TotL: Deals in the Shadow of Kings

[dark seraph]

King’s Row

Post Praetorian Incursion.
- - -
Snow whipped down the street as Seraph carefully poked amongst the debris from the assault.  Most of the Legendary, Riot Force, the P.S.I. and a few others had volunteered to root out the remaining War Works, but it was slow going.
After the initial attack, the BUC’s and AUC’s had started hiding them selves in the rubble.  While the War Walkers would sit in an abandoned building, all waiting till some unsuspecting hero would walk past only to leap out and kill them.
There was a crunch as Neph landed next to him, spinning he let out a slight sigh as Neph walked, the snow causing her armour’s stealth field to flicker on and off. She walked up and yanked her helmet off, wincing as the cold air struck her face. “So, find anything?” she asked.
He kicked what looked like the remains of some one’s car. “I haven’t found shit, maybe they shut down when it’s to cold or something… I don’t know.” He looked along the street, shaking his head. “We have no idea how many came through… and they don’t dare start rebuilding till they know it’s safe, this place might be the next boom town.”
They made their way down, Neph paused to poke at a snow drift. “You know, I have noticed one thing with this.” Pushing the snow away she uncovered the smashed remains of a Praetorian Clockwork. “No one is salvaging these things, not even the local clocks.”
“I guess there’s some shit even they won’t touch.” He muttered, pulling his coat tighter around himself.
Standing up, Neph stuck her helmet back on. “Lets get this over and done with… this place is fucking depressing.”
Nodding they started walking down the street, passing more burnt out cars, shattered buildings, more and more signs of Cole’s desire to destroy in the interest of protecting his Utopia. 
As they reached the end of the street, Seraph cocked his head slightly. “Did you hear that?”
Neph looked over, scanning the buildings, a slight rattle coming from one of the abandon buildings. “Rats, the only thing left alive out here... but we better check it out.”
As she started towards one of the buildings, Seraph heard a click as Neph looked down, swearing slightly as a landmine hidden in the snow detonated, slamming her across the street into hood of a burnt out car.  She let out an audible grunt of pain as she slid to the ground.

Seraph spun and cursed as he saw War works starting to exit the buildings, their frames scared and pitted, their metal feet crunching on the frozen sidewalks as they moved into rough formation and marched forward, gun arms pointed at Neph as she tried to get to her feet.
With out a second thought Seraph rushed Neph, sliding her along the ice as they opened fire, the blasts tearing into him.  Biting down, trying not to pass out in pain, he rolled over and fired a blast of energy.  The azure wave crashing into them, crippling and destroying the weaker ones.
The lead ACU raised its canon, aiming at the car behind them. Looking over his shoulder Seraph noticed several shots from the first salvo had punched through the tank, causing fuel to flow out onto the snow.
Looking up he saw the glow in the depth of the gun barrel. “Oh shi-” He was cut off by the bark of the weapon as it fired, a loud wumph as the gasoline ignited, pain flaring along his body as darkness filled his vision.
- - -
Tish had been patrolling around Wentworths when she heard the first blast.  Without a seconds thought, she sped towards it.  Snow flying around her as she saw the fireball rise from a car, two figures illuminated by the flames as she ducked behind a battered PPD SWAT truck and teleported them to her.
Neph scrambled to her feet and ripped her helmet as she landed, the front of her armor covered in gouges as she shook her head to clear it. The second person was on their side, smouldering slightly in the snow, rolling him over Tish felt her stomach drop.
It was Seraph. Most of the left side of his body had suffered extreme burns, the off white of bone visible in some places. His breath came in a gargling rasp as he tried to move.
Placing a hand on his good shoulder Tish looked to Neph and was about to ask what happened when she heard the loud call of the War works.
“TARGETS HAVE TELAPORTED, ACTIVATE SERCH AND DESTROY PROTICOLS.” There was the sound of weapons discharging as they started to shoot anything that could pass for cover.
Turning she looked Neph in the eyes. “I need you to go out there and hold them off, okay?”
The taller girl nodded slowly, grabbing her helmet and vaulting over the truck, the sounds of metal being torn apart.  Tish turned back to Seraph, biting her lip, unsure if she could do anything for him. “What happened?” she muttered.
A long strangled gasp exited him lips as his good eye opened. “Ambush… Neph was down… gonna get shot… gonna die… had… to save...” He stopped as he started to cough, blood foaming on his lips.
Tish started trying to apply pressure to his wounds. “Why though?”
“Si… Simple Tish… she… family…” He started to hack again.
“Shh, don’t talk, save your strength.”
He looked up and tried to smile. “Tish… don’t sugar coat… we… can both see…”
“NO!” she yelled, cutting him off as she looked for anything that could help. “You just need to hold on till-”
He cupped her face his eye focusing. “Tish… promise… look after the-”
“Don’t.” She swallowed the lump in her throat.
“Tish… please Gir… Laz… Neph too… promise me.”
She giving the whisper of a nod, replying with regret “I- I promise.”
He smiled, wincing slighty. “Thank… you… love… y…” his body slumped as he let out final sigh, the light in his eye dimming.
Leaning over she closed his eyes and stood up, blinking away her tears she bit down on the sorrow and pain, leaving only a fiercely burning rage. Looking at her hands she saw his blood covering them. Stepping out from behind the SWAT truck, fire starting to roll off her, she started down the street.
She saw Neph ripping the BUC's apart, pausing to look at her, seeing the blood on her hands, the look on her face. She slumped for a few seconds, one of the bots moved in to take advantaged of her laps.
Tish warped the air around Neph, speeding her up as the girl straighten up and let out a throaty growl, grabbing the nearest bots arm and ripping it from its socket before brining it down with enough force to shatter it’s skull.
Leaping after her, Tish let the flame roll off her, Imps manifested and ran forward, screeching as they climbed over them, their flaming claws tearing the metal apart. She was going to follow his dying wish… after she'd burn every last one of those Preat tin cans from the face off the earth, she would see them burn.

- - -

To be continued.

[Terrenceknight]

Death-Its a time honored tradition in superhero history along with the subsequent coming back from said death. I swear..death is a superhero's only real way of taking time off from the whole hero thing Its more like a vacation that lasts until someone or something brings you back ^_^

[Sweno]

a little bit darker than I was expecting, but good none the less.

And I'll chalk it up to lack of experience with the content in question, but what about the medical transporters?
-Terry
-----
"so listen up boy, or pornography starring your mother will be the second worst thing to happen to you today"
TF2: Spy

[dark seraph]

but what about the medical transporters?

.... Balls, I knew I forgot something, there was ment to be a line about Tish finding it reduced to Slag... but lets just say DS was to messed up for it to work.

[Terrenceknight]

So apart from my joking about death comment when Can we expect to see more hmm?

[dark seraph]

Location….

Unknown.
---
Opening his eyes, Seraph let out a slight groan at the starry expanse, slowly standing up he looked at his surroundings.
Ebon sand starched out as far as the eye could see, the only feature was large shards of obsidian that burst up from the ground like some twisted tree, walking to the nearest one he traced his hand along the warped image, sighing he hung his head. “So… this is my after life then, I guess I must have ended up in hell.”
“Oh, you are not in Hell Mister Seraph.”
Turning slowly he blinked, standing there was a figure made of a pale blue fire, the only features on what Seraph guesses was it’s face was two patches of darker blue fire.
“Okay then… where am I, this doesn’t look like heaven… or purgatory.” He looked around again. “Or like any other after life I have read about.”
“You are on the brink, between life and death.”
“So… I am dead?”
“For a given value of “dead””
“Okay… so this is the part with the Faustian bargain, right? You offer me a few extra years for my immortal soul? Because if so, I already have your answer.”
The figure laughed, sounding like flames crackling along dried parchment. “I am not some demon out for your soul, I am something much more. It spread it arms wide. “I, am the Well.”
Seraph gave the figure a sceptical look.
“Not what you expected?”
“No, more what the hell do you want with me?”
Its hands formed crude fingers and steppeled them. “You interest me my dear man, I offer you the gift of the incarnate and you don’t use it, you skirt away, almost as if afraid… why?”
“I’m not afraid…”
“Then why?”
Dropping into the sand, Seraph looked up at the Well’s avatar. “Near god like power with no strings attached… I’ve seen how that works before.”
“Ahh, you fear that you might become so monster like your clones or…” It tilted its head. “Hmm… I see it now, you don’t feel worthy”
Seraph lowered his eyes. “Worth… this power is to much… it’s… it’s…” he flailed a hand, looking for the right words.
“You did not earn it, the power is not truly yours, correct?”
“How did you know that?”
The Well waved a hand at one of the obsidian blocks, images forming on its surface of battles. “Do you want to know why I chose you for this power Seraph?”
Curiously Seraph stood back up and walked over to the block, looking at the images. Several of his battles flashed across the surface, his jaw dropping slightly as he
Romulus towering over him, a brutal sword swing striking him down, staining the sands of Cimerora red.
Reichsman grabbing his arm, snapping it as he threw him like a rag doll.
The Lineage of war letting loose a massive psionic burst that dropped him to his knees, blood streaming from his ears and nose.
He lowered his head and gritted his teeth. “This is what interested you, my constant failings?” he hissed, feeling his anger start to bubble.
“No, watch and see if you notice what I am talking about.”
Looking back up, in each image Seraph saw himself climb back to his feet, ignoring his wounds to fighting back.
“your will is what drew me to you, despite your failings, you refuse to fall, you have pushed your self to your limits and beyond again and again, for love, for the protection of the weak. 

“I award my gift to those that’s will and determination burns brighter that all else.” It stepped back. And shook it head. “I can look back and forth in time, I can see you are worth of this, your body covered in scars as testament to your will and dedication to helping others … but due to your pride you lie dead, protecting those you love… and now they shall die for it.”
“What?” Seraph span around, energy flaring around him as he strode forward and grabbed the well by the neck. “What do you mean they will die? If you so much as-”
Whit the lightest of brushes the Well touched Seraph’s chest, sending him flying across the sands, as he landed it flickered in front of him, its eyes glaring. “Few have tried such a thing Mister Seraph, do so again and it will end badly.”
“Don’t you dare threaten-” He was cut off again as the well raised a finger.
“I am not offering a threat, I am telling you a fact, I see the future of Tish and Neph, would you like to watch?” with a wave of its hand an obelisk formed in front of them, showing the battle in kings row, there was no noise, making it some what surreal to watch.
Tish and Neph hand been separated by the swirl of battle, both like minuter weapons of mass destruction. Neph was surrounded by the shattered remains of half a dozen BCU’s, while further down the street Tish stood in burning ring of tar, bits of Preat robots poking out of the surface as she lashed out at the ones surrounding her.
Pressing his hand against the obsidian Seraph watched as the battle continued, both were fighting harder than anything he had seen before, but they were starting to falter. He watched as the units surrounding Tish were shooting her, not aiming to kill, instead trying to take here legs out, she was healing each shot as soon as she took it, but he could see she was starting to suffer blood lose.
Looking to Neph, he could see that her armor was starting to fail, blood dripping between the ivory plates, staining the snow below her as she fought almost like a wide animal. He looked to the Well. “They are still alive…”
“We are seeing the future… they will not last much longer.”
He watched as on of the near by buildings exploded, the massive form of a War Walk forcing its way into the street, Neph threw her self at it, tearing into it’s legs. The Walker looked down at her and plucked her up, looking at her like some sort of bug for a few seconds before throwing her to the ground and stepping on her, grinding its foot down as it levelled the giant canon that made up most of its arm and fired point blank at her head.
Seraph flinched away from the image, looking back as he saw Tish scream and go to run forward. He watched as she let her guard down for one second and the BUC’s pounced.
The leapt at her, grabbing her and forcing her face down into the molten tar that had once been a road, for a moment He didn’t understand what they were doing till he watched them force her face into the bubbling black pitch, he watched in horror as she fought, trying to throw them off, but it was no good. Her movement slowed… evenly stoping.
His voice came as a whisper, slowly getting louder. “No… no… NO!” roaring he smashed his hands against the obsidian, spiderwebing it as he tried to destroy the image of Tish’s limp form.
“This is the only out come, unless you intervene.”

Seraph turned, the air around him crackling with energy. “So… if I take the power I can save them…” he closed his eyes. “And the price?”
“There is one price… if you turn away again, if you forsake the gift I give to you…” behind it the desert started to collapse in on its self, leaving a gaping void. “There will be no third chance… only the void.”
“Do…. Give me the power…”
The Well sped forward and grabbed Seraph’s head. “Awaken, to the power of the Incarnate!”

- - -

 

[dark seraph]

 
Kings Row
Tish threw up her hands, sending the flames around her higher as the road became a bubbling tar pool, the BUC’s Prowling around the edge like hyenas. Looking past them she saw Neph, her armor was starting to fail, blood dripping between the ivory plates, staining the snow below her as she fought almost like a wild animal.
She let out a slight grunt of pain as another shot tore along her upper thigh, the clocks were keeping their range now, peppering her with small arms fire, weather it was to distract or prevent her from moving closer to Neph she hand no idea… and frankly didn’t care.
She started to trudge through the remains of the road, her shoes starting to fall apart at the seems as she rolled the wall of flame in front of herself.  Forcing the BCU’s back with each step. A few more yards and she would be close enough to help her.
She was almost with in reach when a loud crash, the street shaking as one of the apartment buildings exploded, the towering form of a War Walk smashed on to the street, its featureless skull turning side to side as it scanned the street.
”SCANING: MUTANT DNA SIGNATURE DETECTED… SECOND MUTANT DNA SIGNATURE DETECTED… TECHNOLOGICAL ENHANCEMENTS DETECTED.  TARGETING HEORES, IN THE NAME OF THE EMPEROR, YOU WILL BE TERMINATED.”
There was a primal scream as Neph threw herself at its leg, her glowing fist smashing against the armor plating.  The metal buckling under the onslaught as she tore into it.
Looking down, the War Walk examined her like a bear being savaged by a terrier, before bending down and plucking her up. It tilted its head back and forth, almost examining her like some sort of bug.
“RECOGNITION: NEPIHILIM BLADE, ORDERS, TERMIANTE WITH EXTREME PREJUDICE
“NO!”
There was a blast of white light and the War Walker stumbled slightly, Neph falling from its hand as it stumbled back. A second and third blast crashed into it, sending it toppling.
Spinning, Tish’s jaw dropped as she saw the source of the blasts.
                                                                               {{Angel of Doom – Sagisu Shirou – Rebuild of Evengelion 1.11 OST}}
Staggering slightly, the left half of his body covered in ice was Dark Seraph, pale white energy crackling along his hands, his voice coming out in a slight growl.  “Leave them alone”
“TARGET ACQUIRED… SCANING… SCANING… WARNING. INCARNATE DETECTED, ORBITAL LASER ACTIVATED.”
Tish felt a jerk in her stomach as her and Neph were teleported behind the War Walk. Looking back down the street she watched Seraph’s hands blur, rapidly chanting something in Latin as ice formed around him.
With a crack the sky split open, a shaft of red energy smashing into his ice shield.  A corona or crimson energy flickering around the large block.  Seraph curled up at the heart of it, his body starting to glow. While the War Walk was distracted, Tish started pulling energy off it, pouring it into Neph to speed her recovery.
“WARNING: POWER BUILD UP DETECTED. WARNING: POWER DRAIN DETECTED.”
As the laser flickered out the War walk pointed an arm at Tish and Neph.
”TARGET ACQUIRED. TERMINATING.” 
A loud crack echoed along the street, the block of ice around Seraph shattering, chucks smashing in to the remaining BCU’s. He stood there for a moment, the light glinting off a suit of azure armor with silver trims, white light flickering from his eyes. 
“Leave them alone!” he shouted, throwing a fist full of burning white energy into the War Walks back. Letting out a metal cry of annoyance as it rotated at the waist and opened fire upon Seraph.
With a flicker of light he landed next to Tish, gasping slightly. “Okay, teleportation… that’s new… so, any plans about killing it?”
Neph looked between Seraph and Tish. “Aren’t you going to even ask-” she was cut off as Seraph raised a hand.
“We kill that thing before it does anymore damage, then you can ask me questions, okay?”
Tish bit back several comments while Neph nodded reluctantly.  Looking up at the war walks back she spotted something, a slight grin spreading across her face. “You think either of you could make a hole big enough to fit an imp or two in?” She asked, with a devious glint to her eye.

Seraph nodded. “Just get something to distract it long enough and I can-” behind him Neph let out a grunt and leapt onto the War Walks back. “Probably… do… something… she ran off, didn’t she?”
Tish slapped his back. “Takes after her father I guess. Come on, let’s drop this thing.”
Nodding there was a flicker of light and he vanished, repapering in high above the street. A runic circle forming around him as he chanted, while back on the street the War Walk flailed as Neph cling to its back, dinging her fingers into the joints of it’s armor and trying to pull it free.
Running between its legs, Tish couldn’t help but smile as the War Walks flailing crushed what few BCU’s were left. She side steped one of the giant metal feet she let loose with a torrent of flames, melting the street as it foot slammed down.
With a sound of tearing metal, Neph leapt free of it, a large hunk of armor plating in hand as she hit the street and rerolled to one side.
”ARMOR COMPRAMISED, WARNING, WARNING.”
There was a crack from above as a lance of light shot down from his hand, tearing into the War Walks back.  Sparks flying every where as it dropped to one knee, smoke billowing from its back.
Not missing a beat, Tish speed along and jumped, landing on its back as it tried to stand.  Clambering up she grabbed on to the edge of the hole in its armor and concentrated.
The air shimmered as three fire imps burst into existence, screeching in glee they leapt into the hole.  Sparks and molten metal pouring from between the armor plates as the War Walk staggered around.
“WARNING: CORE BREA0001111001101010…. ER001101010.”
Tish was almost thrown free as its body started to convulse, several small explosions emanating from deep with in it. “oooooh cr-” she was cut off as with one finally cry, the War Walk body started to explode, warheads, napalm and gods only knew what else turning it’s body into a fireball that filled the street.
Falling to the ground, she curled into a ball and closed her eyes, bracing herself for impact when she felt something jerk her, followed by arms wrapping around her.
“Careful there, I got ya.”
She looked up as Seraph landed on a nearby building, there was a flicker as Neph landed next to them, patting out several small fires on her armor. With a flicker of blue light, Seraphs armor vanished as he slumped.  His shirt still tattered and bloodied from before.
Neph pulled of her helmet and looked at him, her eyes looking slightly puffy as if she had been crying. “You… you died… didn’t you?” her voice was slightly rasping.
Rubbing the back of his head, he looked at both of them. “Yeah… it’s” he paused, looking a little uncomfortable. “Complicated, to say the least.”
Walking up, Tish rested her hand on his shoulder. “But you are back, one hundred percent.”
“Yeah.”
“Good.” Her fist blurred as she punched him in the gut, causing him to double over wheezing. “THAT was for pulling such a stupid ass stunt in the first place.” Grabbing his chin she brought him up to eye height. “And this is for coming back.”
He blinked in surprise as she pulled him into a tight embrace, kissing him passionately, a few seconds and his brain caught up enough to return it.

Neph stepped back, making and awkward cough. “Um… Tish… Seraph?”
After a few moments, Neph tried again. “Um… Mom, Dad?”
Slightly surprised, Tish broke the kiss and looked at her. “What did you say?”
Neph pointed behind her, Turing Tish saw several other members of the Legendary had arrived, Terr chuckling as he stepped forward, while Rhea was giving her the thumbs up.
“Soooo.” Terr rumbled slightly. “There’s bound to be a good explanation as to what happened here? Like why half the street is on fire?”
Tish looked for an answer when Seraph piped up. “It’s a long, complicated story that I would love to go over, but I need to get to medicorp and get a new mediporter… and possibly some cloths that don’t smell of blood and soot.”
For a moment Terr looked like he was about to say something, but Rhea quickly gave his a slightly elbow. “Fine fine, but Eva and that will expect a full story, okay?”
Seraph nodded turning to Tish, giving a slight smirk. “Care to make sure nothing happens to me on the way?”
She reached up and smacked the back of his head. “If only to make sure you don’t do anything else stupid.”
Taking her hand, he clicked his fingers and they were back on street level, looking around they saw the devastation, Seraph shivering slightly at it.
“You okay?” she asked, wrapping an arm around him.
Giving her a half smile, he shook his head. “It’s nothing… still getting used to this.” He waved a hand, blue sparks flying from his finger tips. “Powers of the incarnate.”
As the walked down the street, she shrugs. “you will probably deal with it the same way you do everything else?”
“And how’s that?”
She grinned and gave him a light punch on the arm. “By slamming into it head first till you figure out a way around it.”

[Star Ranger4]

Hmm. So you went ahead and respec'd into Tport Friend into your 3rd Inc build? cause as to the rest, I see a new costume slot and Hibernoobtion.
Hear that thunder rolling till it seems to split the sky?
That's every ship in Grayson's Navy taking up the cry-
NO QUARTER!!!
-- "No Quarter", by Echo's Children

[dark seraph]

While DS has Telaport, most of the epics/T9 powers only apear when I think it would work in a story.

For exapmle, he used Nova against Protean, something imposible to do in game due to the level Ouro bumped him to.

I tend to ingorn game mechanics if I think it would make the story flow better.