Veiled Malice

Trust him, Sean said. I trust you about as far as I can throw you, Ren thought. Of course, fully armored up, that was quite a ways, but that was besides the point. He'd been contacted by Icarus, Ren was sure of it. That meant he might be the only way to get out of here. Then he commented on his relationship with Lynn and all thoughts about anything else flew out the window. God, had it really been just a couple hours since they'd met? How did they actually fit in with each other? All that had happened had gone by so fast, he had no time to think about it. Fortunately, he was saved from doing that by Sean's suggestion of going back inside for dinner. Maybe while he was simulating the necessity of eating, Ren could give it some thought.

Trust him, Sean said. I trust you about as far as I can throw you, Ren thought. Of course, fully armored up, that was quite a ways, but that was besides the point. He'd been contacted by Icarus, Ren was sure of it. That meant he might be the only way to get out of here. Then he commented on his relationship with Lynn and all thoughts about anything else flew out the window. God, had it really been just a couple hours since they'd met? How did they actually fit in with each other? All that had happened had gone by so fast, he had no time to think about it. Fortunately, he was saved from doing that by Sean's suggestion of going back inside for dinner. Maybe while he was simulating the necessity of eating, Ren could give it some thought.

Trust him, Sean said. I trust you about as far as I can throw you, Ren thought. Of course, fully armored up, that was quite a ways, but that was besides the point. He'd been contacted by Icarus, Ren was sure of it. That meant he might be the only way to get out of here. Then he commented on his relationship with Lynn and all thoughts about anything else flew out the window. God, had it really been just a couple hours since they'd met? How did they actually fit in with each other? All that had happened had gone by so fast, he had no time to think about it. Fortunately, he was saved from doing that by Sean's suggestion of going back inside for dinner. Maybe while he was simulating the necessity of eating, Ren could give it some thought.

Okay, you have four HPs to do with what you want for this scenario. Nazis, rivals, and responsibility. I figured there was some overlap on the secret identity.

Okay, you have four HPs to do with what you want for this scenario. Nazis, rivals, and responsibility. I figured there was some overlap on the secret identity.

Okay, you have four HPs to do with what you want for this scenario. Nazis, rivals, and responsibility. I figured there was some overlap on the secret identity.

Approved here as well. You're all set to go.

Approved here as well. You're all set to go.

Approved here as well. You're all set to go.

"It is because of those who you protected before that I summon you now," the god rumbled, his voice sounding slightly more normal now. "Once, you were a great champion of man, the greatest of creatures. I entrusted you with all the power of a god, something no other mortal can claim. But you know all this." He walked down the steps of his throne, and the entire room seemed to tremble before his very footfalls. "You know well why I do not intercede on man's behalf, why I cannot. There are rules, even for those such as I. My directly aiding the people of your world would result in a catastrophe the likes of which even the greatest minds could bare stand to contemplate. This is why I needed a champion, a mortal conduit for my power." Atum-Ra stopped before Frederick, towering over the elderly man at a full eight feet in height. "Know that the gods are not blind to the tribulations of man," he said, raising one finger in gentle reprimand and to reassure Fred at at once. "And if I could, know also that my place would be beside your so-called 'superheroes'. But that can never be." At the end of his speech, Fred could almost hear... disappointment? in Atum-ra's voice. "My place is here, just as yours is there. Which is why I ask you, Frederick Fawcett, pick up the mantle you cast aside. Become that which you once would have given anything to be." He held up one hand to forestall any immediate answer. "But consider this offer carefully. Once struck, I will allow no further half-measures on your part. Your petty disillusionment with the affairs of your fellow man means nothing in the face of the needs of justice. What this means is that you will be endowed with the power of Captain Wonder until your dying day, as all mortals must. Setting your burden aside is not an option. I have given you nearly half the lifetime of one of your people to realize your mistake, Frederick Fawcett." His eyes flashed with a sudden burst of flame. "I will not be made to regret my choice of champion again." Atum-Ra turned and walked back to his throne before settling back into the massive stone chair. "Your answer, Frederick."

"It is because of those who you protected before that I summon you now," the god rumbled, his voice sounding slightly more normal now. "Once, you were a great champion of man, the greatest of creatures. I entrusted you with all the power of a god, something no other mortal can claim. But you know all this." He walked down the steps of his throne, and the entire room seemed to tremble before his very footfalls. "You know well why I do not intercede on man's behalf, why I cannot. There are rules, even for those such as I. My directly aiding the people of your world would result in a catastrophe the likes of which even the greatest minds could bare stand to contemplate. This is why I needed a champion, a mortal conduit for my power." Atum-Ra stopped before Frederick, towering over the elderly man at a full eight feet in height. "Know that the gods are not blind to the tribulations of man," he said, raising one finger in gentle reprimand and to reassure Fred at at once. "And if I could, know also that my place would be beside your so-called 'superheroes'. But that can never be." At the end of his speech, Fred could almost hear... disappointment? in Atum-ra's voice. "My place is here, just as yours is there. Which is why I ask you, Frederick Fawcett, pick up the mantle you cast aside. Become that which you once would have given anything to be." He held up one hand to forestall any immediate answer. "But consider this offer carefully. Once struck, I will allow no further half-measures on your part. Your petty disillusionment with the affairs of your fellow man means nothing in the face of the needs of justice. What this means is that you will be endowed with the power of Captain Wonder until your dying day, as all mortals must. Setting your burden aside is not an option. I have given you nearly half the lifetime of one of your people to realize your mistake, Frederick Fawcett." His eyes flashed with a sudden burst of flame. "I will not be made to regret my choice of champion again." Atum-Ra turned and walked back to his throne before settling back into the massive stone chair. "Your answer, Frederick."

"It is because of those who you protected before that I summon you now," the god rumbled, his voice sounding slightly more normal now. "Once, you were a great champion of man, the greatest of creatures. I entrusted you with all the power of a god, something no other mortal can claim. But you know all this." He walked down the steps of his throne, and the entire room seemed to tremble before his very footfalls. "You know well why I do not intercede on man's behalf, why I cannot. There are rules, even for those such as I. My directly aiding the people of your world would result in a catastrophe the likes of which even the greatest minds could bare stand to contemplate. This is why I needed a champion, a mortal conduit for my power." Atum-Ra stopped before Frederick, towering over the elderly man at a full eight feet in height. "Know that the gods are not blind to the tribulations of man," he said, raising one finger in gentle reprimand and to reassure Fred at at once. "And if I could, know also that my place would be beside your so-called 'superheroes'. But that can never be." At the end of his speech, Fred could almost hear... disappointment? in Atum-ra's voice. "My place is here, just as yours is there. Which is why I ask you, Frederick Fawcett, pick up the mantle you cast aside. Become that which you once would have given anything to be." He held up one hand to forestall any immediate answer. "But consider this offer carefully. Once struck, I will allow no further half-measures on your part. Your petty disillusionment with the affairs of your fellow man means nothing in the face of the needs of justice. What this means is that you will be endowed with the power of Captain Wonder until your dying day, as all mortals must. Setting your burden aside is not an option. I have given you nearly half the lifetime of one of your people to realize your mistake, Frederick Fawcett." His eyes flashed with a sudden burst of flame. "I will not be made to regret my choice of champion again." Atum-Ra turned and walked back to his throne before settling back into the massive stone chair. "Your answer, Frederick."

It's up to shazam. This is his story mainly, but if wants someone else to drop by, that's fine with me.

It's up to shazam. This is his story mainly, but if wants someone else to drop by, that's fine with me.

It's up to shazam. This is his story mainly, but if wants someone else to drop by, that's fine with me.

This should have been brought up before, but you have two Hero Points to work with now. One base, and one for the complication of your secret identity.

This should have been brought up before, but you have two Hero Points to work with now. One base, and one for the complication of your secret identity.

This should have been brought up before, but you have two Hero Points to work with now. One base, and one for the complication of your secret identity.

The marble did it's work as intended. A hissing pop sounded the death knell for the front left tire of the van. Now the men had no way to escape that Velocity knew. The two shuffled outside a few moments later, the boss still holding a gun to Denton's head. The high school student seemed unresponsive and had to be held up by his captor. Once they saw what Velocity had done, the unencumbered man yelled, "You *&^%$!" and fired at her, missing handly. "You idiot!" the other man said, and finally shifted his gun away from Denton's temple to point it at Velocity. If she wanted to get the gun away from him, it was now or never.

The marble did it's work as intended. A hissing pop sounded the death knell for the front left tire of the van. Now the men had no way to escape that Velocity knew. The two shuffled outside a few moments later, the boss still holding a gun to Denton's head. The high school student seemed unresponsive and had to be held up by his captor. Once they saw what Velocity had done, the unencumbered man yelled, "You *&^%$!" and fired at her, missing handly. "You idiot!" the other man said, and finally shifted his gun away from Denton's temple to point it at Velocity. If she wanted to get the gun away from him, it was now or never.

The marble did it's work as intended. A hissing pop sounded the death knell for the front left tire of the van. Now the men had no way to escape that Velocity knew. The two shuffled outside a few moments later, the boss still holding a gun to Denton's head. The high school student seemed unresponsive and had to be held up by his captor. Once they saw what Velocity had done, the unencumbered man yelled, "You *&^%$!" and fired at her, missing handly. "You idiot!" the other man said, and finally shifted his gun away from Denton's temple to point it at Velocity. If she wanted to get the gun away from him, it was now or never.

Okay! That's a big ol' post done. I know I skipped over a bunch of time you could have acted, but it was mostly setting the scene for the entrance of Captain Wonder. Hope you're okay with it.

Okay! That's a big ol' post done. I know I skipped over a bunch of time you could have acted, but it was mostly setting the scene for the entrance of Captain Wonder. Hope you're okay with it.

Okay! That's a big ol' post done. I know I skipped over a bunch of time you could have acted, but it was mostly setting the scene for the entrance of Captain Wonder. Hope you're okay with it.

Before long, the buzzing became a dull humming. The air seemed to become heavier somehow, like some great force was incoming. Most of the people in Riverside Park apparently didn't notice, but despite his advanced years, or perhaps because of them, Fred did. Soon, the hum gave way to a keening sound, like a mass of metal hurtling through the air at great speed. Now the people of the area had taken notice, but Fred had seen what was coming long before they had. An aerodyne, similar to the ones seen during the Terminus Invasion, was cutting towards land from across the river, leaving great streams of water in it's wake. Plumes of smoke poured liberally from rents in it's armor in places, and it appeared that it was having difficulty just maintaining barely a meter between it and a disastrous splashdown. An open top allowed it's occupants space to fire hand held energy weapons from out of the back, lighting up the area around with strobes of killing light. The reason for the aerodyne's distress became evident then. Two flying forms followed after the craft, firing energy weapons of their own at the vehicle. It was still too far away, but Fred could swear they were shooting without the benefit of guns, normally a prerequisite for shooting much of anything. By now, everyone had seen what was coming, and the people's reactions ranged from awed silence to cheers and whoops. But when a bolt struck the nose of the aerodyne, and the craft veered directly towards the peninsula, those same voices of joy turned to cries of terror. The gathering crowd dispersed violently, people nearly running over each other to get away from the incoming armored vehicle. The crash when several tons of metal met the ground was nearly a physical force, even from were Fred stood, transfixed by the awesome power of it. Thick, choking clouds of dirt flew into the air, casting the entire area into darkness. All Fred could hear was people crying out for their loved ones, calling out their pain and fear, and the crunching of the massive machine as it finally settled into it's final resting place. For what seemed like an hour, but was probably only minutes, Fred was lost to darkness, his only companion the moans of those around him. The dust parted after a time, revealing that the craft had come to a halt barely more than fifty feet away. People lay strewn about, but thankfully, their wounds appeared shallow and far between. A few people moved among the wounded, trying to help those they didn't even know, which buoyed Fred's spirits. Then a voice, high and commanding, rang out: "You guys all done in there? Or do you need some more convincing?" Fred looked up and saw the two people he'd seen chase the aerodyne in floating above the scene. One was black, dressed in street clothes from what he could see, with a black mask covering the top part of his head. He was barely more than a kid! The other, the one who'd spoken, was in similar clothes, but had a large M emblazoned on his chest. His hair was glowing blue, the same color as his eyes. He spoke again: "You SHADOW guys better give up now! I don't wanna have to come in there!" Silence for a moment... then the energy beams began flying anew. Black suited troops, clearly identifiable as SHADOW, began steaming out of the cracked aerodyne like ants, firing wildly at the metahumans overhead. And to Fred's horror, they were firing back, seemingly unaware or uncaring of the fact that the neo-Nazis were among innocent civilians as they fled. Explosions ripped through the park, following along with the fleeing black-cloaked figures. It was madness. Suddenly, the scene Fred knew was gone, replaced with an ethereal throne surrounded by marble figures of heroes and heroines long since gone. Anyone else would think they were dead, but Fred knew exactly were he was. A figure lifted itself from the throne, rising on massive legs to reveal the same African man that had offered him power so long ago. Years gone by meant nothing to the god of Egypt, so he appeared just as he had the first time Fred had seen him. He raised one wizened, but ultimately powerful arm, and pointed it directly at him. "Frederick Fawcett," he boomed, though his voice never rose above a murmur, "You have been summoned."