Titans: The Revised Adventures RP

[dragonrazor]

Ashton shook his head, then pulled out his cell phone. He quickly made the call, telling both scientists to meet them at the old building now. He also told Doctor Stone that the owner could supply blueprints. Once that was done, he turned towards Superboy. "One, we need to get you a secret identity. Two, we'll be converting the old newspaper building into a base of operations. That's where Vic's father comes in. He's going to design security systems and the like. After that, it's up to us to put it together."

 

[chronicle_tenko]

Roy.

Roy watched as someone leapt clear onto the El. Not into it but from the top of the platform to on top of it. "Geez, not many people that crazy. I got a movie or" And finally Roy's keen vision saw the chiseled jawline and signature hair. "that's my Grant. that's certainly a new meaning to hopping the El."

Roy gunned his motor and began to follow the train keeping well out of the sides of it's view. Hard on a black and red bike, But easy when you knew all the satops. Roy figured he'd follow Damage down the line and tail him to wherever he was going. If he got a moment alone with the lad, then they'd have a little talk.

 

[FenixZero]

"Oh dude, a secret identity I got" Superboy grinned and fished around in his jacket pocket for a second before producing a pair of simple, black metal frame glasses.

Slicking his hair back with one hand and donning the glasses, he grinned wide at Ashton, "See, one second it's Superboy and the next it's Conner Kent, mild mannered student at Vector High"

The glasses was an old move but he'd be damned if it didn't work every time.

"So does this mean I'm a Titan now?" He asked as he removed the specs and placed them back in his pocket.

 

[Gapperjack]

Rupert's walk home took him through the park. In his mind ideas about the Titans rolled past, and he mentally ticked off the downsides to all of them. As he headed along the path, a high pitched scream caught his ear.

He saw the screamer up ahead, a woman about his mother's age struggling with a bag snatcher. As Rupert watched, the snatcher swung a fist into the woman's stomach and she let go of the bag and dropped to her knees, winded and in tremendous pain.

'No time to be subtle,' thought Rupert, dropping to his knees himself, bracing himself against the ground. He glanced to check for any onlookers, and it looked like he'd got lucky, this time, there were none. 'don't scream...'

From boy to crimson metal warrior in seconds, the same transformation, molten metal seeping out onto his skin, enveloping him, changing him. The same pain, the same mantra. He opened his eyes and his thoughts were crystal clear, a world away from the bustle and confusion of ideas and emotions that raged through his human head. Vulcan was back.

He spotted the snatcher, with his enhanced vision sensors, running across the grass, and gave chase, powerful pistons accelerating Vulcan to four times the speed the criminal was moving. Vulcan was on-top of the young-man before he knew what was happening.

As he reached his target, Vulcan swung his left arm out to the side, catching the man with the backhand swipe. There was an audible crunch as the metal hand broke the man's jaw. Vulcan dug in his heels and stopped a mere metre from the man who had dropped to his knees. Vulcan turned and regarded the criminal coldly with his visual sensors.

"YOU NEED TO BE TAUGHT A LESSON..." The electronic voice was icy in tone. The man looked up at the red metal giant with horrified eyes, clutching at his broken jaw. Vulcan stepped forwards and swung a foot the size of a fire-hydrant into the man's side. Another crunch as a few ribs cracked. The man screamed. "THIS IS THE LESSON... CRIME DOESN'T PAY. LEARN IT WELL."

Vulcan turned away from the man and walked over to the woman's handbag and scooped it up with his hand. "YOU WILL SEE THIS IS RETURNED TO ITS RIGHTFUL OWNER... OR YOU WILL SEE ME AGAIN. UNDERSTOOD?"

 

[Mephistophelily]

"Remarkable!," Starfire laughed, looking to Conner with an amazed look. "No one would ever equate the two!"

Raven gave her a blank stare, shaking her head... "Yes, absolutely amazi-" She cut short, giving a soft cry as she dropped to her knees.
"Pain.. someone was just in terrible, terrible pain..." She shivered a bit, looking to Robin. "But its gone now... Their thoughts just vanished. I.. I sense a new person altogether..."

 

[The Jeffinator]

“What?” Robin jumped back off his bike. “What direction did you feel it in?” They all ran in that direction, and came a stop as they saw Vulcan’s beat down of the crook. Afterwards, Robin approached him. “You have great power. I hear the Teen Titans are looking for some one with talent like yours. You should seek out Robin sometime.”

 

[Armphid]

Grant say on top of the train, enjoying the feel of the wind in his hair. It was lonely, sure, and wouldn't be fun in bad weather, but this was a pretty cool way to get around the city. He really couldn't be bothered by anyone, that was for sure.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the neighborhood the train was going through getting rougher. Almost home. He stood up, carefully tossing the bagged costume over one shoulder. As the rumbling locomotion came to a bend in the track, he crouched, gathering his strength. Then as it began to turn, he leaped, soaring far through the air as the train's speed added to the distance of his jump.

Crack! Concrete buckled under the impact of his body as he landed hard in an alleyway. Looking down, he sighed. Man...he really had to be more careful about that. Just from a civic standpoint, it wasn't cool to bust up the town just getting from place to place.

Okay, now to jog home, change into the Damage "costume" and get out to fight some crimes, get some cash. Grant walked out of the alley, nodding at a surprised looking couple who was walking down the street. "Nice day, isn't it?"

Leaving them behind, he started to jog. Grant tried to keep his speed down, but he ended up still running faster than anyone should be, unless they were at a dead sprint.

 

[Gapperjack]

OOC: Looks like I'm going to be without an internet connection til Sunday or Monday evening. Sorry guys, this is me signing off for a while. See you when I get back online.

 

[chronicle_tenko]

Roy.

The el was pretty easy to watch, And the neighbourhood got rougher and rougher, soon it wasn't cars Roy was looking for, but people passed out in the road. He could still see the man on top of the train, he was still sure it was Grant. Finally Grant jumped, landing on a roof, Roy ducked the bike into an alley as Grant came down from the roof. Grant took off Down the street moving well faster than most people had right to. Grant dodged an elderly couple as he ran off Remarking on the weather. Damn he was fast. Still Roy had a bike and Grant was holding back. He walked the bike from the alley and waited a moment before he walked the bike past the elderly couple still walking. "I always like autumn. Pretty colors." he gave them a smile and Peeled off to catch up to Grant.


He had to let some distance pass between them, tailing a runner on a bike was more than a little difficult, but Roy couldn't lose him. It would be bad.

 

[Armphid]

Grant sighed as the falling down heap he was living in came into view. He slowed to a walk, not really concerned about being seen. The people in the neighborhood appreciated that he'd run the dealers out, so he felt as though he could trust them enough not to have to sneak in and out of the place.

He paused in front of it, staring at it for a melancholy moment. Coming home was such a downer. No matter how good things were, and considering who he had a date with, they were frickin' great, it always brought everything back to him. Orphaned, twice. Homeless. Hunted.

Oh well, best not to dwell on it. Shouldering the costume, he made his way into the rotting house. A quick change into his costume, the crime fighting one, and then hit the streets.

 

[chronicle_tenko]

Roy.

Grant sighed as the falling down heap he was living in came into view. He slowed to a walk, not really concerned about being seen. The people in the neighborhood appreciated that he'd run the dealers out, so he felt as though he could trust them enough not to have to sneak in and out of the place.

He paused in front of it, staring at it for a melancholy moment. Coming home was such a downer. No matter how good things were, and considering who he had a date with, they were frickin' great, it always brought everything back to him. Orphaned, twice. Homeless. Hunted.

Oh well, best not to dwell on it. Shouldering the costume, he made his way into the rotting house. A quick change into his costume, the crime fighting one, and then hit the streets.

Grant had turned off, into a broken down delapidated house. Roy was not sure what it used to be. But now it was a husk. Some support beams and a few rotting boards. this thing barely had a second floor over it let alone a roof. he gave grant some privacy to change he obviously wanted it as he ducked away and behind one of the few remaining corners. Roy almost felt bad for him. he did actually. If this guy was going to be competition it may as well be fair. But first, business was business, and he had to make at least a show of capturing this guy.

Roy walked the bike out and looked over the last bit of costume coming into place. He took careful aim and let a bolt sink just over Grant's shoulder.

"Listen buddy I know times are tough, and it really looks like you're down on your luck but we got to have a talk. You and me. So we can do this the easy way...

Roy nocked another bolt carefully and slowly, taking special aim not to hurt grant if by some freak occurence it misfired. "Or the hard way. But either way you're coming with me."

 

[Armphid]

Roy walked the bike out and looked over the last bit of costume coming into place. He took careful aim and let a bolt sink just over Grant's shoulder.

"Listen buddy I know times are tough, and it really looks like you're down on your luck but we got to have a talk. You and me. So we can do this the easy way...

Roy nocked another bolt carefully and slowly, "Or the hard way. But either way you're coming with me."

Grant whipped around as the crimson bolt sank deep into the rotting drywall near his shoulder. There was a guy standing next to a sweet-looking motorcycle, all decked out in red and black. The holsters for several weapons hung on his body, and a pair of shades hid his eyes. Something about his voice was familiar, but he pushed it aside as the man's words struck him. Another hunter.

Grant's hands balled into fists, and blue white power began to hum about them. "I'm sick of you guys coming after me." "I thought I'd lost all of you in Virginia." Damn it! Everything here had just started to look up. How could he leave and start over again? No, not this time. No more running.

"You should've just left me alone this time." "All you're going to get from me...is the reason I'm called Damage." Grant shot forward in a burst of speed, He swung a blazing fist that the man in red, flipped away from, the blow continuing on to shatter the lone decaying tree on the overgrown yard. "I'm tired of running." "No more." "No more!"

Anger like nothing he'd ever known was pumping through his viens. They weren't going to take his life away again! No one was going to get hurt this time, just them. The power was surging through him, he could feel it building faster, and faster, the rush of it mixing with his rage, burning and sweet at the same time. "Here's where you might want to run." With that he leaped at the man, swinging both hands over his head to deliver a crushing ax handle strike.

 

[chronicle_tenko]

"Here's where you might want to run."

Roy looked up at the man threatening to crush his skull with an improvised wrestling move. Now normally the Kirk maneuver was a great way to break your fingers on some guys skull, but considering the state of the tree behind him Roy did not want to take that chance.

"Ok rule one I learned. Don't run from your problems Meet them head on." Roy Spun off to the side to avoid the much faster incoming Grant and turned to piut his elbow into the back of his head. And regretted it instantly. "Thick skull there Grant. Can see why you think knocking over escalades may be a good idea."

Grant grabbed Roy easily as Roy shot the bolt in his Pistol bow through the fabric of grant's costume. Moments later Roy was being hurled bodily towards the decaying structure.

"Y'know in the cartoons that always traps them against a wall or something. it always woorks in the cartoons." Roy grumbled to himself as he calmly nocked a different bolt and fired A wire leading and letting him slow down some. He released the thread so he could land and bounce safely off one of the columns. Grant ran at him Incredibly fast now, and Roy calmly nocked a new bolt turning and waiting for his perfect moment to fire.

"This whole charge in thing not always to bright sides I just want to talk." Roy fired the bolt hitting and sticking harmlessly to Grant's chest. Roy thumbed the detonator as grant leaped up leaving the ground and thusly hius traction behind.

BOOM!

The mini concussion grenade on the sticky head blew. Sending grant flying backwards to another Decrepit wall. And through it. "Huh y'know champ here we're gonna cause too much collateral. You wanna find out or you wanna finish this. Catch me Loser." roy sped off Looking for Grant behind him. he'd keep the throttle down But no way was he gonna let that boy get another hand on him. No way.

 

[Armphid]

"Huh y'know champ here we're gonna cause too much collateral. You wanna find out or you wanna finish this. Catch me Loser."

Grant rose from the rubble of the wall, his face a mask of fury. This asshole attacked him, then just took off? Like hell. Grant leaped into the road, the pavement cracking as he landed hard, his eyes fixed on the fleeing motorcycle. "You better run!" Not the best line ever, but he was just too mad to think straight. The rush of his anger, and of his building power were too much.

He might be able to catch him through straight-out speed. But...he was enough of a geek to see another strategy. "He is brilliant, but his tactics suggest 2-dimensional thinking."

Grant dashed forward, long enough for the red-clad attacker to see him barreling behind. As soon as the man turned back to watch where he was going, Grant took a short running hop, landed, gathering his legs under him, and leaped with all his might. He touched down atop a corner store, not stopping for a moment as he bounded to yet another building. They were well out of the neighborhood now, heading to the old closed mill. Perfect. A place to cut loose and not worry about anyone. Grant jumped again, this time he pivoted as he landed, changing direction.

As the bike turned a corner, Grant landed in the street about 30 feet ahead of it. The road broke under the force of his landing, small chunks of asphalt flying into the air. Grant brought one blazing fist down on the road, sending a shockwave of torn surface rippling toward Arsenal.

 

[showdolly]

Di followed Robin as he ran, and watched in awe as the metal-man saved the woman and made the
burglar return the purse to her. The thief ran away, holding his ribs and stumbling, and the
woman simply thanked the huge, red hero and walked away. Dick called out to him, suggesting that
this new hero in town look up "Robin" sometime soon, and Di chimed in as well.

"Yeah, I heard that they're looking for new teammembers and forming a group here in town to help
stave off crime. Seems you'd be a great fit for that. Word on the street is that the group will
be around the old newspaper place, late this afternoon. Not sure what's up with that, the tower's
all torn to pieces, but they may just be meeting there or something because I'm pretty sure that
they'll work tonight's party as always. But, yeah, in a few hours I think they're all supposed
to be at that tower with some new recruits for heros and such. You should go! You're all strong,
and hero-like, and cute, too, so I'd bet you'll fit right in...."
Di stammered when Mina nudged her with her elbow, remembering that she was, ahem, 'taken' these
days. Yeah, she guessed that what she'd just said was outright flirting, and in front of her...
well, her girlfriend? How mean! So, Di turned and kissed Mina, deeply and hotly at first, and
immediately melting into a shier version of the same kiss, now keenly aware that this was their
first with an audience... Di's own friends. Ooops. But, she HAD screwed up just then and owed the
girl an apology, right? She backed away, quickly glancing at Dick as she knew; he surely now
realized the answer to his previous question, what they'd "done" for Di's powers to transfer to
the new girl. She glanced to Ashton, more ashamed in front of him than the others, because he'd
been her best friend for the longest time. Yes, well, he'd waited too long, and if he was upset
because of it then it was his own problem!! She quickly glanced around at the others, then
stared at the ground, standing there quietly as she held Mina's hand.

She didn't know when, or where, but surely the questions would come soon, and she'd have to tell
them. Tell them all what was happening, that she and Mina were... an item now. And she still
had to find a way to invite a male to play with her. But, maybe it would be easier to invite a
guy to play with the TWO of them. Hell, maybe even the THREE of them... but Mina didn't know that
part yet. That should be fun.... After all, Indigo was simply a reflection of Di's own will,
operated by Di's own mind, and not her own person. The two of them were simply two bodies with
one brain, an extra set of hands, feet, and everything else, if you will. Yes, that would be fun
to share with Mina, when the time was right....

 

[Remec]

Gar had been around costumed and uncostumed superheroes practically since grade school. Or, what would have been since grade school if he'd ever been allowed to attend a public school. So he'd almost forgotten that the general public was usually unaware of who everyone else around him might be.

When they all sped across the park towards the disturbance, he had a glimmer in his mind of what would the others do if it was something or someone that really required their hero identities and not just Dick and Ashton and Di and so on. But the latest hero on the scene had things well in hand, and Gar just sort of cooled his heels--well, his paws, since he was currently a cheetah.

He added an echoing voice to what Dick had said, just part of the undercurrent, like listening to extras on a movie set murmuring 'rhubarb'. But then Di suddenly began rambling and Gar thought she might expose everything until the new girl gave her a jab. And then they started kissing.

"Dayum!!" Gar exclaimed as he shifted to timber wolf and let out a low appreciative whistle. His eyes had widened, and he was panting--as canines do--and shook his head slightly. "As if I needed more fantasies to dream about," he added partially under his breath.

 

[Gapperjack]

"THIS AFTERNOON. THE OLD NEWSPAPER PREMISES..." The steel-touched voice came from an array of sound emitters in Vulcan's chest, safely protected by several layers of interlaced wire mesh. "THE TEEN TITANS."

These were the only words he said before he was gone, running and leaping huge distances, away from the park. Vulcan stopped when he found a sheltered loading area that wasn't overlooked by any windows and was impossible to see from the street. He turned and scanned the surrounding area carefully for anyone who might be watching. He wasn't going to let his human identity be revealed as easily as the football captain had revealed the identities of the Teen Titans.

He let the change take place, metal and electronics absorbed into skin in moments, and where only minutes before there had been a powerful looking crimson robotic hero, now there was that hero's hunched over human antithesis; weedy, dorky, Rupert Stele.

'It's getting worse,' he thought. 'More painful...' Then a different thought washed all worry from his mind as his mind returned to its usual chaotic mix of thoughts. 'They asked me to join. The Titans... no, Robin himself... and Violet had called him cute...' He stopped, misery clouding his thoughts. 'No, they didn't ask me to join. They asked Vulcan... strong, powerful... completely unlike me, Vulcan.'

He stood and began to walk home. There was enough time to quickly leave his parents a note.

Meeting some friends this afternoon, catch you later.

Rupert​

​

Such a lie. His mother would be so pleased when she read he'd made some friends.

 

[Mephistophelily]

Raven shot a glare to Gar that would have sent fire if she could...
"DOWN boy," She growled, grabbing the scruff of his now-wolf form. "Keep staring like that and your eyes will fall out," she added with a hiss.
By the time she looked back up, the guy was gone. He knew who they were- but they had no idea who he was. She closed her eyes, trying to find him again, trying to use the feel of that incredible pain she had felt before to find him... but it was gone.
"He's vanished." She frowned. "Hopefully he takes your offer, Dick...."

 

[Remec]

Gar gave a little yipe at being grabbed so suddenly and roughly, but calmed down and all but rolled over to let Raven alpha him. He looked very contrite; but then a hint if a smirk came across his face and image of Raven and Starfire imitating Di and Mina flashed through his mind. Mmmm

But Gar stayed silent, sitting at Raven's feet in the shape of a larger breed of wolf.

 

[FenixZero]

OOC: Not interrupting the Damage/Arsenal fight...just hadn't said anything in a while

Superboy floated in mid air a few feet behind the rest of the group. Some big metal dude taking down a purse snatcher? Not all that remarkable. Hell, Steel used to do that all the time back home in Metropolis and he had a big ass hammer.

Besides the opportunity to observe some of the girls from behind was always a nice thing. Conner grinned a bit.

Someone wasn't paying attention when they gave me x-ray vision He chuckled to himself. It was almost too easy.

A sudden boom from off in the distance caught his attention. It was loud to his super-hearing, almost like it was right next to him. Something had hit the ground really, really, really hard. Like metahuman hard.

"Hey, you dudes hear something?" He asked, turning his head in the direction of the sound.

 

[chronicle_tenko]

Roy

Grant rose from the rubble of the wall, his face a mask of fury. This asshole attacked him, then just took off? Like hell. Grant leaped into the road, the pavement cracking as he landed hard, his eyes fixed on the fleeing motorcycle. "You better run!" Not the best line ever, but he was just too mad to think straight. The rush of his anger, and of his building power were too much.

He might be able to catch him through straight-out speed. But...he was enough of a geek to see another strategy. "He is brilliant, but his tactics suggest 2-dimensional thinking."

Grant dashed forward, long enough for the red-clad attacker to see him barreling behind. As soon as the man turned back to watch where he was going, Grant took a short running hop, landed, gathering his legs under him, and leaped with all his might. He touched down atop a corner store, not stopping for a moment as he bounded to yet another building. They were well out of the neighborhood now, heading to the old closed mill. Perfect. A place to cut loose and not worry about anyone. Grant jumped again, this time he pivoted as he landed, changing direction.

As the bike turned a corner, Grant landed in the street about 30 feet ahead of it. The road broke under the force of his landing, small chunks of asphalt flying into the air. Grant brought one blazing fist down on the road, sending a shockwave of torn surface rippling toward Arsenal.

Roy lost him a second, as Grant Jumped. Roy's eyes trying to follow the rratic course of movement and keep a bead while still keeping an eye On the Road. In a second he was glad he did. grant appeared Only about 30 feet in front of him and slammed the ground hard. pavement rippling and Moving towards him. At that moment Roy slapped the Pistol with the safety on to his side and thought, [Well this is gonna take some work].

In the two thirds of a second before the Pulse hit and Roy's bike sped up the rising wave, Roy Was almost grateful for how heavy the Bike was and more so that he had had the frame reinforced. For once the massive weight of the bike was going to come in handy. Roy Lifted grunting with the strain and Popped the front wheel into a wheelie While he leaned and hit the emergency brake. This caused the tires to stop spinning almost instantly and the rough terrain scraped as the bike Instead of stopping as Roy would have had it jumped up the pavement like a ramp. "Eh whatever works" Roy threw his weight to the side More, gunning the engine to let it have momentum when it landed while it flew sideways towards Grant. It was uncanny the amount of aim it seemed to have. The bike fell rapidly and with all five hundred pounds struck Grant in the chest Knocking him down. As the bike flew over head and took Grant, Roy fully in mode began to speak to jazz him up more.

"So neat name. Damage." *CRUCH* "That applies only to collateral it seems. You ever thought, hero, that maybe the taxpayers don't want to pay for new roads. Cause I can guarantee that this will not be an easy sell to the suits."

Roy maybe thought now might be a good time to stop the wisecracks as his bike Drifted skidding and he could not pick it up. His head was getting dangerously close to some pavement so he figured it may be a good time to bail.

"Huh well that could have worked out better." Roy looked over getting up at about the same time as Damage (that name was starting to get to him) and had thoughts of what he could do to Roy made Roy think he should end this soon, and searching for a way to stop the guy. Well he'd seen him jump But that was likely the limit running. Hmm. He had a way.

Roy started running for the old mill and the construction around it for reno's he had a plan.

 

[Armphid]

Grant stopped the bike with one hand, squeezing it. The metal shrieked and protested as it was bent and twisted in his grip. "What do you care about these people?" "Your pals didn't when they murdered my foster parents, or destroyed my home!" He lifted the bike, throwing it at the fleeing man. The man leaped over it, the warped metal spinning through the air to smash open the gate to the old mill.

He raced after the hunter, but as soon as he got inside he lost him. Grant slowly moved into the mill lot. Lots of places to hide here. Needle in a haystack time. "What is it about me that you guys want?" "I've been chased through 8 states, and never gotten any answers." "Tell me why all this is happening!" "If you do, maybe...maybe I'll think about going with you."

He took a few more steps in, trying to listen for movement. "Otherwise, you don't have the power to bring me down."

 

[chronicle_tenko]

Roy.

"What is it about me that you guys want?" "I've been chased through 8 states, and never gotten any answers." "Tell me why all this is happening!" "If you do, maybe...maybe I'll think about going with you."

He took a few more steps in, trying to listen for movement. "Otherwise, you don't have the power to bring me down."

Roy debated telling him and getting him calmed down for a bit. But would he listen. Not really. He looked pissed enough to chew nails, and at the current ate of power shown; He likely could. Only one thing was really sure though. With the bike down and Roy unable to get to other arrows. He really didn't have enough Raw firepower to bring him down. At least not without possibly injuring dozens who may be near by and himself in the process and causing tons of damage to the place. And fittingly that was the other guy's name. Ironically Arsenal was without one.

Still he had time and a plan. All he really had to do was egg Damage to that new well they were digging and get him in. Lots of ways to do it but Roy needed something pretty sure fire. Aiming around he sent a few wire arrows Out , Letting them anchor to the Mill. Sure they'd be noticed sooner or later but one advantage of having a bow. Silent.

Roy had it all tied. Each thread needed a link though. Something to tie them together and make a strong enough tripline. Roy thought he had it. Just needed Grant to charge in. He walked right out in the open near the Now trapped well shaft and spiked a bolt into the ground. Spying him he waved and began to open his damn fool mouth.

"Hey. Collateral. You wanna know who I am? I'm a cop, you met me already. Now I don't know what you're going on about, but I can tell you one thing. The only reason Donna is with you, is because she couldn't be with me then."

Roy figured that would be the perfect catalyst for Grant to charge, And with a heavy yell from Damage, Roy guessed he was right. Grant charged in Not seeming to care. Only wanting to tear Roy's head off. Grant leaped and Roy took careful aim firing and missing the bolt having a heavy seeming head. It spun and hit one of the first strings clanging back and folding, Beginning to pull taut over the the others as Grant fell towards his momentum coming down and his arms ready to crush Roy. Roy grinned pointing up for that brief moment, as each cord began to entwine creating a barrier like a clothesline. Grant sailed on Watching the threads entwine and threw his arms up to to keep himself from injury but still hit and flipped forward dropping to the earth heavily. A deadweight . Grant spun once and fell to the ground landing just in front of Roy near the edge of the well. Grant snarled as Roy waved one more time, thumbing a small button on the side of his pistol bow. Roy walked away from the Small muted explosion that sent grant and alomst a ton of dirt falling the 120 feet down the fresh well shaft. Down at the bottom and with awesome acoustics, Roy tossed a walkie-talkie down the shaft to Grant, Who he could just see. With a flashlight recovered from discarded tools. Roy felt very lucky the boy had been caught in the lanslide but had not been buried in it. his head was free anyway. He'd likely be able to dig himself out. But jump would be impossible.

"So. Big, strong, and breaking the law in my district. Want to talk to the friendly cop about why you've been knocking over Escalades and not reading people there Miranda rights?" Roy paused while he let that fact absorb in. "Cause I can just leave you down there. But from your continued aggression and fear of the costume, one assumes that you have some people chasing you for whatever reason." Roy also let this one tidbit Sink in. "And maybe leaving you trapped in a bunch of dirt is not the greatest thing in the world for you. So talk to me and maybe I can help you get away from these hunters or whoever. Killed your parents certainly sounds like something you'd go to the police about." Roy paused for one more moment, Sure that Grant could hear him regardless of the Walkie-talkie "So I can see you have that Squawk-box. You gonna talk to me or do I have to call for back-up?"

 

[Armphid]

"So. Big, strong, and breaking the law in my district. Want to talk to the friendly cop about why you've been knocking over Escalades and not reading people there Miranda rights?" Roy paused while he let that fact absorb in. "Cause I can just leave you down there. But from your continued aggression and fear of the costume, one assumes that you have some people chasing you for whatever reason." Roy also let this one tidbit Sink in. "And maybe leaving you trapped in a bunch of dirt is not the greatest thing in the world for you. So talk to me and maybe I can help you get away from these hunters or whoever. Killed your parents certainly sounds like something you'd go to the police about." Roy paused for one more moment, Sure that Grant could hear him regardless of the Walkie-talkie "So I can see you have that Squawk-box. You gonna talk to me or do I have to call for back-up?"

Grant pulled his arms free as the man talked. A cop? With an annoyed expression, he picked up the walkie-talkie. "If you're a cop, why didn't you show me your badge?" He wouldn't have attacked a cop. He wouldn't have gone with him, but he would have just run, not attacked. "Or do you pull a gun on everyone you come to talk to?" "I get it though...I've met guys like you before, thinking your shit doesn't stink." "You never make mistakes, do you, Harper?"

He was silent a moment, then thumbed the pad again, "I'll answer your questions in order." "One, I have powers, and I was using them to stop crime in the places and neighborhoods you cops don't give a shit about." "That corner store had been robbed five times last month, and you assholes never even sent a car." "I stopped the latest robbery, and I left the robbers tied up with their own bumper." "The street I live on?" "Your guys did crap about the dealers and the thugs in that area, I chased them off, so don't lay any of your law-abiding citizen crap on me." "Cops enforce the law when and where they want, I was doing it where you weren't."

"If you didn't properly Mirandize those guys, that's your problem." "A private citizen doesn't have to, a private citizen can gather evidence and make arrests without all that." "If you have a problem with me stopping dealers, you're on the take or an asshole."

He sighed, leaning his head back against the wall of the well. "Besides...when those guys blew up our house in Georgia and killed my foster parents, there wasn't a cop in sight." Maybe 'cause they'd been at the former high school, but still. "I've seen Serpico, I know how many honest cops there are." "You want to know my story?" "Fine, here's the Reader's Digest version." "I'm an orphan, raised by people who were apparantly raising my as their "job" and studying me in case I developed powers." "I did, fought a super-villain, my school blew up." "I got home from that to see my foster parents executed and get in a throwdown with the very well-equipped gunmen who did it, during which the house exploded." His voice almost broke and he stopped, turning his face away from the light that streamed down into the well. Grant didn't want this jerk to see any tears.

"After that, I ran." "I've been running ever since, stopping a day or two here and there, fighting hunters and the occasional meta-human mercenary." "When I got here...I thought maybe I could stop running, that I could have something close to a life." Guess he was wrong about that. "But you can imagine the vast resources a twice orphaned fugitive has." "So I started fighting crime here, and taking what I needed to live." 'if that bothers you...then you shove it, I've got a lot to deal with."

Grant was getting angry again, flickers of blue-white energy around his hands. "So that's the deal." "Do what you want, call whoever you want." "If youw ant to take me down, just try it." He clicked off the button, his next words spoken to himself in the darkness. "I honestly hope you can." "Then this'll finally be over." No one would miss him anyway. No parents, real or foster, no friends, no anything.

Donna...would she miss him? Probably. She was sweet and kind enough to care for someone as worthless as him. He thumbed the switch again, "So, it's your call, officer." "How does the story end?"

 

[chronicle_tenko]

Grant pulled his arms free as the man talked. A cop? With an annoyed expression, he picked up the walkie-talkie. "If you're a cop, why didn't you show me your badge?" He wouldn't have attacked a cop. He wouldn't have gone with him, but he would have just run, not attacked. "Or do you pull a gun on everyone you come to talk to?" "I get it though...I've met guys like you before, thinking your shit doesn't stink." "You never make mistakes, do you, Harper?"

He was silent a moment, then thumbed the pad again, "I'll answer your questions in order." "One, I have powers, and I was using them to stop crime in the places and neighborhoods you cops don't give a shit about." "That corner store had been robbed five times last month, and you assholes never even sent a car." "I stopped the latest robbery, and I left the robbers tied up with their own bumper." "The street I live on?" "Your guys did crap about the dealers and the thugs in that area, I chased them off, so don't lay any of your law-abiding citizen crap on me." "Cops enforce the law when and where they want, I was doing it where you weren't."

"If you didn't properly Mirandize those guys, that's your problem." "A private citizen doesn't have to, a private citizen can gather evidence and make arrests without all that." "If you have a problem with me stopping dealers, you're on the take or an asshole."

He sighed, leaning his head back against the wall of the well. "Besides...when those guys blew up our house in Georgia and killed my foster parents, there wasn't a cop in sight." Maybe 'cause they'd been at the former high school, but still. "I've seen Serpico, I know how many honest cops there are." "You want to know my story?" "Fine, here's the Reader's Digest version." "I'm an orphan, raised by people who were apparantly raising my as their "job" and studying me in case I developed powers." "I did, fought a super-villain, my school blew up." "I got home from that to see my foster parents executed and get in a throwdown with the very well-equipped gunmen who did it, during which the house exploded." His voice almost broke and he stopped, turning his face away from the light that streamed down into the well. Grant didn't want this jerk to see any tears.

"After that, I ran." "I've been running ever since, stopping a day or two here and there, fighting hunters and the occasional meta-human mercenary." "When I got here...I thought maybe I could stop running, that I could have something close to a life." Guess he was wrong about that. "But you can imagine the vast resources a twice orphaned fugitive has." "So I started fighting crime here, and taking what I needed to live." 'if that bothers you...then you shove it, I've got a lot to deal with."

Grant was getting angry again, flickers of blue-white energy around his hands. "So that's the deal." "Do what you want, call whoever you want." "If youw ant to take me down, just try it." He clicked off the button, his next words spoken to himself in the darkness. "I honestly hope you can." "Then this'll finally be over." No one would miss him anyway. No parents, real or foster, no friends, no anything.

Donna...would she miss him? Probably. She was sweet and kind enough to care for someone as worthless as him. He thumbed the switch again, "So, it's your call, officer." "How does the story end?"

Roy thought about the kids words, hearing the squawk on the talkie. "Odd you'd mention Serpico. I have been thinking about that a bit. I'm still pretty young. And he tried his whole life to get that gold star the honest route. they just gave me this. I think to bring you in."

Roy flipped up the new gold star he had gotten, and with Expert aim dropped it and the flashlight down. "See. Cop. I was just beat till a bit ago. then you started hitting guys who are giving some of the other's takes. I can't prove that, But we got good cops. guys who aren't on the take. I don't know how long that'll be. Some guy just gave me that star and told me to catch you. Showed me some girl's body. Not you Some other musclehead named Bane Jr."

Roy gritted his teeth. Grant still silent. "Listen. I know how many times Ortiz has been hit. We don't send cars because it's a front for a drug shop, and numbers. We'd get shot in there. And I know how many dealers we let go. But Tricksy is an informer. Your neighbourhood is not my district and we wouldn't have the men to go in anyway. And now that you wiped Sweet momma H off those streets, I can guarantee that a whole new Coke trade is gonna pop up. i know I mkae mistakes. But I can't be perfect. I just fight what I can. And sometimes that means I let the smaller fish go so I can cook a bigger one." Roy shook his head. He just didn't know what to say. It wasn't like he had this planned. pcing he kept talking. He figured that at least grant would be courteous enough to let him finish.

"And a private citizen Can't make the arrests stick. other than the robbers we had to let each man go that night. And you don't think they have insurance. It's there. My problem with your STOPPING dealers is they're back on the streets by the end of the night." Roy was a little mad but he kept his mouth and temper down. He had been looking forward to busting Scatz Irvine. and the kid brought him in. True Scatz went right back out but it was something to give the kid credit for. "now I dpn't know what to say about your parents. Or the people who chase you. Or anything else. But I am gonna tell you something about this story. it isn't at an end. Tell yoiu the truth I'm gonna pull you up. There's a crane here I'm gonna get you out You give me back my badge, and help me carry my bike to an Aoutbody shop And we talk it out. You don't go to jail tonight because really I just came to talk in the first place. The arrow I don't have to miss I jsut wanted to get your attention. So what do you say? I pull you up. Or you go down in a blaze of glory cowboy?"

Roy walked over to the crane and Sat in the seat. Easily ready to start it. he'd worked a summer in construction once. He thought he still remembered how it worked.