"The Altered One's" The Beginning.

[Guest]

A quick Overview:
One year ago, aliens abducted and altered random humans from around the globe, making them into superhumans.

Some became aces, those endowed with superhuman powers but no obvious physical side effects.

Some became jokers, also endowed with superhuman powers but these were shunned as they're phsical appearances were changed. These jokers took up residences in subway tunnels, in the sewers and in refugee camps called "JokerTowns."

One of the jokertowns sits outside the thriving metropolis of Brockton.

What the citizens of Brockton don't know is there is a war coming.
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Charlie Kennedy sat on the roof of the Brockton city hall. He was invisible so no one could see his legs hanging over the edge of the four story building. This wasn't his first time on patrol through the city, but it was the first time he felt like he was complete, like he was totally ready. The new weapons he had added made him feel like the total package.

He had never understood why superheroes in comic books wore Spandex. It made more sense to wear something that would give a little protection.

The black leather jacket Charlie wore would protect his arms, chest and back from scraps and some cuts. The silk lining he had added to the inside of the coat would aide in stopping sharp objects from penetrating. An old trick he'd learned studying Genghis Khan. If all else failed, the kevlar vest he had stolen from a military surplus store, and now wore beneath the jacket, would stop whatever the jacket didn't. The tough black denim jeans would protect his legs and the black wool ski mask, the black leather driving gloves and the tinted safety glasses would hide his identity from those who might try to identify him as well as giving him some protection to his face, eyes and hands. He had sewn small hidden pockets into the jacket to hide some of his small weapons and tools and the bean bag shotgun hung from his hip down his right thigh. The steel tipped boots would give his feet some protection as well as providing a little extra umph for when he kicked someone.

Charlie thought back to his first year with his powers. Robbing the bank to get money to outfit himself and to open his own private investigation agency. Robbing the Army surplus store of items that were not largely publicly available. Breaking into city hall, making it next to impossible for the cops or the city to track him. He felt he was finally ready to become a true hero.

He smiled at himself as he saw movement from across the street. There were two of them. Both young men. Both carrying knives. They were coming out of the liquer store they had just finished robbing. He laughed and wondered how long this would take. He figured it wouldn't be more than a five minute job.

Charlie turned intangible and allowed his body to fall through the roof of the city hall and down through the four floors. As he came through to the main floor he slowly turned his body more tangible to stop himself from going right through the floor. He got to his feet and walked out through the door of the city hall. The small time crooks were running towards their car parked across the street from the ABC store and right in front of Charlie. Charlie moved quick, almost sprinting, to beat the two kids to the car. They still hadn't seen him. They could have heard his footsteps, but they were to busy with their get-away. Charlie dove, turned intangible and slid right through the car. As he came out the drivers side of the old green Caddie he turned tangible again and plunged, invisible head first right into the goon in front.

The wind rushed out of the goon and he fell to his knees. Charlie rose to his feet and turned visible right in front of the second goon. The crooks eyes went wide and he let out a yelp as he passed right through Charlie. Charlie spun as the man passed through. Turned tangible and kicked the man right in the ass pushing the young punk right into the side of the car.

Charlie looked down and saw the first kid starting to recover. Charlie gave the kid a good hard kick with his steel toed boots, right to the bridge of the kids nose. The kid rose up a foot and then fell onto his back in the middle of the street, unconcious. Charlie went invisible once more as the second punk turned on him. Charlie drew one of his two nightsticks from his left side and smashed the wooden bat right into the left side of the punks chin. The kids head snapped sideways and he collapsed next to his buddy.

Charlie heard the burglar alarm in the ABC store ringing and could just begin to make out the sounds of sirens as the cops rushed to try to nab the bad guys. Charlie checked that both the young punks were unconcious and walked away, still invisible.

 

[kamalw1]

Benjamin Willis was riding through Brockton on his Harley, enjoying the ride. He loved going around in his cars and motorcycles. He had managed to build up quite a collection over the years by capturing criminals and collecting the rewards.

As he was riding, he picked up a signal on his portable police scanner. He listened as the dipatcher was calling out about a hostage situation on the top floor of a small office building. Benjamin sped up and raced towards the scene.

Benjamin arrived at the office ahead of the police. He parked his bike a couple of blocks away and ran to the back of the building. His gloved han grabbed the knob and turned, but the door was locked. Benjamin made sure no one was looking, and ripped the door off its hinges. He stood there,seeing if anyone was alerted by the sound. Hearing no commotion, he went in and walked up the stairs.

Reaching the door at the top floor, he turned the knob and slowly opened the door. Through the clear visor of his helmet, he saw a man with a gun a few feet away, his back to Benjamin. He snuck up behind the man and punched him in the back of the neck, knocking him unconcious. Benjamin picked up the gun and bent the barrel, rendering it useless.

Benjamin continued down the hall and came to a closed door. He could vaguely hear voices on the other side. Bracing himself, he stepped back a few feet and then ran into the door, sending it flying into the room. Benjamin could see that it was a spacious conference room, with a large metal rectangular table in the center surrounded by chairs. On the right side of the room was another door. He saw three men in there with guns, shocked by his sudden appearance. One of the men was in front of the other door, guarding it, while the other two hadbeen at the windows.

The man at the door reacted by aiming his gun at Benjamin and firing. The bullet hit him in his right arm. Benjamin stopped for a moment, the pain shocking him. He then ran at the guy and picked him up by the neck. He threw him across the room, causing him to hit the wall and slump to the floor. The other two men brought their guns up and began firing at him. Benjamin continued running towards them, tryingto ignore the pain of the shots. "What the hell?" one of the crooks yelled as Benjamin approached them.

He reached the two men and lifted them off their feet. He bangd their heads together and dropped them to the ground. He then walked over to the table and broke the legs off of it. He the bent the metal legs around the wrists of the crooks behind their backs, making crude handcuffs.

Benjamin could feel the gunshots healing as he walked over to the door and pulled it open. There were several people in the small room, bound and gagged. He released them and told them it was safe for them to go. He left and went back down the stairs to his bike. As he hopped on, he heard the approaching police sirens. He shook his head and sighed at the slowness of the local cops. He drove away, thinking about how the city could use all the help it could get.

 

[IDreamofBunnies]

The sounds of sirens in the air made Jules anxious, he patted the Glock hidden in his coat pocket and looked at his comrades. There was Lucky Joe, the driver and the Diego Brothers. His boss, Guile, the newest enforcer for the DiCortega Mob seemed unusually calm. What Jules didn't know was that Guile's serene demeanor was due to the pair of guys on the roof with AK's ready to snipe away if this deal turned ugly.

The deal, it would go down any minute. Those Venezuelans would show up with five keys of premium product. Five keys! Jules could retire with the kind of money that would bring in!

The Venezuelan's car pulled in and the doors opened at once, allowing it's four occupants to get out.

"It's about fucking time, show me the blow." Guile got straight to business, the lead Venezuelan looked straight at him without saying a word. the four stood there motionless.

"You fucking deaf you spic fuck? I have the money you make with the drugs. Don't waste my time!"

The Venezuelan looked straight at him for another few seconds before opening his mouth, he stood there with his mouth wide open for another moment before a glob of dark red blood spilled from his throat and splattered on the ground. The four of them fell to the ground, bleeding profusely.

"The fuck?"

"The first one is always free."
From the darkness a scalpel flew through the air and struck one of the surprised Diego brothers in the throat. As he gargled and fell to the ground the gangsters seemed to snap out of it and started shooting into the inky blackness. Another scalpel flew out and hit Lucky Joe in the eye.

"You waiting for an invitation! Shoot him! Drop this fu*" before he could finish his obscenity, a scalpel flew right into his open mouth. He dropped to the ground. This was more than Jules could take, the guys on the roof and the remaining Diego brother were still shooting. He dropped on his hands and knees and started crawling away.

He crawled on the wet pavement, the sounds of gunfire still blazing behind him, there was another zip in the air and he could tell that Diego had his number punched. He fumbled to pull his gun out with one hand while he crawled off, and the sound of a chain rattling filled the air. He could hear a loud scream and then a crash. He looked back briefly and saw that two men who must have been on the roof had fallen on the car. When he turned back around he bumped into someone's nice black shoes. Jules noted that he could see his reflection in the highly polished shoes.

"Get up."

"I don't want to..."

"Get UP!"

Jules stood up and had his number punched, the last thing he saw was a pale, pale man dressed from head to toe in black with mirrored sunglasses, the man was wearing a razor thin smile on his face. Jules saw himself die in those mirrored sunglasses.

The man in black walked back towards Guile and dropped a neatly folded letter in his blood soaked lap.



DiCortega,

Not in my city.

 

[Abraxas Winterlight]

Mortus

Ever notice how noisy graveyards are. Its not the wind blowing the dead leaves, or the sounds of traffic. Its the whispers, crawling all around you. A constant murmur, like a electric current running through my mind. Of course nobody but me would hear it, its my gift, my curse.
*I don't belong here! I'm still alive!!*
*NO!NO! Here's the money, just let me go!!!!!!*

**SHUT UP!!!!! YOUR DEAD!! LAY DOWN AND SHUT UP!!!!**


God ! If the voices would only quiten for a day, just 24 hours, but the dead are everywhere. We walk over the bones of our ancestors, and in Jokertown, the dead are especially lively. Souls that feel tortured in life are seldom peaceful after they shed their flesh.
"Hey Inky, how's it hanging??"
I looked over at Squid ( thats his name, he looks like a squid on a human body) & walked over, exchanging the obligatory handshake.
" Been better. I got to meet Digger out in the yard tonight. The Manchiso brothers are having a argument over their old man's will, and both their lawyers are sick of their fighting over it, so they want me to settle it. So tonight I get to ask the Patriarch to clarify what he said. Should be interesting, he's been planted six months."
Squid shuddered. " I don't see how you stay sane Alex. I mean, dealing with some of us while we are alive is tough, but your constantly dealing with the dead! How do you stay sane?"

I looked at him, & with a sigh answered.
"Who says I am sane."
I shook his hand again & kept walking down the street. It was lunchtime and I was hungry. Sal's has the best burgers in Jokertown, so I headed that way. I saw the usual spooks on the way. The hanged man on the corner of First and Walnut. The Cat Lady in front of the vacant lot a few houses down. YOu learn to ignore them, that is until one of the punks walks through you.
**Damnit Louie! Stop doing that or I'll put you on the list!**

The spirit laughed at me, and waved goodbye with his tail as he walked through the other pedestrians, shudders marking his passing.

I finally made it to Sal's & took my usual booth. Yep, it looks like another boring day.

 

[hybirdx]

"GET THAT MUTT!!!"

Gun shots were heard in the dark ally. "Did we get it?"

"I don't know.... That dog was fast."

"Never mind the dog! we still have buisness to attend to!" The tallest man out of the group turn around to an little girl, who was shivering madly due to she was only in an night gown "We still have the brat, so we can go on with our ransom plans!"

With an sadistic smirk, the leader grabed the little girls chin by only his thumb, and index finger. "Now be a good little girl and do what we say. And we'll return you to your nice big mansion! Got it?"

Out of pure fear, the little girl nodded. "Good... Simon, you have the letter?"

"Already sent it sir!"

"Thata boy!"

Suddenly and voice emited from the shadows, "Its too bad it never made it!"

"Who said that?!" The leader snapped his fingers, and instantly every bodie pulled out there guns, Simon pointed his gun at the little girls. "Show your self, or I'll blow her head off!"

Soft foot steps, as if the person didn't wear any shoes, were heard as person in an large brown cloak walked out "Easy buddy! I don't want the little one hurt!"

"Put your hands in the air were I can see them!"

For an second, the cloaked man hesitated, then began to slowly raise his hands, which were gigantic orange fox like paws. One paw held the ransom note.

"W-what the fuck are you?!"

"Just an Joker, who hates to see an inocent child harmed by desperate thugs!"

"SHOOT HIM!"

The cloaked man squeased one of his hands, and all of an sudden, black vines grabed every bodies guns from their hands, and disapered as quickly as they came. "What the.... Never mind, if we can't shoot him, we'll just beat him down!" Almost instantly the cloaked man threw off his cloak and rushed in quickly so that the thugs couldn't prepair themselfs. He then quickly slamed his right foot into two of the thugs right jaws. He then spun around and slamed his fist into anothers nose, instantly breaking it. "Is this all you got? Come on! I haven't even pulled my weapons out!"

Both Simon and the leader nodded to each other, and instantly began to run "Cowards..." The man whistled quickly for someone, as the two remaining thugs turned the corner. "Hokage! Sick em!"

Screems and barking were heard as the young man untied the little girl "Lets get you home... Hokage! quit playing around, we have to go!" He said just before picking up his cloak and walked away from the shadows.

 

[KisstheSky]

Mya

Her shift at the clinic had just ended and as she peeled off her latex gloves and washed the powder off her hands she breathed a sigh of relief.
It had been the day from hell.
You would think that being a small clinic near a large hospital would mean that business would be less than booming. But you'd be wrong.
In this area few people had the money to pay the astronomical fees charged by the new hospital. Many of them didn't have insurance either.
So on an average day she and her fellow volunteers were up to their necks in shooting victims, junkies and people who came in bitching that it hurt when they took a piss.
She let down her long blonde locks from their usual shift time french twist and shook it out so it cascaded down her shoulders.
She was too tired to change so she threw her backpack over her shoulder, said her goodbyes and headed out into the cool city night.

She didn't live far from the clinic, and though she was exhasted a brisk walk in the cool air was refreshing, and she felt herself waking up a bit.
Then someone clamped their large rough hands on her arms and pulled her into the darkened alleyway.
"Hey pretty doctor lady," he whispered, his breath was rancid and from his sallow appearance she recognized him as one of the junkies that frequented the clinic. "You lookin for a good time."
He pulled her close and breathed in the sweet smell of her hair,
"mmmm vanilla...so good I could almost eat...you...up.." He smiled.
But she wasn't afraid.
She smiled,"hun, I'm not your typical damsel in distress."
Her attacker's cheesy grin vanished and instead was replaced by a look of anguish.
His brow furrowed and his teeth clenched as the sound of his quickening heartbeat almost deafened him.
He let out a groan as he fell to the ground, releasing her from his grasp, clawing at the track marks on his arms as the old wounds opened themselves and rivlets of blood began to pour down his arms.
"You...freak..." he groaned,"what the fuck are you doing to me..."
"Teaching you a lesson," she replied, as the wounds closed as quickly as they'd reopened.
But she still made him afraid.
He trembled on the ground curled up in the fetal position, trying to squirm away.
"I'll see you around," she turned and headed out of the alley, away from her would be attacker and back out into the night...

 

[IDreamofBunnies]

MacPhearson looked very pleased with himself, he sat at the head of his conference table in his newly constructed office building in downtown. At the other end that Italian bitch Portia was tied and gagged, with several of his men holding guns to her head. He scribbled away on a sheet of paper, it had a picture of stick figures killing each other. All he had to do was sign it.

"It looks like your a bit upset Portia, tell me. What's it feel like, knowing your going to die?"

He looked down at the drawing again, it was a simple thing why should he SIGN IT! He neatly signed his name on the bottom of the paper then leaned back and put your hands behind the chair.

He laughed and looked again at the teary eyed mobstress, "You never answered my question..."

"Actually I was hoping you would tell me."

"What! Who ungagged her?"

There was a flash of light and he was momentarily blinded, when his vision cleared he was sitting at the head of his table with his hands handcuffed behind his chair. Portia and some of her men were standing around him.

"Wakey, wakey MacPhearson. You were having a nice dream weren't you? But now the dream is over and reality is setting in isn't it."

The Irish gangster looked plenty confused and scared, he opened his mouth but was cut off, "Shhh, shhhh. There, there. Now let us see what you were working so hard on over there!"

She took the paper that MacPhearson's drawing had been on, there were no stick figures now but thousands of typed characters forming a binding legal document, MacPhearson's last will and testimony.

"Now let's read this....blah, blah, blah....skipping ahead, skipping ahead. Ah here we are! Oh look, in the event of your death all of your worldly assets will be transfered to a single beneficiary. And that beneficiary is, oh my God I cannot believe it! I get everything! Wow thank you so much!"

MacPhearson was about to protest but Portia put a finger to his lips, "Now don't worry, I'll take good care of everything. Besides, as long as you take care of that heart of your you have nothing to worry about. Just stay away from rich foods and try not to get too many shocks...like so."

She waved her hand in front of her face, revealling her diabolical countenance to MacPhearson, the sheer shock value of her transformation indeed put too much strain on his ailing heart and he collapsed into a siezure, then a fullout heartattack. Portia's henchmen removed the handcuffs and the group left MacPhearson to his death.

"Risque should be done by now, that's two mortal blows to the Puerto Ricans and the Irish. Hmmm, soon I shall raze the pillars of the Russians and the Chinese. Then this city will be mine and mine alone."

 

[Guest]

OOC: Nice writing everyone.

IC:

Chalie walked along the sidewalk, totally invisible and intangible. People walking by him didn't see him, people walking through him just shivered, looked back, put it down to nervousness and kept walking. Charlie paid little attention to any of the civilians. He knew his destination.

Charlie turned the corner and found himself face to face with a police line. Three cops stood along the yellow tape keeping people out. Charlie passed easily through the crowd and through the yellow tape and finally through police seargent McMurtry. Charlie moved right up to where the cops and detectives were gathered.

"ALl this will say is he had orange fur." Charlie heard one of the detectives says pointing to a guy sitting in a police car.

"Orange fur huh? Musta been a joker." The female detective responded.

"Yeah. You know what that means? It mean's we're taking a trip to Jokertown." The burly male detective grunted.

The female detective laughed. "Wonder how many jokers with orange fur there are?" The female said. She went quiet for a moment and then spoke again. "Why would a joker kidnap a kid who has already been kidenapped?"

"Half the work, all the money." The male detective stated and moved away.

Charlie looked into the police car and stared at the criminal inside. His mouth was bleeding and it looked to Charlie like he needed his jaw re-wired. Charlie quickly moved on. He moved through the crime scene and stepped into an out of the way doorway. He quickly turned visible, swept the mask off his face, pulled a laundry bag from his jacket pocket and quickly shoved the two nightsticks and the bean bag into the bag. He now looked like an average street tough. He grasped the bag in his left hand, concentrated and watched as the bag turned invisible. He then concentrated again, this one would be a real trick. "Make the bag intangible, but not the rope." Charlie told himself. He moved his knee to where he knew the bag would be and felt his knee pass right through. Satisfied he moved back out onto the sidewalk moved back towards the crime scene.

He needed to find a police officer.

OOC: Swampthing, you still with us??

 

[KisstheSky]

Mya

As she turned the corner, she saw the flashing lights and the police line.
"What could've happened here?" She mused.
As she neared the scene she saw a man, she assumed the perp. sitting in the back of the police car looking as though he'd been beaten repeatedly with a crowbar...or maybe a small car, she laughed.
His jaw was obviously broken and would need to be wired if he were ever to regain use of it.
"Excuse me," she called out to the nearest detective.
He turned and glanced at her for a moment, sizing her up, she was pretty even in the scrubs she wore.
"How can I help you miss? We've sorta got our hands full here-"
"That man in the police car," she interjected,"I realize he may not be everyone's favorite person right now but don't you think you should have some medical personnel take a look at his injuries. I mean I don't think you'll be getting much of a statement out of him if he can't speak."
The detective thought for a moment and nodded,"you volunteering? Most of our emergency teams are tied up at the moment. One should be on their way shortly."
She half frowned but nodded,"I'll see what I can do...maybe I can at least ease the pain until the ambulance arrives."
The detective raised the tape and let her through.

He escorted her over to the injured man.
"Do you have a first aid kit or anything?" She asked, and the man nodded.
"In the trunk of the vehicle."
He went around the back and brought her a basic first aid kit.
She did what she could visually to make it seem though she was doing all that she could with the tools provided. Cleaning off the dried blood, and using the roll of gauze making a sling of sorts for his jaw by wrapping it under his jaw, up over his ears and around his head.
But the real healing was being done in his mind.
She gave him the feeling of serenity and well-being, taking his mind off the pain and putting him at ease.
When the wounds on his face were covered she lightly ran her fingers over the bandages, concentrating on restitching the flesh and muscles of his jaw a bit to speed up the healing process.
She heard bits and pieces of the detectives' conversations from time to time.
Enough to learn that this man had kidnapped a child, and that it was a Joker who had done this to him.
She rose and closed up the first aide kit. "Well thats all that I can do here", she heard the sound of the approaching ambulance siren, "but it seems as though your medical assistance is about to arrive. Good luck with the case detective."
The detective called out a thank you, and she could have sworn a dinner invitation but she kept walking. Sliding back under the police tape and disappearing into the crowd...

 

[SwampThing]

Officer Michael Sparrow went over the crime scene carefully, bagging what little evidence he could find. Nearby, he was dimly aware of an attractive blond woman volunteering medical attention. Good. Those two men deserved jail, but not to die from their injuries.

Then he spotted a scrap of pink fabric hanging from a bush. Part of the kidnapped girl's nightgown. Michael didn't bag it with the rest of the evidence, he put it in his pocket, and went to find his partner among all the police at the scene.

"We're heading out to Jokertown," O'Day told him. "Going to try to scare up an orange-furred kidnapper".

Michael nodded, and slipped his partner the evidence bags. "But he may not have taken her back to Jokertown." He whispered. "Even if he did, they're not too friendly to Brockton cops over there. It could take days to find him."

O'Day whispered back "You, uh, think your, uh, friend could maybe find him faster?"

Michael nodded. "Cover for me. I'll radio if I learn anything."

Then he grabbed his bag from the squad car and slipped away into the trees. It took less than a minute to switch his regular uniform for his unmarked SWAT outfit. As he pulled the mask tight over his head, The Hunt laid the scrap of pink fabric out on the grass.

For a moment, there was only darkness.

Then a pack of lean black dogs sniffed at the fabric. They raised their heads, and sniffed again. They had the scent. And another scent. A man they knew.

Darkness again.

And then The Hunt stood in the shadows of the trees. "Show yourself, Spirit."

 

[Guest]

Charlie returned to the crime scene, now in civilian clothing and watched as an incredibly beautiful blonde tended to the wounds of the man in the police car. He spotted the man he was looking for just as she was leaving.

Charlie backed up, blended into the crowd, pretended to drop something and vanished.

Charlie stood up and now completely intangible and invisible walked to the front of the crowd, through the tape and over to the car of Officer Sparrow. He stood there and waited as Sparrow went into the trees. Charlie smiled and moved into the trees to watch as his friend transformed.

Charlie was amazed as the man turned into a pack of black dobermans. He noticed one of the dogs look in his direction then the dogs transformed back into the man.

"Show yourself Spirit" The Hunt yelled. Charlie, without his mask on, knew he would not show himself. He moved behind The Hunt and turned tangible and tapped the man on the shoulder.

"You headed for Jokertown?" Charlie asked. "Mind if I tag along?"

 

[SwampThing]

The Hunt didn't bother turning around. He'd known the Spirit long enough to know the man wouldn't be visible.

"Jokertown? Maybe. I've got a scent, but I'm not sure how far the trail leads. Our quarry might still be nearby."

Darkness.

Four of the dogs ran ahead, following the trail of the girl's scent, and now a stronger smell of wolf. The other two kept pace with the slower human form of the Spirit. The Hunt preferred dealing with the Spirit this way. At least he could tell where the man was.

 

[The GrandMage]

The Plague

There was an area of the sewers that Jokers avoided. Many had taken to the dark and smelly pipings after their fall from grace. They existed in the sewage now, hiding, living in the bowels of the city. But it was not a safe place. There were dangers in the darkness, in the murk.

People disappeared. Humans and Jokers. No one important. Usually junkies or the homeless, they simply went missing. No one suspected their bodies would be in the sewers. But few knew the sewers as well, or could travel them as easilly as The Plague could.

He wore the remains of a pair of jeans, patched together and fraying at the ends. A belt tight to keep them on his inhuman body. He was asleep. He body sprayed out like an animal asleep on it's side, it leaned against the ceiling as if it were a floor. He was tucked away, deeps in the sewers.

An eye opened. A head lifted from the ceiling, looking down towards the floor of the bottom of the sewer, the bowels of the city. He moved to his hands and feet, and quickly ran over to the wall, moving down it and glancing around as he raced sideways through the underbelly of the city. He came to a manhole, and raced up to the cover. Lifting it, one of the dark eyes glanced outside, looking around.

It was dark, the dark was good. A figure stood in an alleyway. A man whom The Plague trusted. A man who didn't, who couldn't exist. But the creature who moved out of the sewers and over to the alley had gone ago lost the rational thought and sanity that would tell it that. The Plague listened as the man outlined the details of tonights plan.

Quickly, The Plague began to move through the city. People often watched themselves in dark alleys, but few times did they look up at the walls, and that was The Plagues favorite form of travel. It rushed quickly through the town, and stopped, looking around. It moved down into the alley, hiding itself amongst the garbage, looking around.

Something was amiss. It crawled up the outside of a garbage dumpster, standing straight out from the side and glancing around the dark alley. It climbed inside, looking out from it's place of hiding. Something was coming. He could hear it. His ears twitched, and he moved himself into the garbage, waiting, silent. Wait for it to come, then go for the kill. Wait, wait,...His tongue licked out across his lips, almost able to taste the hot blood of a dying creature,...

 

[hybirdx]

Gunther

Gunther jolted through the allys as if it was his domain. He turned his head slightly torwards to the girl, who was holding on tightly to his neck "Don't worry! I'm going to take you back to your home, we'll be there in a few minutes, kay?" She nodded shakenly due to the fact Gunthers pace was frightening.

Gunther slowed to an stop noticing that Hokage wasn't at the pace he usauly was, "Hokage, whats wrong buddy?" Hokage didn't say anything, nor moved what so ever. "Hokage?" Gunther knelt before Hokage and Checked around its fur "Some of those bullets must have grazed you... We'll have to slow down a bit." Gunther check a little bit more, and found that one bullet, was lucky enough to pirce "Shit..." With out evenhinking, Gunther ripped off a chunk of his cloak, and wraped it around Hokages front left leg. "Do you think you can run any more?" Hokage looked up and barked. "Okay, just take it easy."

Gunther stood up and began to walk. He would have started running if he didn't catch a few unwelcome scents "We got company buddy..." Slowly he set the little girl down on Hokage's back. "Hokage you go ahead of me, I'll travel a few feet behind you just in case..." Gunther said, knowing there were a set of people after him. They probaly think I kidnapped the girl...

 

[kamalw1]

Benjamin was driving away from the scene of his latest good deed when he came upon another crime scene. He stayed around, hearing about a little girl getting kidnapped, possibly by a Joker. As he was about to leave, he saw a pack of dogs running together, as if they were hunting something. Benjamin decided to get back on his bike and follow the dogs, hoping they would lead him somewhere.

 

[Guest]

Charlie followed the small pack of dogs through the city. What an odd sight they would have made had he been visible. A man running through the streets being led by a pack of dobermans.

It was twenty minutes before Charlie figured why the hair on the back of his neck was bristling. He looked behind him again. The bike was still there. He had noticed the rider as they left the crime scene. It was moving slow, staying away from The Hunt, apparently making the dogs didn't notice him. "We've picked up a tail. Keep going, I'll find out who's tailing us. I'll meet you in the alley between Leigh and Reed Street." Charlie announced.

He stopped and watched the dogs continue on their way, still hot on the trail of the joker kidnapper. Charlie moved to the edge of the street and waited for the biker to catch up. As the bike moved closer, Charlie moved directly into the path of the bike and went intangible. He guessed at the level of the guys chest. This was going to hurt the guy on the bike a lot more than it would Charlie. Charlie turned his arms tangible, drew the shotgun from it's holster and aimed at the helmeted head of the rider.

The rider never saw the gun. He would have only seconds to react once the beanbag round left the chamber and materialized in front of him. The shotgun jumped in Charlie's hands. As soon as the round was gone, he turned fully intangible again and waited for the bike to pass through.

OOC: Not sure whether the surprise and/or the force would be enough to knock your guy off the bike or not. I know it won't hurt him.

 

[hybirdx]

Gunther growled under his breath. "Lets see... One.... no... two, three, four dogs and... two... maybe three humans. Thats just great..." Gunther muttered as he began to controll the shadows once again "Hokage, get going, I'll stay here and play with the stalkers." Hokage nodded and shot off.

As soon as Hokage disapered, the four dogs came out from the shadows "Well, looks like I have company... too bad I'm not in the mood to play!" Gunther taken an step back, then shot forward past all four of the dogs with ease "You mutts will never learn how to out fox an fox! See ya!" Gunther shot forward the he came from, not knowing what other obsticals were ahead of him

 

[kamalw1]

Benjamin was riding along, following the pack of dogs when all of a sudden, a sharp pain hit him in his chest. The shock of the surprise attack knocked him off the bike. He got up, rubbing his chest area as the bike continued on for a few feet before falling to the ground. Benjamin looked around, a puzzled look on his face. "What the hell just happened?" he said to himself out loud. He then began walking towards his bike.

 

[cats]

Rydia More

IC: I held the knife tightly in my hand. I wanted this to end. I could run the blade down my arm and spill my blood onto the ground. But then I would heal. It's as if the world is against me. This is my own personal hell, I can't leave any more. I could feel a tear forming but I held it back.

'I'd ratehr not have you try and kill yourself in my office again.' I droped the knife. "I'm sorry Portia." I turned to my sister the one person left for me in this world. "I've been like that for hours worried about something going wrong and you dieing."

I looked at her. My sister was a great person. she took me in after every one else threw me out. "I'm guessing you got him to sign the contract." The contract didn't matter to me in the least. It mattered to her though so I was happy.

"Portia please let me do something." She had me do work for her from time to time but seldomly took me with her. I hated it, not knowing that she was safe. "You didn't even take your body gaurd with you." I was sure she would only be annoyed by my complaints but still I had to tell her how I felt. "I'm sorry but... I wory."

I looked up at my sister. "Do you have something in mind for me in your next plan?" I'd never be able to help my older sister if I didn't have my healing powers, she'd worry I'd get hurt and never let me help. But since I can help I her I try to as often as possible. "Please?"

 

[IDreamofBunnies]

Portia looked across the room at her "little sister", she had found her purely by chance one day, trying to kill herself. Portia recognized the potential use for her and programmed nearly a lifetime of false memories into the altered one.

"Well, you sure are perky tonight. If you really want to help me, there's been an unauthorized kidnapping, the victim is the daughter of a business associate, she's my god daughter in fact. It's very important that she is recovered, the police are on it of course but I want the kidnappers punished a little more severely than the law permits. You will meet Risque in Joker Town and the two of you will find the girl and kill the kidnappers. Make it a messy one."

Along with her orders she sent out a telepathic wave to soothe her "sisters" mind and ease her conscience, I'll do anything for my big sister Portia, killing those evil kidnappers is the right thing to do...

 

[Guest]

The rider never saw the gun. He would have only seconds to react once the beanbag round left the chamber and materialized in front of him. The shotgun jumped in Charlie's hands. As soon as the round was gone, he turned fully intangible again and waited for the bike to pass through.

The shock of the surprise attack knocked him off the bike. He got up, rubbing his chest area as the bike continued on for a few feet before falling to the ground. Benjamin looked around, a puzzled look on his face. "What the hell just happened?" he said to himself out loud. He then began walking towards his bike.

Charlie smiled. "Who are you?" He yelled into the man's ear as he passed. He turned intangible, knowing full well the man would swing at him.

Charlie walked through the hulking brute and spun to face him as he looked around confuse. "Who are you?" Charlie yelled again, now in the man's other ear. Charlie moved away, turned tangible, pulled the ski cap from his pocket and slipped it over his invisible head.

<<kamalw1>>

 

[kamalw1]

Walking to his bike, Benjamin heard the voice loudly in his ear, "Who are you?" He stopped, looking around trying to see where the voice was coming from. He then heard the voice in his other ear. What in the hell is going on here?, he thought to himself. He was about to continue walking when he caught a movement out of the corner of his eye. He turned and saw a man in a ski mask standing there. "Are you the bastard that shot me?" he asked the masked man.

 

[SwampThing]

Four of the dogs that made up The Hunt ran past the Joker in the cloak. He's fast, the Hunt thought, but the Spirit should be able to give him some trouble. I'll keep going to find the wolf, and the girl.

The dogs caught up with the limping wolf a few blocks away, the girl holding tightly to it's back. The white wolf was faster than an ordinary animal, The Hunt never would have caught up with it if it wasn't injured. Something was wrong, though. the girl wasn't tied, she was holding onto the wolf's back as it ran, burying her head in it's fur as if for comfort.

The four dogs circled the wolf, growling. Let the girl go.

The white wolf narrowed it's red eyes, and growled back. I mean her no harm, but will protect her with my life. I go now to return the child to her home. The Hunt was amazed, not that he understood the wolf's language, but that it's speech was so clear and intelligent. This was no ordinary wolf.

Meanwhile, the two dogs that remained with the Spirit turned in the direction the cloaked Joker would come from, barking to warn the Spirit that someone was coming.

 

[hybirdx]

Hokage growled under his shallow, tired breath "Now if you two will excuse me..." Hokage taken an short, and extreamly careful step. But all it did was agrivate the dogs, they growled deeply and taken a step forward, letting Hokage know that they wern't going to let him pass. "LISTEN!!! If you want to get in my way and fight me, so be it! But you will not last against me, wounded or not!"

Hokage beared his fangs, slightly blood soaked due to the fact he did just take down a couple of low life thugs. Hokage was about to sink his fangs into one of them when the grip around Hokage's neck tightened. He shifted his head a bit noticing that the girl was staring at him.

"Hokage... Are we there yet?"

Hokage whimpered and shook his head. She then buried her face withen Hokage's fur again. Hokage then turned his head back torwards the dogs. "I refuse to let this child go, until I return her safely to her home. GOT IT?"

 

[IDreamofBunnies]

As the wolf and the dogs had tensed up in preperation for a conflict, their attention was drawn to their own noses when a scalpel fell direcly if front of each of them. A figure dressed in black stood high up on a rooftop, the only bit of him not obscured by black clothing was his thin smile which quickly turned into a sneer. He leapt from the rooftop, almost floating down gracefully, his coat tails flapping in the wind behind him. He lands on one foot, balancing off a sign post. He clenched his hands into fists and when he extended his fingers again there was a scalpel balancing off each one.

"C'mere poochies, the consequences for this unauthorized kidnapping is death. Return the girl and I might just let you go."

The girl, Portia's god daughter had a memory implanted in her during her confirmation when Portia gave her a wrapped present in person, Your Godmother Portia is a friend you can count on, her good friend Risque will always protect you from harm...