ic Back Alley Brawl

[Spacefurry]

Chimera

 

Chimera was the last through the double metal doors coming up short beside Outrider. Her head turned quickly as she took everything in, then settled on the figure standing on the central platform. When he spoke, she felt a chill run down her back. But it was the man’s callous demeanor, and disregard for others that just pushed her buttons. The air growing charged with tension as angers began to flare, her own joining her comrades’ as they each set their feet to stand against his monster.

“You’re a monster.” She called back. “I don’t care who you think you are. We aren’t going to let you get away with this, you, you…” Chimera tried t find the right word, but gave up and called him the first thing that came to her. “You,  Creep… show…”

Internally she facepalmed. “Wow, that was lame.” She thought to herself as she raised her hands, ready to fight.

Edited August 19, 2021 by Spacefurry

[Spacefurry]

GM

 

Brute looks between his new ‘friends’ as they attempt to keep him from his master’s sway. Looking back up at the masked man Brute sounds fearful as he speaks, but hesitates. “Ma-MaSTer, pLEaSe…”

 

The man stood, seemingly unmoved by the words and threats of the young heroes. There was a long moment of silence from him before he seemed to react. His body jerked once… then again… then a laugh, high and trill, escaped from behind the blank mask. “Such liveliness. The youth are a precious resource.” The laughter passes, but everyone can hear the amusement in his voice as the eye slits focus on Chimera for a moment.

 

“Creepshow?” He chuckles. “I dare say that is the first time I have been offered that particular moniker.”

The masked face sweeps over the gathered group again and he gives a weary sigh. “Well then, since you claim no medical maledictions. Perhaps you’d like to meet some of my current patients. Don’t worry, visiting hours are open late.”

 

A sweep of his hand towards the collection of cells is punctuated by the echo of a breaker being disengaged, the high-pitched whine of gas valves being closed and locks opening. A large cat like creature can be seen hopping off a counsel and disappearing behind medical equipment. The sounds of moans and rustling begin to grow and stir. From the direction of the cells, the moans change. One growing higher becoming a feral cry and another dropping into a fearful cry of despair and pain.

 

A young woman leaps on top of the cage that a moment ago held her. Her eyes wild and frantic. Red stains are smeared over her from the lower half of her face down her neck and covering her medical gown. More staining covers her from the fore arms down to the tips of wicked looking claws that should belong on human hands. In one hand hangs the remains of a large rodent.

 

Behind her a bald young man shambles into view, still hugging himself and shivering as steam rolls off him. W a look of terror and desperate hope fills his eyes as he sees the young heroes. His pale freezing skin filling with color as he reaches out towards them.

 

A third figure stumbles over a rolling tray, knocking it aside as it reaches out blindly. Pulling itself up using a counter for support the group can see its face, or rather, a solid skin canvas even blanker then the Master’s mask where its face should be.

 

The wild woman regards the gathered do-gooders and turns her attention to the masked man and sneers a hateful hiss. A mouth of wicked teeth that are clear companions to her claws.

[Spacefurry]

Creepshow (GM)

 

The man behind the operating table draws himself up, spreading his hands wide. Under her touch, Shooting Star can feel Brute go rigid and tense. At the same moment the hissing wild woman stills and drops the remains she had been squeezing, the desperate man quiets his desperate cries and his arm drops to his side, and the faceless one stands up straighter.

The three ‘patients’ and Brute all seeming to fall under some kind of control as those with faces have their expressions drain to nothing. “Now, do be dears and see our new guests to their new homes.” He croons venomously.

The subjects all turn their attention to group and Brute’s empty gazes falls on Shooting Star beside him as his fists clench.

Edited September 1, 2021 by Spacefurry

[Lone_Star]

El gritted her teeth so much it hurt. This was exactly what she had wanted since moving to Freedom City: a chance to prove herself and stamp out some real injustice. This lab of horrors was the sort of place she knew her and her friends could genuinely make a difference. These monsters that Creepshow made - what he turned them into - needed to be rehabilitated and hopefully cured, but that wouldn't be possible without taking him out.

 

"You think you are helping these people. Your experiments are an abomination, and you should be locked away for the rest of your life for this. Unfortunately I can do no more than that, even though it is better than you deserve." She started to swing her hammer around, building up speed as she expertly twirled it between her two hands, bringing it to a blurring speed.

 

"However, we can give you a taste of what you so richly deserve! FEEL MY FURY!" She let go, hurling her grav-hammer in a straight line, directly at Creepshow!

[Kaede Kimura]

Shooting Star paused for a moment in horror as she watched the life drain from Brute's face before she steeled herself. This monster had to be stopped, and she had to trust that the others could stop them. Brute was too strong to be left unimpeded. She had played around with her powers enough to have a reasonable guess as to the source of her flight.

 

Gravity.

 

Taking a deep breath, she let her flight cease as she grabbed onto Brute, trying to force her power to help her with the grapple, enhancing her muscles with gravitic forces even as she tried to spread the remaining power over the area around them. It drew a strained grunt from her, but she felt her influence fold out and weigh further on her even as she grappled with Brute, her newly enhanced strength allowed her to hold on as the concrete cracked and the ground swallowed them up.

[Nerdzul]

Woah things escalated fast didn't they? Luke was about to turn toward the big guy, but was startled when both him and Shooting Star crashed through the floor. One down. For now at least. He wondered if even the other subjects were just victims of the mad scientist. But truth was, they didn't have the time for an heartfelt conversation. Not now at least, with their lives at stake. 

 

Besides the room was a perfect setup for his dragonfire wasn't it? The young man took a deep breath, as golden light begun to shine in his chest, raising quickly upward toward his neck. Finally, he exhaled a cone of golden flames, bathing the abominations in fire. 

 

Luke smirked, when he realized that only one of them managed to fully evade it.

[Spacefurry]

Chimera

 

Chimera tensed as the captives were released, their appearances made her want to recoil but she stood her ground. She was so focused on the three of them she only caught Outrider’s toss from the coner of her eye. Then the sound of the concrete breaking drew her attention in time to see Shooting Star and Brute disappear into a hole now in the floor.

“What the…?”

Nightscale’s flaming breath drowned out Chimera’s exclamation as his fire enveloped the trio. She flinched away from the heat but as it cleared, she could see only two of the subjects seemed to have suffered from it. Moving with incredible speed Chimera rushed the wild looking woman attempting to grab hold of her.

[Spacefurry]

GM

 

Subject A

The wild-looking woman struggled against Chimera as the hero grabbed her, wrapping her arms around the poor subject. At first it seemed like Chimera had a solid hold, but Subject A proved more unmanageable than anticipated as she managed to squirm free of the hero’s grasp only to turn around and try to bite her.

Revealing a mouth with not one, but multiple rows of teeth, the wild-looking woman latches on to Chimera’s shoulder, drawing rivels of blood. Luckily Chimera is able to struggle free before any real damage is done.

 

Subject B

Dazed by Nightscale’s flames the bald man stands covered in flames. But even as he starts to shake off the effects of the attack the flames don’t fade. In fact, they seem to grow a little more intense even as he moans louder.

 

Subject C

Also dazed by Nightscale’s attack, the faceless figure flailed uselessly. Several pieces of equipment being knocked to the floor as she shakes off the effects.

 

Brute

Brute shrugged off the rubble as he slowly rose to his full height, water and gravel running off him as he does. The light from above outlining a kind of circle of light on the ankle-deep water. Brute turns a blank stare on Shooting Star, his face in menacing highlights.

He clenches his fist and swings sluggishly at the heroine striking her solidly, but Shooting Star manages to tank the blow.

 

Creepshow

Outrider’s hammer flew true, but Creepshow managed to sidestep it. Just not far enough as the hammer clipped his shoulder. This caused him to stumble under the impact, forcing him to steady himself on the table as he shakes off the daze of her attack.

“How dare you.” He growled from behind the mask.

[Lone_Star]

Outrider

 

El growled as Creepshow dodged the attack, but she was relentless in her fury. Foam flew from her lips as she held out a hand to bring her hammer back. She caught it, and dashed up to him, pushing aside his awful creations to get to him.

 

Her voice, electronically distorted behind her helmet, turned into a low growl. El wasn't going to let up on this guy until he wasn't a threat to them anymore. "I said it once, and I'll say it again: FEEL MY FURY!" She brought her considerable strength to bear and she swung at Creepshow, and her hammer struck true!

 

 

[Kaede Kimura]

Alice winced as Brute's fist clanked off of her skull. He didn't quite get as good a hit as he had in the first fight, a fact she was glad of. On return, she leveraged her strength and gravitic power to squeeze down on Brute, feeling air get forced out of his lungs.

 

She glared up at him even as she felt herself sinking lower in the rubble that she too was shaking off. She could only hope that the others were doing well.

Edited September 21, 2021 by Kaede Kimura

[Nerdzul]

For a moment Luke wondered if those test subjects he was facing with dragonfire have themselves being innocent people one day, hopefully though, that was not the case and unfortunately there was little he could do about it, for now at least. 

 

What if they could deal with Creepshow though? Yeah, that might put an end to it. So the young man charged through the room, calling on his wings to propel him past the minions and on top of the masked maniac. It was a shame perhaps, but it was all for nothing as the dread doctor could easily move away from his path.

[Spacefurry]

Chimera

 

Chimera gritted her teeth as she eyed the wild looking woman. Subduing her didn’t seem like a viable option so she’d have to take her out the old fashion way. She let her eyes dart aside for an instant and saw the two teenagers where going after Creepshow. She mentally wished them luck as she turned her full attention back to her opponent and tensed.

Blood was drying as it ran down her chin and Chimera didn’t want to think about some of it being her’s. With a grunt she lunched forward and swung at the poor victim of the masked maniac, landing a solid blow to its midriff.

[Spacefurry]

GM

 

Subject A

 

Chimera’s blow caught the wild looking women in her gut, knocking her back a step. The woman doubled over and retched, blood splattering the floor. Small unidentifiable pieces of flesh and bone fragments mixed in the gore. Several new bloody rivulets dripping down her chin.

 

Subject B

 

Flames continued to ripple over the man. His pale flesh beginning to darken and crack as it did so. Still he made no move to extinguish himself.

Instead, he wiped his hand along his arms, gathering flames into his palms. Cupping them like one would to make a snowball a ball of fire took shape. With a moan, the burning man hurled the fiery projectile at Outrider’s back. His aim was wide though and a ball of gelatinous ooze splattered across the operating table, sending globules of burning goop in the direction of Creepshow and Nightscale.

 

Subject C

 

The faceless women lunges for Chimera, her hands grabbing for the hero, but missing. She stumbles past the the two combatants, reaching out for anyone blindly.

 

Brute

 

Shooting Star’s gravitational grip crushed down on the big man as she tried to drive them both further into the ground. The compacted concrete and earth didn’t give much, but it continued to hold the two of them securely. The blow rattled Brute and he tries to shake it off as he struggles against the hero’s power, grunting with the effort.

 

Creepshow

 

Outrider’s hammer slammed into the masked man’s chest and drove him back to the edge of the platform. He collapses to his knees catching his breath.

The sound of Nightscale’s incoming attack draws is attention long enough for him to throw himself aside. The movement also luckily saving him from the burning goo that landed on the floor where he had been a moment ago.

When Creepshow turns the blank mask back to Outrider a large crack has spidered up across its cheek. The madman wearing it glaring from behind the eye holes.

”You are making a serious mistake. I will see you on my table.”

He gave a wheezing growl.

”One way or another. All of you.”

[Lone_Star]

Outrider

 

She glared back at him, and walked towards him slowly, charging up her hammer. Her breath came in short bursts, and she was practically foaming at the mouth. This wouldn't happen to any more people, not on her watch.

 

"You're a coward, you know," she said, continuing to stride towards him, flicking the gravitic energy on and off. "One who can experiment on others without any regard for life, or morality. It's so very easy when its not you on the table, isn't it? But this is all over for you. You're going to jail for a long, long time. I wish there was more I was allowed to do, but that wouldn't be the kind of justice allowed in this world. So count yourself lucky. Nighty-night."

 

She leveled her hammer at him, and fired a powerful blast of gravitic energy - not nearly enough to kill him, but enough that he would definitely feel it when he woke up.
 

[Kaede Kimura]

Shooting Star

 

Alice grit her teeth and kept squeezing down on the Brute, her muscles starting to protest the continual tensing. Still, she wouldn't let go until either she, or Brute went down.

 

She hoped the others weren't having too much trouble. And if they were, hoped that Brute wouldn't take long before he went down.

[Nerdzul]

Some fiery substance washed upon his flesh. Luke tried to dodge, but he was just too slow. That stuff burned through his shirt easily and he only barely managed to shrug it off from his skin before the heat could overwhelm even his draconic hide.

 

He glared at the creature that had just attacked him, but the young man focus was still on Creepshow. After all, that thing was probably just one of the monster's experiments, perhaps even an innocent like the Brute that was now fighting with  Shooting Star below (who hopefully was winning? Luke would have to check on her). The real monster there was just the guy with the mask. 

 

"You are going down for this."  He charged again, catching the supervillain as he was still reeling from outrider's assault, his claws striking true this time. Luke gave the guy a satisfied grin.

 

"And stay down."

 

 

[Spacefurry]

Chimera 

 

Chimera didn’t even notice the the other subject as it lunges past her. Her attention was on the wild woman she was tangling with. She really needed to but an end to this fight. If she could just knock her out.

She drew back her fist to deliver a stunning blow she’d used times before. But this time as she drew back she felt her strength leave her muscles. In its place she felt a surge of power in her fist as electricity crackled around it. She was sure what was happening, but she drove her fist at her opponent again. Her blow landed solid but the electricity that rippled over the woman didn’t seem to effect her.

[Spacefurry]

GM

 

Subject A

The wild woman seemed to shake off the shock of from Chimera's attack. As if in response she howled and leapt on to the hero. Her mouth spread wide, revealing far too many sharp teeth. Teeth that she sank into Chimera shoulder, finding a vulnerable spot in her protection. The feral-like attacker sucking deeply the wound, draining her victim's vitality.

 

Blood covered her mouth and chin as it ran down her neck, fresh stains mixing with old as she suddenly shook her head. Looking in the direction of where Creepshow fell she let out a feral hiss as she backs away.
 

Subject B

The burning man moaned in agony as the flesh along his arms blacken and cracked further. The man stumbled under the pain, but was still under his master's orders. He gathered flames into his hands again and lobbed it at Outrider. The flames splattering against the hero's armor harmlessly.

 

A moment later the burning man seems to stagger. He looks down at himself and let’s out a wail of pain as he falls to his knees, patting at himself uselessly.

 

Subject C

As if drawn by her fellow subject's attack the faceless woman stumbles forward towards Outrider. She manages the stairs only barely and as she lunges at the armored hero she misses entirely.

She continues to stumble around blindly as the man cries out in pain.

 

Brute

Brute struggles against the gravitational force of Shooting Star's power. Unfortunately for the raging mass of muscle his tiny opponent's power is overwhelming.

 

After a moment more of struggling the large man stops. He stares up at the hole blankly before suddenly sagging like a puppet with its strings cut.

 

Creepshow

Creepshow laughed at Outrider's outrage before fixing the armored girl with a unflinching glare.

"You have no idea what I have done."

Outrider's hammer slammed into him with a thunderous rage. The force drove the villain to the edge of the platform, his arms reaching out uselessly. Even as he was reeling from one blow Nightscale leapt forward, the boy's ethereal claws leaving gashes through his shirt as he toppled over the edge.

Creepshow hit the floor below with an audible thud. Groaning as he rolled himself over with some effort. He said nothing, only laid there glaring up at the young heroes through the cracked mask.

Edited November 30, 2021 by Spacefurry

[Nerdzul]

"Looks to me that we kicked your ass..." Luke teased the supervilain as he fell down from his perch. Admittedly, they had been at least a little bit lucky, given the situation, in landing two ruinous hits in a row between himself and Outrider, but well... despite the horror around them the teenage dragon definitely felt at least a little bit proud of himself. 

"Everyone alright?" He surveyed the scene, to see if any of his companions needed any help, Chimera seemed like he taken a big hit, but at least she was still standing. "Need some help?" He tossed her way, not that he actually knew anything about first aid, but then again, maybe he could help her walk out of this place if things were going too rugh for her. 

 

He did not lower his guard though, just in case any of the creature still wanted to fight. Sure it seemed that now with their master down they might have lost that murderous rage, but one could never know right? Still perhaps he could try to calm them down any of them who still wanted to be an hassle with his power, the way he had done with the bru- Matt before.

 

Speaking of the big guy by the way... Where the hell was he? And Shooting Star? He did remember seeing her crashing through he floor. Time to go and take a look... 

 

"How is it going down there?" He tossed.

 

 

 

[Kaede Kimura]

Shooting Star

 

Alice heaved a sigh of relief as Brute stopped struggling in her arms, catching her breath and releasing her strange power stunt that she'd pulled, floating free of the concrete as she cradled the unconscious giant in her arms. She took several long moments to calm down as the thought of simply crushing his 'Master' does through her.

 

Nightscale's question shook her out of her reveree, and she floated up out of the hole with Matthew. "It went fine, I just find that holes are terribly comfortable. I think everyone will be living in them in the future." She wasn't as okay as she was presenting, and would probably spend the night in orbit trying to cry out her horror without disturbing anyone, but for now she had to be Shooting Star, the unflappable heroine. She was about to keep quipping when she spotted the burning man.

 

Thinking fast she put Matthew down as gently as she could manage, trying to think of how she could smother the flames. If it was her she'd just fly upwards to deprive the fire it oxygen but that would doubtless harm him. She needed something else, like how you could use sand to... With a spark of inspiration she stripped off her gloves, no sense in burning her costume. Handing them to Nightscale and rolling back her bodysuit's sleeves she picked up a chunk of concrete, crushing it into a powder, doing her best to avoid airborne particles. With a deep breath she reached into the fire, rubbing the powder onto his skin, hoping that it would put him out.

[Spacefurry]

Chimera

 

Chimera stubbles back from the wild looking woman. She leapt a defensive manner as she clenched a hand over the vicious bite. She felt drained and tired, fighting to stand up straight sunder her own weight.

Luckily she found her footing and taking the moment she felt a little less bruised and battered. The blood flow slowed as her body quickly reacted to the injury.

 

On 12/7/2021 at 3:04 PM, Nerdzul said:

"Everyone alright?" ... "Need some help?"

 

“I think I’ll manage.”

She replied with bit of a pant and a grateful nod towards Nightscale.

She was hurt and she wasn’t sure how long it would take to heal, but she could let her guard down now. The wild one was still dangerous.

Luckily Star rejoined them, carrying a limp Bru… Matthew? Thankfully she moved to help the burning man.

[Spacefurry]

GM

 

Outrider stood vigil over Creepshow as the others dealt with the remaining subjects. Her hammer ready to strike again, should the villain prove to be a further threat.

 

With the powdered stone Shooting Star manages to help start smother the flames. Unfortunately the man seems half crazies from the pain and he cries out and struggles against the hero’s efforts. She’ll need help to fully deal with the flames.

 

The faceless woman stumbles across the platform, nearly falling over the edge head first. Luckily, Outrider catches the movement out of the corner of her eye and manages to grab her by the back of the ragged shirt she is wearing.
The faceless one flails her arms backwards but only manages to glance off the hero’s armor as she is held at arms length.

 

The unfortunate monster of a man laid unmoving where Star had set him down. The only sign he was still alive was the subtle movements as he continued to breath.
 

Fir his part Creepshow mimicked his creation, laying still as the heroes contended with his other subjects. Experiments he would have to restart after he found new subjects he thought silently to himself.

 

The wild woman leapt up onto a empty gurney and hissed at Chimera, but made no move to attack.
 

And somewhere amongst the various machines and stacks of supplies a small figure moved, silent as a cat.

[Nerdzul]

Luke nodded approvingly as El kept her hammer pointed at Creepshow. The villain was down for now, but that didn't mean that he couldn't still attempt some other trick, or perhaps had some other monster in store.

 

"Maybe we should tie them out or somethin'" He suggested, not that he could see much that could be used as a rope, but then again, he could probably fashion some restraints by bending a pipe or some other lab gear. In truth, though, seeing what he had done to these people, rather than just restraining the guy Luke was seriously tempted in turning the smug supervillain into his personal punching bag.

 

Still that line of thought was interrupted when he realized that Shooting Star was in need of some help. The burning guy was... well still burning and not exactly cooperating with them. There wasn't that much he could do for the first part, fight fire with fire didn't actually work in this situation, but perhaps he could help with the other.

 

"Hey, it's ok. We are here to help." He did his best to get eye contact with the poor fellow and, used the best soothing voice that he could muster, while letting his magic do the trick and try and calm his emotions.

[Spacefurry]

GM

 

Nightscale’s power slides smoothly over the man, and while his cries of pain hardly lessen his struggles do. With a more cooperative subject and an extra set of hands, Shooting Star and Nightscale are able to soon douse the flames that had spread from his arms to his shoulders and nearly moved on to his head and chest. And while he is extinguished his body still radiates heat from some internal source causing him to tremble and he lays limply on the floor, curled into a fetal position.

 

A large cat sized entity slips from shadow to shadow unseen by the heroes, as Chimera attempts to calm the wild looking one. The blood stained subject having climbed up on top of some piece of equipment she couldn’t identify. The woman swiping at the hero like a scared animal anytime she gets to close.

 

In a moment of distraction, Outrider chances a glance around at her companions. The wet sound of tearing flesh pulls her attention back to their captive mastermind only to witness a large cat-shaped creature standing by Creepshow’s body, his head now hanging by its hair in the creature’s mouth. The harden warrior shakes off the surprise quickly and attempts a swing at the thing but it nimbly dances out of the way and rushes for the double doors they had entered through.

It pauses a moment in the light before the door to look back at the gathered heroes and the can all get a good look at it now. The large cat-like body shows a variety of fur patterns along its slightly malformed body, but the most shocking feature is its face. Not the face of a cat or anything cat-like, but a small human face. The face of a child. It’s blue eyes look nearly human but for the cat like slits for pupils. And in its mouth, rows of sharpened teeth hold the swaying, cracked mask covered head of their enemy.

For a moment the light catches the eyes behind the mask. The glint almost seeming like an unspoken challenge before the creature turns and races out the doors. It easily sprints down the hall and turns down the side passage they heroes passed on their way in. It’s smaller frame easily slipping through the pipe crowded passage the would stop the heroes.

 

In the aftermath of their struggle police and emergency services are called in. Chimera offering to stay and talk to them if the younger heroes wanted to leave before they arrived.

 

In the end the creature vanished int the night with the villain’s head and his pot victims were taken away to secure facilities where there conditions could be tended to, though not with any promise of being fixed. Some being more cooperative then others. A news report on the events has little details and none of the subjects are identified. But the anchor calmly states that one of the subjects manage to escape in route and remains at large, as an image of a blood stained woman appears over his shoulder on the screen.