eye and saw the farmer sneaking up to me with a pitchfork. I sat straight up and he froze. He was an old man with the beard and all. He said, "Go back to Hades! Yer Demon!" I rolled away from his pitchfork and punched his side. He crippled under me. I said, "I'm sorry for the scare. The pain will subside in a day or two." He just glared at me and I grabbed my bag and left. I don't want to make my father more powerful than he already is.

I was trying to just survive on my own, I'm not looking for a fight. I just want to go to the the underworld and back, although the gods have cursed me and I will always be hated and never will be remembered in history. I don't care about the remembering, so much as the cursed part. I can't hardly get to a barn to sleep in, let alone the underworld.

Cyrus Noble II Ch. 22: Memory Lane

I was hanging out with my cool step mom. We went to a lot of places in DC. She dumped my dad and my mom didn't even try to get me back. I'm OK with that. I didn't want to live with a workaholic and an alcoholic that can't even be in the same room together. I was laying on the couch and listening to my music on my MP3, when my mom tapped my on shoulder, causing me to jump a little. She said, "Oh, sorry honey. There's someone on the phone for you, she said her name was Jazz." She put the phone in my hand and I put it to my ear. "Hello?" I asked. It was Jazz, and she sounded like she was crying. "Viktor. Its-its Cyrus........."

We entered the medical wing in Operation: Broadsword's home base, we were right behind Jazz. We got to the room and entered. I waited silently, listening for a snickering jerk saying, "Ha! Fooled all of you! I'm not dead!" but there was nothing. I couldn't believe it, I guess no one can cheat death forever.

(Jazz's POV)

I tried to be strong, I had to be strong, for the kid's sake. Megan was tearing up already, Sara and Magnet subjected to tears as well. They were fighting hard against them, but this.......this is too much. Even Viktor had a tear running down his cheek. Angie was right beside him, she seemed just as upset as we were. Arsenal was with us too, although I barely recognized him with his new face. He was blond, with bright green eyes. He can't exactly cry, but he had the saddest expression you can get.

We finally pulled up the chairs from around the room and sat around the bed that held the corpse of Cyrus. The doctor said that they would have to move him in the morning, so without much of a vote we stayed there and didn't say anything. Eventually Sara started up a trip down memory lane. "Remember when we were still living in that dam, and he ordered all of us to stay in the lounge until he found the monster in my closet?"

We nodded and remembered. One by one we all came up with memories of our leader. Megan falling asleep in Cyrus' arms, and then snoring, which scarred him half to death. Viktor and Cyrus going toe to toe because Viktor was just starting to grow his smart mouth. Arsenal helping the kids play a halloween trick on him. Sara cheating at every card game we ever played. Magnet trying to prove that he was just as big and bad as everyone else. Me dumping one of my attempts at dinner on Cyrus' head, when he pretended to gag.

One by one, we started to nod off. Until I was the only one left. I turned to Arsenal. "Hey, Arsenal, could you....." He finished my sentence. "Stand outside the door and make sure no one bursts in?" I nodded. "No problem." He said. He was really missing that electronic voice he use to have. You would have never guessed he was actually a robot. He got up and left.

I looked at Cyrus' face. I reached over and brushed some of his hair out of his face. I wish I could just see those blue eyes, just one last time.

Greendale: Cowboy Raid

We crawled in the grass up to the camp of those cowboys. It was just Doc and me on this end. I mean 'I'. I never finished school. There was Antonio and Butch on the other end. Bell was a mile or two back, tending the horses. May God strike me if I let her get involved in this stuff. There were ten, no, eleven of them. They must've been planning on something big, or maybe they already did. Doesn't matter, they won't get the chance to do anything else.

We were borrowing one of those Indian tactics. They're actually pretty smart, even without the whole school thing. We waiting for doc to take the shot. After that, Hell will be unleashed. He zoned in on his gun. He took one down and the rest of them looked at him then tried to search the range to see what shot him. Butch used his double barrel shotgun and got a couple of them. Antonio shot one a couple of times with his Winchester till he was dead. The Cowboys were scrambling and panicking and getting their pants on. Doc was still aiming and firing. I stood up and began firing at them with my two revolvers. One by one they fell. This was too easy!

They were all dead. Not so tough when your not terrorizing decent towns, huh? "Hey, Charlie!" I turned to Antonio. He waved a bunch of dollars in the air. "We just hit the jack pot, Senior!" I walked over to the bag he hovered over. There were a bunch of dollars in there. "They must have robbed a bank." I said. The thief smiled. "I don't think I've ever been happier senior!" I grabbed the bag and tugged it away from him. "Its not yours, Antonio. We are going to the closest town here and dropping it by the bank." He was angry now. "If they cared so much about their money, they should have gotten good security!" I could see Doc and Bell coming over the horizon. "We are going to put the money back where it belongs. Can we justify ourselves any better then them?" I pointed my gun to the dead cowboy next to me. Antonio folded his arms under his poncho and pouted. He was mumbling under his breath in Spanish. Bell said, "I saw a coach in the distance while I was out there. It was going east. That way." She pointed where. I smiled. Good girl. "Alright everyone! Get the ammo, the water, the food, whatever money you can carry and whatever else ya'll need, and get outta here."

TL&TOHJ~Hope: I Tell Paul

I bolted for the Mystery Man I incountered before and he shot an energy ball at me and flew off. The coward. I was fine, but the energy ball caught me by surprise, which gave plenty of time for the guy to escape. I'll have to worry about him later.

"Haley!" I jumped a little: As much as you can jump when you're hovering above the ground. I turned around slowly to see Paul standing there. He said, "You get down here so that I can talk to you." I got down on the ground with my head hanging. I said, "I guess you know now, huh?" He asked, "How long?"

"Since the day before I asked you to build Link for me." He nodded. "uh huh. So for all this time, its been you, saving cops and banks and other people?" I muttered a "Yes." "So...how did this happen?" I told him the whole story about me seeing something explode in the distance, me falling, and the light hitting me and giving me my powers. He scratched his chin the way he does when he's thinking.

"I am going to assume that Mom and Dad do not know?" I said, "Oh, please don't tell them! If you tell them they will NEVER let me be a hero! I love doing this, and It's MY responsibility!" He gave me a look and thought about it. "OK. Fine, I won't tell them." I relaxed a little and began to say thank you but he put his hand up and said, "Wait." Uh, Oh. "You have to tell them." I gawked at him. "What?" "You have to tell them." He said casually. "It doesn't have to be today, and it doesn't have to be tommorow, but you do have to tell them at some point." I sighed. "I'm probably going to have to tell them anyway to keep from being expelled." He looked at me puzzled. "Why is that?" he asked.

I told him about why I was here and how I got here and how I am going to be in so much trouble when I get back. He was scratching his chin. He said, "Today, a responsible adult was with you. The owner of the Moped will find a full tank of gas in his moped and fifty dollars for his troubles." I was overwelmed with joy. I tackled him with a hug. "Oh, Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! You are the bestest big brother in the WORLD!" He hugged back. "I know." He said in his goofy voice.

TL&TOHJ~Hope: Mission Accomplished

I walked in and the robotic troopers got into position. I saw this Dark Figure fly right up and pick a fight with that crazy girl. What did she get into this time? I don't know how she became the hero everyone is now calling Haley, but I don't care. I saw Haley up close, and I know she's not the real deal. It doesn't matter, no one would miss her if she was missing. She is physically and biologically a perfect fit for the Wright Brother's Plans. She punched him into the ground and caught a glimpse of me. I ordered the troopers, "Fire! Fire! Fire!" They shot there bullets. She dodged some of them, others just bounced off, but got the middle of her forearm.

She came around and went through the troopers. The Dark One rose from his crater and said, "I am tiring of this." He flew up and grabbed her wrist. She screamed, he must have been squeezing, Hard. They spun around in the air, fighting for the silver bracelet on her wrist.

Finally, just when she punched him in the face, he ripped off the Bracelet. The bracelet went flying from his grasp and flew through the air. Then it landed in the hand of some Lanky guy's hand. He ran for it and so did white hair. He let the now differently dressed Brenda fall and into my arms. I smiled down on the now terrified girl, back in her own clothes. I put my hand on her forehead, and zapped a couple of brain cells. She was now knocked out cold. I got what I came for. Time to head back to base.

The lanky man wasn't just holding the secret to my unlimited power, he was holding a very heavy mallet, which he was happy to swing, at my head. While I was trying to pull myself together, he ran into a random store. I could just barely see her, but I saw Haley waking up a little, she was tired. I said, "NO!" As she put on the bracelet and clicked it. Streamers of light burst out of the little trinket and cover her. They then disappeared and Haley was back in her regular uniform. Fantastic.

She stood up and cracked her knuckles. She said, snidely, "I'm back and I'm Furious!"

TL&TOHJ~Hope: A Temporary Alliance

She back handed me and sent me skidding on my back across the mall. I actually skidded into a store and out of sight. I was so sleepy all of the sudden. I thought I saw two figures standing over me before I passed out, but I couldn't figure out who they are.


I leaned down and cradled my little sister in my arms. Her friend, Devlin, was right beside me. I was already here, running an errand for the school. I hid when the girl began her attack, to see if I could stop her somehow. He said he followed her here. I heard what they were saying in the Food court. I always suspected that the Hero on the news had something to do with her, but I never would have guessed.... I picked her up and went to the back of the store, she's still alive, but that is going to be one nasty bruise on her head. "We need to get her out of here." I said to the one called Devlin. He nodded in agreement. He said, "I think I know someone who can help." Before I could protest, he got up and ran out.


I ran into the bathroom. I don't want to run the risk of someone discovering my secret by a well placed camera. I clicked my watch and it changed me into my other form. This could be my chance to take that power, and even if it isn't I can't let that idiot girl flaunting around with it.


I flew out and over to the girl with the bracelet. She turned from the employees to me. "Who the Hell are you?" I simply glared at her. I held the air in front of me and a sphere of energy formed. My hunting the past few days have had little success, but none the less, proven useful. I threw the sphere at her and it landed on her face. She blocked it and laughed. "Ha! Is that all ya got?" She flew and performed an uppercut that sent me through the roof.


That bracelet gave the wearer more power than I originally thought. I while I was up there I saw a third party coming in. It is the energy being, and it appears he brought along a few mechanized friends. This should be interesting. I flew down to where they were.


I said, "If you know what's good for you I suggest you turn away now." The being stopped and looked at me. He said, "I'm looking for my old girlfriend. My bosses tell me she's in there." Bosses, huh? "Black hair? Total brat?" I asked. He nodded. "Perhaps there is cause for a temporary alliance? You want her, I want want her power. We can work together on this." He thought about it, then gave what I could guess is a smile. "Deal." he said.

TL&TOHJ~Hope: Brenda

I just got to the mall on that senior's moped. He is going to be very angry when I get back. I went inside to find that it was deserted. I looked around and heard laughing. I followed it to the food court. There was Brenda, in my uniform, with her black hair in my ponytail. She was sitting on a chair and behind her was a pile of a lot of nice things. Dresses, shoes, videogames,--is that a car? She had the employees of different stores in front of her. They were quivering in fear. She was screaming at one of them.

"What do you mean you're out!?!?!?!" She raged. The employee stammered, "W-we don't have the dr-dress any more, mam. Not until sometime next week, your highness." Was she treating herself like a queen? Brenda stood up and I hid behind some plants. I have to destract her with something. "I don't care if you have to make it out of each other's bones and skin! I want that super cute tank-top, NOW!" Jeezum, what a brat.

I went back and looked around for anything I can use. I saw a bag that was dropped by a panicking shopper. It was almost out of the way, if someone was in a hurry they could have easily missed it. I looked inside it. I knew the tank top she was talking about, everybody wants one. It is cute, but I'm not knock out crazy for it like she is.

I took the top out of the bag and snuck back to the plant pots. They looked like hedges, the way they were cut. I flipped the top to lay on the hedge. I heard the Raging of Brenda silence suddenly. "I don't care if you have to bend over and-..........." Shoom. I felt the top jerk up from the hedge, and me with it. She was shocked to see me. Then it was replaced with a wicked smile. "Why, Haley. You know its not nice to keep secrets, especially from your bestest friends!"

I glared at her. "We are not friends. You are a thief and I want my bracelet back, now." I said to her very clearly. She laughed. "Oh, you mean this?" She waved her bracelet in front of me. "I got to say, I would have never guessed that the hero on the news was really a loser like yourself."

I lunged for the bracelet, but she just floated away and laughed some more. "Seriously, you are like, a total idiot! You had this," she gestured to herself. "and you don't do anything at all with them? You could have been rich with these powers!" I said, "I don't be a hero because of the benefits for me, I be a Hero for the benefits of other people! You don't deserve that power! Now, give it back before you end up seriously hurting someone!" She pretended to think about it. "No." She said.

I did the natural thing at that time. I charged toward her.

TL&TOHJ~Hope: Soooooo Much Trouble

I got back from gym. I was talking to Candy as usual. "I am so hungry! I could eat a horse." I said. Candy was laughing a little, "You do that. I'll settle for what's at the lunch line." "You're willing to take that risk, with their food?" I gasped, joking with her. We entered the locker room and changed. It wasn't till after I got out when I noticed my bracelet was missing.


"Candy! Candy! I lost my bracelet!" Her eyes got wide. We ran back into the locker room and searched the floors, asking other girls, we were freaking out. The gym teacher came in and said, "What's going on girls?" I ran up to her. "I can't find my bracelet! It's silver with a red ruby on top, have you seen it?" She shook her head. "Nope, sorry ladies." I turned to Candy. I whispered very softly, "What are we going to do? Somebody is seriously going to get hurt if they figure out how to use that thing!"


Candy held up her hands. "Hold on, hold on. We need to be calm about this, OK? We just need to keep a sharp eye out for it; we'll tell other people we know to keep an eye out for it too, OK? It's gotta be somewhere around here." I nodded, and took a couple of deep breaths. "You're right. OK, now let's think about this. Who would be able to have access to the locker rooms, and who would have the opportunity to sneak in here, while everyone else is outside?" We thought about it as we walked outside to our next period. Candy said, "Didn't Brenda stay behind, or something?" I froze. If Brenda had my bracelet, and figured out how to use it.....we could be in some serious trouble.


I saw Brenda's usual pose' outside of her classroom. I asked where she went, they ignored me. Devlin came by and he saw me in trouble here. He said, "Please, allow me." He turned to one of the girls. "Excuse me miss?" He put a hand on her shoulder, which made her spin around. She looked into his eyes with disgust. Then they seemed to widen a bit. He asked very politely, "May I know the whereabouts of your friend, Brenda?" She nodded and just stared out like she was in a trance. She then said, "She left about an hour ago. She said she wanted to test something out." He continued. "Did she say where, specifically?" She shook her head no.


I asked, "Was she wearing something new? Something you haven't seen before?" She nodded. "She had these ear rings...." "Anything else?" Devlin asked. He probably saw that my bracelet was missing. She thought about it. "She had this pretty silver bracelet, I don't think they make those in stores." Devlin nodded. "Thank you. Your time is appreciated." He turned and walked off. The girl shivered and turned back to her friends, scared.


I asked, "Dev. How'd you do that?" He shrugged. "Sometimes, you just need to know how to talk to people." OK. Whatever. I said, "OK, now its worse, Brenda left the school with my bracelet. She could be anywhere!" Just then, Link buzzed.


Great, now there are people in danger and I can't help them! I took Link out and put it to my ear. "Danger level 4. Unknown suspect. Suspected to be Haley. Jackson View Mall. Jackson Street." I know where that is! But how do I get there? I looked outside and saw a moped, its driver was a senior who was busy talking to another girl.


I am going to be in soooooooo much trouble after this.

TL&TOHJ~Hope: Whining Little Twerp

I was in gym. I just got out of the locker room and the teacher held me up. "No jewelry on, when we go outside." I looked at her. "What? Since when?" "Since we've gotten too many complaints about people loosing bracelets, watches, and ear rings on the field. Go and put your stuff in your locker, I'm locking the Locker room doors, so that no one can get to your stuff." I looked at my bracelet. Well, as long as its only for a few minutes, this is the second shortest period of the day. The town will still be in one piece when I get back. Right?


I went back and put back my bracelet, then left the locker room. I passed that whining little twerp, Brenda on the way outside to my friends. She is famous for getting out of any kind of work. It doesn't matter what. She doesn't have any real friends, not like the ones I got. I tried to be nice to her ounce, invite her to hangout with us. All she did was complain and be rude to everybody and everything. She got us kicked out of a Ice Skating Rink, and she blames us. The nerve!


A few minutes later.......


I sat down next to the door and waited for the teacher to look the other way. I don't feel like doing gym today, I had a long night last night. OK, teacher looking away, I slipped through the door to the locker room. That stupid teacher never thought to look for tape on the door way. OK, lets see what goodies the other girls got.


Ugh. These losers have no taste in fashion. Hmm. That one girl, uh, Candy, has got a pretty set of ear rings. They would go perfectly with my Yellow Dress! I think I've gotten enough stuff. Oh, I didn't go through that one girl's bag. What's her name? Haley? She can't have anything good in there. Well, it couldn't hurt to look.........

81+1 Heroes Ch. 41: Do What Now?

"So, what are we going to do?" I asked Dexter. The others were right behind me. "Are we going to stage a full out assault on New Olympus," "Noel." "or go in all sneaky and take it down from the inside?" "Noel." "I'll just go and get a battle suit and--" "Noel!" He finally snapped. I jumped a little. Dexter never actually snapped like that to me before. He took a deep breath and said, "Look, we can't do anything right now. If we stage an attack, then that's all Maximus will need to stage a war against the U.S. If we do that, then there will be casualties on both sides. All we can do is try and warn the government and hope for the best." Everyone looked a little bummed. "Besides," he said. "I don't know about you, but I could use a little vacation. Thanksgiving break is next week everybody! We are going to have it at the usual place. Spread the word around. I'll put up a post in the lobby."

After everyone left he went straight to the medical wing. I followed him. I wanted to talk him out of not doing anything. When he got there he went over to Red's bed. She was sound asleep. When Dexter sat down she fluttered her eyes open. "Dexter?" she whispered. He grabbed her hand. "It's OK. I'm right here. Every thing's alright." She asked. "Is the Monster gone?" He nodded, he had a small tear in his eye. "Yes. He's gone now. You won't have to worry about him anymore." She got up and hugged him.

I understand now. He just wants to hangout with his sister, catch up on the time they've lost. I don't know what its like, having a brother or sister, but I wish I did. I left the two alone, I don't want to intrude.

TL&TOHJ~Hope: Shockwave

Ounce the vehicle got to its secret entrance into the school, The Wright brothers stepped out, fussing all the way. David: "That power was incredible! How are we supposed to counter that?" Brody: "And that speed! We need to make something, other than hardening goo bombs, to capture her." Brandon Keith stepped up to them. "What I don't get is, why won't you let me do something helpful? I can get her, if I wanted to." He was wearing his "Energy Redirection" Suit. It looked like two metal straps crossing over his chest. He had the same metal strap as a belt, and he had black shorts on. The inside of these clothes are covered with little conduits, that absorb most of the energy discharge and zap it back into the body. He still can't hardly do anything.

"You have been of excellent help to us already, Mr. Keith." David replied. "Indeed." said Brody. "Without your powers, we would have had to wait for months to power that machine up. Plus with your abilities, the possibilities for future experiments are larger than they ever have before." The energy being nodded. He muttered, "I want a new name." "What was that?" David asked. "I am no longer Brandon Keith, quarterback of Jackson High. I am.......Shockwave!" They looked at each other, Brody whispered to David, "Note: Subject may have brain damage." David shut him up.

Later.......

The Wright Brothers were working again. They were brainstorming on what to do next. "What about Project: Blade?" Brody sugggested. "What about it?" David snapped back. "That project is still in the early stages! We don't even have a body ready!" Brandon Keith/Shockwave stepped into the room. "What if I could get a body?" he said. The Wright Brothers were looking at him questioningly. "How so?" They said at the same time. Bran--I mean, Shockwave only smiled.

TL&TOHJ~Hope: My First Giant Robot Attack

The next morning I wake up on the floor. Candy and I are to nice to each other for one of us to sleep on the bed. So we both sleep on the floor in my room. I got her up and got ready for school. Dad leaves for work early and Mom doesn't get up until a little bit after I leave. She helps Butch get to school. I just sat down with Candy to eat breakfast when Link buzzed. "Are you kidding me? I can't even eat breakfast?" Candy said, "I'll get something for you to eat between classes." I nodded. "You're the best." She smiled. "I know."


I went to my room and put Link to my ear. "Level 9. Unknown suspect. Many lives in distress. Description is giant robot. Many weapons." Uh Oh. I better get there quick. I clicked my bracelet and the streamers of light wrapped around me again. I then flew out the window and towards the distress.


I saw the Giant Robot Link was talking about. It looked like a mechanical animal. It was attacking random buildings, it was just missing the screaming people. I can't say what it looked like, other than it had four legs, a wide width, and a head that stuck straight up. I flew over it and slammed my feet down onto its back. That made it fall. As soon as it fell I felt an electrical shock go through me. I got away from that thing; that really hurt! I flew to punch its head in, but the head shot a bright light at me and pushed me into the ground. "OK, since when did pony looking things get Lasers?" I said sarcastically, when I popped out of the crater. It raised its foot to stomp me in. I dodged it just in time.


"Oh, so that's the way you wanna play?" I said, well, playfully. At least I was getting the attention on me and not the people. I grabbed its foot and ended up flipping the thing over on its back. I floated away and watched as the thing struggled. I laughed. It can't get up! I win.


The head laid down against the road and unfolded a strange looking car, which shot out into the road.It started to drive away. I flew towards it. "Oh no you don't." I said. I don't know if it heard me, but it shot a ball the size of a baseball.


It hit me and covered me in goo. Eeeew! The goo hardened almost immediately. I fell to the ground. Come on, Come ON! I broke out of the goo glue. I looked around for the car. It was long gone.


DANG IT!

Rising Ch. 9: I'll worry about it tomorrow

The media arrived and started taking pictures. The police came soon after and back them all up. The police were really busy with the crowd so I had to investigate Pierce. I walked over to him and was about to turn him over to see if he needed a hospital, but I heard someone call my name. "Gabe! Gabriel!" I spun around to be slammed with a kiss by Jean Parker.
She held it for a minute while the photographers snapped their pictures, then broke like she rehearsed it. I pushed her away, and turned to Pierce. He was gone. I jerked to Jean. "Are you kidding me? Jean, that kid needs help! I need him to understand something, or a lot of people are going to get hurt!" She backed off a little, she had that sorry/innocent look on her face. "I'm....so sorry." I rolled my eyes. That kid....I need to talk with him. If he tried to kill me ounce, he'll try it again, at some point.
I went home today. I was tired. I don't feel like doing anything. I still haven't talked to Jean. I'll do it tomorrow, right after school. I laid down on my bed, and my phone beeped to let me know I have another Text. I turned the stupid thing off. I'll risk getting up late tomorrow.
Meanwhile........
It feels great to be a free man again, I'll say that much. I had to escape through the sewer system, but I got out, all by myself. I made my way back to my place. An apartment in New York City. After changing, taking a shower, and turning on the news, I thought about how I can make a comeback. I got no guys, no old friends willing to help, and no sappy CEO willing to hire. All my gear is confiscated. The only reason the TV is still here is because the land lady owns it. How can get my revenge on that freak bird boy? There has to be something, someone that can help.
Oh, but there is. The full grown criminal jumped when he heard the voice. You can get the power you seek. Just meet us at this location. A secret location flashed in his mind. Yeah, right. I saw what was outside that place. You want me to surrender to the police officers? Do not worry for the authorities. They are with us. Just do what we say. It sounded so.....soothing. It really seemed like a good idea.
OK, the Hunter will meet you there.

Cyrus Noble II Ch. 21: Blood Lust

We got to the Smith's residence. Jazz's family outside and talking to the police. Jazz herself was nowhere in sight. I jumped out of the chopper before it fully landed. Zero was right behind me. The Smiths family had a tiny house. One floor, wide front porch, I saw a back porch and a small yard fenced off out back. I went to the family. "What's the story here?" Jazz's sister, uh, Carly was stammering. "This-this kid, he just walked into the school after it ended and h-he had a-a-a knife! He killed everybody he saw! He kept yelling and screaming for Jazz, I tried to get his attention, but he ignored me! He saw Jazz and fought her! Jazz lead him down the sewer! I don't know what happened after that!"

I asked, "Carly, stay calm now, did she go down anywhere near here?" She nodded, and pointed to a man hole in the street. The police were standing around it like idiots. I turned back to Carly. "I have powerful senses, is she wearing anything, or holding something before she went down there?" She nodded. She ran into the house and two seconds later she ran back out with a bottle of perfume. She said, "She put this on before school! I bought it for her and only her!" I took it and sprayed it on my wrist. I inhaled it deeply and almost choked myself. Jazz must have been wearing this to be nice. I sniffed the air for a few minutes.

There was a trail leading up to the school, then coming back, and into that sewer. I smiled, Jazz I am now on your trail. I turned to Zero. "You ready?" He nodded. I went over to the man hole and called over to the family. "I'll be back with Jazz in no time!" Dead or alive. If its dead, if I'm to late, there will be a massacre before I go.

I dove in and began working. I followed the scent down towards the way of the school, Zero close behind. It's not as hard as you think to distinguish that sewer smell from the perfume.

I heard a struggle. I stopped and put my hand against Zero to stop him. "What is it?" he whispered. I shushed him and listened. "Let me go! You are not going to get away with this! Do you know who my friends are?" Yep, that's Jazz. "Cyrus Noble is going to come down here and make you a part of his heads collection! Do you hear me?!" She was gagged after that. I heard a growl. I heard a voice say, "That's exactly what I want. If it wasn't for him, I would never have existed! After I kill him, my poor, poor hearts will have content. Then I will burn, in Hell's fire along with him." I heard a gasp. "This is what he did. Even if I made peace, I would never be excepted, or loved. Only because of the way I look. I don't deserve a place on this Earth, and neither does he. Simple as that."

The entire time he was talking I was following the sound of his voice. He sounded kind of familiar. Whatever, it doesn't matter.

I got to this huge dome room. I saw Jazz tied with her hands above her head and a cloth in her mouth. Leaning against the pipes, was a hooded figure. This guy had simple every day clothes you would have seen on a college guy. This guy was ranging in the high sixes, low sevens in the height area. The guy was a giant. He looked up and saw us. "And so comes the demon and his sidekick." I took a couple of steps towards him. "I am only going to ask you this ounce, who are you?" He stood up straight, and pulled back his hood. I saw my face, except, it was scarred.

He looked like he went into a Lions, Tigers, and Bears fight before he got the healing factor. He said, "You see what your blood did to me?" He said in an altered version of my voice. "I was a simple college student. Bishop wanted to see how your blood affected other people. He fused my DNA with yours. What you see here is the result. He locked me up, and I was on Death's row, until I escaped, not too long ago. I saw your face on the news, I knew then what I must do." He pulled a big knife from behind him. "Randal Rogers is dead. Now there is only I, Blood Lust!"

He charged at us and Zero froze him in his place. We relaxed, which is a big mistake, since he broke the ice and shook it off. He smiled and put his hood back on. "That all you got?" I charged at him, claws extended. I slashed, kicked and punched, but I didn't do anything to him. He punched and slashed with his knife. I was healing the fastest I could but those punches are tiring. I don't think he is even trying. He cocked a fist back and slammed it into me, sending me flying. I landed face down in the water. I struggled to get back up. I looked up to see Zero getting Jazz free. I smiled a little. I got back on my feet. "I can still beat you." I said. He laughed. "Ha HA! I am stronger in every way! You can't beat me!" I said, "I don't have to be stronger. I just have to survive. Jazz! Use your sonic scream!" She looked at me in horror. "But that will kill you! Your ears can't handle it!"

"I can take it! Trust me--Ack!" Blood Lust shoved his knife upward into my rib cage. I felt a striking pain there, it was different from other stabs I have felt. I fell to my side. I feel....cold.






I stood there and watched as Blood Lust stood triumphantly over my Cyrus. I was starting to see red. I turned to Zero. "Cover your ears." He did so without question. I took a couple of deep breaths, one deeper than the next. Then I took one hugely deep one and screamed.
It was way worse in here. In here it echoes. As soon as I started Blood Lust clutched his ears in agony. He sunk down to his knees, and then he fell forward. I ran over to him and pulled him back up with his hood. I turned him over so he was facing me, mostly. I took another deep breath and screamed at him. He seemed unresponsive. I let him fall and I felt blood dripping down from where I was gripping on his head. I made his ears bleed.
I went over to Cyrus with Zero right behind me. I pulled on the knife and yanked it out. I waited. After a minute Zero put a hand on my shoulder. "Jazz, I don't think he's coming back from this one." I waved him off. "He's coming back. You'll see."
We waited for ten minutes. I cradled his head on my lap so that when he wakes up, I can see those beautiful blue eyes shoot open and reveal life. But........there was nothing.





Cyrus?

Cyrus Noble II Ch. 20: I get an SOS

I went back to my room to mentally prepare myself. We found that the only Archer Co. Facility left is the one hidden inside a comic book store. The manager called the police when his employee woke up to see a big gaping hole in the wall.



I was going against ancient warriors here. That means, they are obsolete. They cannot compare to my strength. If they couldn't win a thousand years ago, then they sure as hell can't win now. I was startled when my old communicator started buzzing. I forgotten I still had it. I put it on my ear and activated it. "Hello?" I asked. "Cyrus, Help!"



I stood up instantly. "Jazz? What the-What's going on?" "No time! I need your help! He killed so many people! He's after all of us, Cyrus! He's going to--" She was cut off. The line was dead. "Jazz! Jazz! Come In! Do You Read?!" Nothing.



On the other end of the line. Jazz dropped the sliced communicator. The attacker held her by the neck. He smiled snidely from under his hood. "Don't worry, little girl." He said in a familiar voice. "I'm not going to kill you. Yet."



Meanwhile back at Broadsword, Cyrus was ordering people around. "You there! You can pilot an aircraft right?" The young rookie pilot nodded. "Uh, yeah. Yes sir." "Good. You are going to take me somewhere." I felt a cold hand on my shoulder. "Not without me, you're not." I spun around to see Zero.



"Why do you want to come with me?" I asked. "You may be a super healer, but some one's got to make sure you don't get yourself killed." I laughed a little. He's starting to sound like Jazz, himself. "OK. Fine. Let's go."

Greendale: Indians

I come back to the gang with some rabbits by my side. The rest of them was awake. I tossed the rabbits to Butch. "Cook them up for us will ya? I'm too tired." Butch gave me a nasty look. "Since when did you become the queen?" He spat. "Since I ran after those rabbits all morning. Now quit the whining and start cooking!" He mumbled to himself and started cooking. In case your wondering why we're not talking like most men, I told them to watch their mouths around Bell. If you ain't got nothing nice to say, yer might as well not say it at all.

Antonio was snickering. Doc was cleaning his gun. I felt that something was up. This little valley here, there ain't anybody 'round here. But I got the strangest feeling, in my stomach. Not like I'm sick, er nothing. I looked around. I just don't understandit. My thinking was interrupted by a battle cry. We all turned to see a couple of Indians standing from the taller grass.

I grabbed my gun and started shooting. I was the best shot in the west. I hit one, the other was still standing. I was just about to fire again, when Bell screamed from behind me. I turned to see six more of them behind us.

One threw his knife. That one nearly got me in the eye! I shot that one. I shot the one that almost had Doc. In response he shot the one yelling and running towards us, the one I wasn't able to get to earlier. Butch got one in the stomach with his knife and stabbed him again in the chest. Bell got hold of my other gun and fired a few times at one. That one is done. Antonio got my shotgun and got the last two down.

When we were sure it was over, I walked over to Antonio. "I believe, that is mine." I said, snatching the gun out of his hands. He shrugged it off. "I see why you favor it so much, senior Charlie'." It was my dad's lucky gun. He had it for so long, and if I live that long, my kids are going to keep it. Butch wiped his knife on a Indian's clothes to get the blood off. "That's what you get when you sneak up on a Greendale."

I said, "Every-body start packing. We got cowboys to hunt. I spotted a camp, just a mile that way." I pointed to where. "We hit them, befur they wake up."