[October 4th. 11:30 PM] [The past few days have been relatively quiet for Christian; the gangs in his area have been unusually quiet over the past few days, so aside from a couple of quick patrols he hasn't been out on the street much, and hasn't been in a fight in almost a week.] [Tonight, though, he has something to do. His time in this neighborhood has given him a pretty good read on what's going on, and word is that one of the gangs he's been trying to dismantle, the Flying Ghost Llamas, is planning a big drug buy in a warehouse on the docks.] [Needless to say, Christian isn't about to let this go down smoothly. Standing outside the warehouse, crouched behind a dumpster, Christian just watched several members of the Flying Ghost Llamas arrive and walk into the warehouse.] [So what's he gonna do now?] [Session Start] [Before they arrived, Christian had scoped the place out a bit; it's a fairly typical warehouse, with large entrances at both ends, two doors on each side, and high windows. The interior of the warehouse is two stories, and largely empty as far as he could see, aside from some crates along the walls.] * Christian remains crouched behind the dumpster and unkinks his knees a bit, flicking off a cigarette butt he put out a few moments before the gang banger came. He then scopes for an open window that he spotted earlier. Now are we going to be able to do this the easy way or the hard way? [Christian climbs up on the dumpster and peeks through the window; he sees 7 gangbangers setting up a table with a three briefcases on it in the center of the warehouse. All of them are carrying guns of various types.] * Christian crouches behind the window and pulls down his bandanna over his head (a black one with a white mosaic pattern this time) and slipping on his shades, smiling slightly to himself and speaking under his breath. "Do or die time. Let's do this." He climbs in the window and keeps a low profile until things go down. [Christian sneaks in without being noticed! He's now on the second floor catwalks above the warehouse floor, looking down at the gangbangers, who seem to be waiting for someone.] * Christian listens in on any conversation and waits for who they're waiting for to bust up this party. Because what's the point of taking down the small fries if you lose the head honcho. [The guys are talking amongst themselves, and are starting to get impatient; Christian recognizes one of them (the one handling the money) as the right-hand man of the leader of the gang; this must be a pretty big deal, because the higher-ups in the gang rarely get involved in day-to-day operations.] * Christian glances from guy to guy, seeing which gang bangers he recognizes and which ones are just nameless faces on the streets. [Christian recognizes a few of the others; they're some of the more competant muscle the gang uses. Meanwhile, the guy in charge seems to be getting a bit skittish, because he sends three of his guys to check the perimeter of the building.] * Christian 's getting a bit restless too. Come on, when's this deal actually going to go down? He fidgets a bit in his position and rubs his arm and knuckles a bit. [As if on cue, a door on each side of the warehouse opens, and three white guys in black suits and white shirts walk in from either side, each carrying a pair of large duffel bags. The Flying Ghost Llamas start complaining about lack of punctuality, but the new guys don't seem too interested in chit-chat.] * Christian calms down a little with the addition of the suited guys and watches, waiting for the proper cue. [One of the suited guys walks to the middle to inspect the money, and plops down his pair of duffel bags for the FGLs to inspect.] [It's not very well lit in the warehouse, but Christian can see bricks of white powder in the duffel bags. Could it be cake mix?] * Christian smiles slightly and then clears his throat as he stands. "Hey assholes. Don't you know that stuff's bad for you? Thought they taught that in all the inner city schools." [Everyone snaps their heads up and looks up at Christian. The bangers draw their weapons, and the head guy yells back up at you. "You must be fuckin' *crazy*, stickin' yo' nose in our business!"] * Christian laughs. "That's what they all say." He plants his foot on the edge of the railing and jumps off of it, heading right at them at a downward angle. He winds his fist back and readies it to punch the ground right at the center of the mass of them. [Christian leaps fast and true, and would have landed perfectly in the midst of the bangers if one of their SUVs hadn't suddenly come flying through the front gate of the warehouse and annihilated all five guys in the center as he was in the air.] * Christian 's eyes widen as the big freaking car crashes through into the building. "What the shit?!?" He manages to land and doesn't land his punch after all, crouched down and swiveling his head at the SUV that just party crashed his party crashing. [The SUV continues its flight, and takes out the other three bangers at the far end of the warehouse.] * Christian yells at the SUV. "Hey. HEY! What's the big deal taking my turf, huh?!" [Christian can't see into the SUV, but he can tell from the arc that it wasn't driven through the wall; the car wasn't on, and it was already airborne when it came through the wall.] * Christian then ponders it for a second and stops walking towards where the SUV went through the other end of the wall, turning his head around towards the other hole. "...wait. Dammit..." [Christian forgets about the five remaining suited guys as he stares at the hole left by the SUV, which is unfortunate since they all draw throwing axes and chuck them at him.] * Christian starts weaving to the side and running for cover. Two axes whiz past him while one nicks across his chest, arms, and leg. He grits his teeth a bit at the injury, but they don't look that deep and then turns his glare towards them. "Big mistake." He forgets about the big hole this time and begins to pick up speed rushing towards the suit-throwing guys. * Christian whizzes passed the guy and ends up grabbing thin air instead. Guy must be more slippery than he looks. He's keeping an eye on the group though and starts to run in another direction before they begin throwing again. [The mook seems shocked that he's not dead. "Dude, I dodged!" "You totally dodged!" "We've never done that before!" "All hail the King of the Axe Effect!" "HUZZAH!" "Let's get 'em, boys!" And they all throw axes at Christian to celebrate!] * Christian scowls as more axes hit him, he's got quite a bit more gashes now. "Axes? Really? They're sending out Ren Faire rejects now?" ["Hey, we resent that!" "We are highly professional super-villain assistants!" "Yeah, look at our spiffy suits!" "And awesome hair!" "Totally awesome hair!"] * Christian snorts. "Yeah. Real awesome. Let's see how it holds up." He rushes towards the group and then slides on the ground, jamming his fist into it as he passes through the middle of the group of three. There's a faint purple hue before it connects with the ground, then a shockwave that slams against the ground. The warehouse floor surrounding Christian collapses downward, leaving a huge circular dent around him. [The three go flying like rag dolls and slam into various walls and pillars nearby before dropping limply to the ground. The remaining two stand there with jaws agape for a moment before collecting themselves. "You... you killed the King!" "Regicide!" "For his highness!" "FOR THE CROWN!" *throw axes*] * Christian sighs. "I'm getting taunted by mooks. This is so embarrassing." He jumps high in the air, avoiding both axes and then slams his fist straight down on one of the axe wielder's heads. There's a faint glow and light hum before the force of the punch explodes into him. [Christian basically pulps the mook. The remaining mook panics, and starts to run for the hole left by the SUV... only to get creamed by the dumpster Christian used to get into the building as it comes flying through the side wall of the warehouse.] [In through that hole walks six-and-a-half feet of bronzed thews. He's wearing a furry loincloth, furry boots, and a lion pelt over his head and shoulders, and is idly tossing an oil drum up and down as he walks.] * Christian gives a slight smirk. "Ha. Can't say much for the threads but I like your style at least." [The man barks out a laugh. "Silly boy. File say that you tough, but stupid axe guys give you trouble. Thought was no going to be anything left to play with. But now you face real test... now you face... Ugg the Barbarian What Throws Large Things At Heads of People!"] Test? Can you even count? [He scowls. "No insult Ugg's intelligence. Ugg have Ph.D. in Comparative Politics from Princeton!"] * Christian stares at Ugg. "...really. Compared to what?" * Christian then realizes just what Ugg's saying and narrows his eyes. Now that Ugg can see it much behind the shades. "Wait. File? What file? The hell you talking about?" [Ugg shrugs. "File Ugg get with info on you. Ugg supposed to kill you. No personal, but Ugg caught in unending spiral of debt due to student loans."] * Christian smirks. "Then I guess it's nothing personal if I try to kick *your* ass instead, right?" He cracks his knuckles and starts pacing towards Ugg. ["Supervillainy pay better than any job Ugg could get with Ph.D., and relieves Ugg of ennui of academic life."] [Ugg grins broadly. "Sorry, no can allow that. Ugg have fifteen year plan that end with Ugg as Senator, so no can be defeated by you."] We'll just have to see about that then, won't we? * Christian takes a ready stance. "Your move, Doctor Ugg." [Ugg nods. "Okay." And he rears back to throw the barrel at you!] * Christian smirks as he pulls up the barrel and then closes the distance in an instant, taking a hard swing at Ugg with his elbow. Which seems like it's well on target but where he's aiming, Ugg isn't anymore. He steadies and readies himself for the barrel. [He better ready himself, because as Ugg sidesteps, he chucks the barrel right at Christian's head!] * Christian takes the barrel in the face and growls, aiming a full-on haymaker at Ugg's face, which explodes. Let's see how the good doctor likes seeing stars. [Ugg probably should be taking Christian a bit more seriously, because that punch hammers him in his square, cleft chin and knocks him skidding on his ass into a large crate. Standing up, he shakes out the cobwebs, adjusts his lion pelt, and growls. "Ugg hopes what about to do to you will not jeopardize future Nobel Peace Prize!" He lifts up the crate and chucks it at your head!] * Christian gets smashed in the face again with the barrel. "Augh! Stop doing that!" Apparently getting so many barrels in the face takes away your snarky quips. ["Ugg never stop! Ugg throw barrels at your head! Ugg throw crates at your head! Ugg throw anything and everything at your head! Because Ugg is UGG THE BARBARIAN WHAT THROWS LARGE THINGS AT HEADS OF PEOPLE! And YOU is people!"] YOU is an ASSHOLE, pal. [Ugg blinks. "How silly little man know Ugg former college roommate, You the Caveman What Never Shuts Up About Stupid Girlfriend Back Home?"] * Christian doesn't respond to that, he just starts planting his feet and runs at Ugg full tilt, leaping when he's about halfway at him and swinging his forearm around to connect with his chest. [Christian plants a forearm right into the sternum of Ugg, who goes flying back across the warehouse and into the SUV. He tries to get his bearings and he leans on the car to get up... then grins, lifts the SUV up, and chucks it at Christian!] * Christian gets smacked by the SUV and goes flying back, colliding with a couple of crates and crashing through them. Amazingly, he can still stand, though he's huffing. His glasses are cracked too and he throws them off. "I've...about... fucking...HAD it...with you..." he pants out. * Christian charges at Ugg at full tilt. And when we say full tilt, we *mean* full tilt. His form is a blur and anyone watching (hopefully Ugg's watching) can just barely catch a glimpse of his foot planted against the side of the SUV. As he pushes off of it, he *slams* a purple encased glowing elbow into his jaw, exploding into the side of Ugg's face. [Ugg really needs to work on his dodging, because he takes that elbow flush in the face, and again goes flying to slam through a support pillar.] * Christian stands where Ugg used to be, panting heavily, and his eyes glaring piercing holes into the guy. Almost daring him to get back up. [After a moment, he gets shakily to his feet, and eyes you. "... Ugg no willing to jeopardize good looks Ugg will need when face carved on Mt. Rushmore in this fight. Ugg will meet silly little boy again. Soon." And then he disappears in a puff of smoke.] * Christian watches that. "Oh christ, he's a ninja too." He then falls to his knees and holds onto his mid-section. He's not used to actually getting damaged this much. "Jesus fuck. What the hell was *that* all about?" [Christian's rare bout of introspection is interrupted when *another* wall of the warehouse is broken down. This time, an even larger man steps through; he's bald with a big blonde beard, wearing a suit of ornate banded mail, and carrying a huge axe. There's no mistaking it; that's definitely the Eternal Warrior.] [He looks around at the carnage as he walks in, then turns to you with a grin. "They weren't kidding when they said you racked up the property damage, young man!"] * Christian looks up for a moment and shakily gets to his feet. "Word...gets around." He coughs. "Just what the fuck was that all about anyway?" * Christian sighs and takes off his bandanna. Without the shades, it's pretty pointless. He shakes out his hair, his bead clicking in place as he does so and looks over Eternal Warrior. "Wait. I know you. I've seen you on the news, right?" [He walks over. "This was, in part, our fault. We've been preparing to recruit a small group of heroes, and somehow the list of those under consideration leaked out. There have been attacks on all of them, and now you." He nods. "I am the Eternal Warrior. I frequently appear on the news as they cover my various heroic exploits. Also, I do a 'Best Bars' segment every Friday evening at 6 on channel 4."] Wait. Woah woah woah, back up the fuckin' truck here. Heroes? ["... and other powered beings."] Yeah but... ["Yes?"] * Christian rubs the back of his head, apparently forgetting the pain for a moment. "I don't know what you've heard about me. Hell, I'm not sure *how* you heard about me. But I ain't exactly team player material, y'know?" [The grin fades from his face. "Times are tough. I'm sure you've noticed how bad things are getting. And there aren't many left out there with your kind of raw power, which is why I'm here."] * Christian sighs. "Y'know. T'be honest, if you'da come to me a few days ago with this, I woulda laughed in your face." But after just havin' someone try to kill me like that? I'm gonna make that asshole pay. Those axe-fuckers too. [The grin returns, and he claps you on the back. HARD. "That's the spirit! We'll track down these sneaky bastards and their melting, axe-wielding, beer-spilling flunkies and do things to them that would make Ares himself blush!"] * Christian stumbles and oofs a little at the slap. Normally it probably wouldn't have been much, but jesus christ he's hurting right now. "So what do I gotta do?" [Eternal Warrior pulls a small device out of a pocket, and hands it to you. "First, you use this medpak, because you look like you just got hit by a small truck."] * Christian eyes Eternal Warrior for a moment. "I *did* get hit by a small truck." * Christian snatches the device and looks it over. He doesn't look like he's exactly sure what to do with it. [He blinks, and 'ahhs' as he notices the wrecked SUV. "Impressive fortitude, young man. And you just place the flat surface against your skin and press the button."] * Christian does as instructed! [Christian feels a small pinprick on his arm. Pretty soon, his cuts start to close up, and the worst of his pain starts to fade, though he still feels like shit.] * Christian takes off the patch and starts to move his aching muscles a bit to test it. "The shit that's in that thing's amazing." ["Very much so." He chuckles. "If you're still interested after you sleep this off, go to any Metrocard machine at 10 PM on October 6th and touch the upper-left corner of the screen three times. You'll be brought to us."] * Christian hands back the patch and smirks at Eternal Warrior. "Don't worry 'bout me, pal. I ain't goin' back on my word." ["A fine quality in a warrior. You shall not regret your choice." He pauses. "Any questions before I depart?"] Yeah. You know who these people are? ["Roughly, yes. We're almost sure that the man behind the recent surge in attacks is the one who hired the men who attacked you and the others."] * Christian rubs the back of his head. "Man. I never thought I'd have someone wanting to kill me. Fuck that." ["A man once said that the measure of a man can be taken by the effort his enemies take to kill him." The Eternal Warrior looks thoughtful for a moment. "That man was an idiot."] * Christian snorts. "Did someone end up killing him?" [The Eternal Warrior laughs. "Yes. Me, about twelve hundred years ago." He nods at you. "I will see you in three days, young warrior." *heads out*] * Christian rubs his wrist slightly, then glances at the carnage left in the warehouse. He looks about ready to leave, but then steps in and goes for the briefcase with the white powder, picking it up and smelling a little of it. [It's cake mix.] [Smells buttery.] * Christian lets a tssh out with his breath between his teeth and closes up the briefcase before throwing it against the wall, then walks off to head home. [And so, despite being reduced to 1 HP (though the last 4 were lost due to an overenthusiastic back slap), Christian emerges somewhat victorious in his first taste of superhuman combat.] [Intro End]