From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe

((The story of the Freedom Force's fight against Drex and his Tyrannical rule.))

Contents 1 Featured in this Story 1.1 Protagonists 1.2 Antagonists 2 Chapter I - Bringing the Fight to You 3 Chapter II - History Lesson 4 Chapter III - Strike When People Are Most Vulnerable 5 Chapter IV - Domino Effect 6 Chapter V - The Aftermath

Featured in this Story

Protagonists

Liquidus
Timekick
Johnny Turbo
Lady Cosmic
The War Champion
The Infinity Champion
Foxy Ferret
The Emerald Core
Techno Raven
Graphite

Antagonists

Fury Fox
Ferocious Ferret
Drex Vexel
Drooke
Malevictus
Howling Jak
Cascade
Pumpkin Face
Ghost Face

Chapter I - Bringing the Fight to You

Drex Vexel awoke on Saturday morning...eager to pursue his diabolical agenda. He got out of bed and brushed his teeth, threw on a nice clean suit, then put on his "supersuit on underneath, and poured his morning coffee. It was odd...he started his day like any other person, yet he was so different. He was rude, he was crude, he was evil, but hey...he still brushed his teeth.

He exited his house and turned to the street. He snapped his fingers and teleported to the top of a skyscraper in Kings Row. Drex yawned as he moved towards a giant steel plating atop the roof. He pressed a button and a keypad arose from the floor. Without hesitation, he entered a passcode and hopped down the shaft. He dropped down into a thriving base. Scientists dilegently working. Minions making the scientists dilegently work. Drex breathed and took in the splendor of his headquarters.

He walked down a staircase and walked down a path. Officers came up to ask him about certain specifications and plans. To which he mostly responded, "Make it ten times bigger" or "Just kill him." He approached a chair in front of 20 monitors. All poised at different areas. He sat down and plotted. Malevictus walked up next to him and bowed. He began to speak.

"Sir... Targets Graphite and Johnny Turbo have gone into hiding since the attack on Wednesday. We've lost them."

Drex sipped his coffee and responded.

"It was my fault...for you see... I've been taking the fight to them, I've got to get them to take the fight to me."

Malevictus scratched his head.

"So what are you saying?"

Drex looked at the Tritonian.

"I'm saying I want seeker drones dispatched all over Paragon and send Jak to spy at the D in case one of them comes in..."

Malevictus turned to leave, but moved back to ask one last question.

"Oh and sir... The hostage is getting beligerent, when will we be able to use the device on him?"

Drex stood up and cracked his knuckles.

"In good time...until then, you have my utmost permission to beat him to the brink of death."

Malevictus bowed again and left. Drex sat back down and prepared for the drones to feed him an image. About a half an hour later the pictures came in. And he got a live video of Johnny carrying Timekick into the Faultline Infermury. Drex raised an eyebrow at this.

"Well perfect...it looks like its time to bring the fight...to me..."

Timekick was in a strange condition, Johnny stayed there to find out what was going wrong, but Drex wanted to change that. So he patched in a voice morphing program and morphed one of his henchman's voices to sound like the police captain. The henchman called Johnny and told him to get over to Croatoa...a good...50 minutes away from Faultline...even with superspeed. That 50 minutes was a perfect window...for an attack...

Drex selected the Machine Triumph model of his android series. Armed with icy blasts and armor, the Machine Triumph Droid was a force to be reckoned with. Timekick was placed under drugs that weakened her powers, so she was left powerless when the mechanical behemoth came to attack.

The android engaged her and she ran for her life. She thought she had lost it when she hit Skyway, but it returned, ready to deliver a beating. It got her good before she managed to teleport away...which was not a good thing.

Johnny returned from his "false alarm" to find Timekick out of the hospital. He hurried home to greet her, but she was terribly bruised and battered. Drex's plan was coming into play. Enraged by Drex's actions, Johnny hurried to the last place he had seen Drex back when he was a teenager...on top of the World Bank Building in King's Row...

Drex awaited atop the skyscraper. Johnny arrived there clenching his fists. He spat out the words.

"So, it's been a long time since I've seen you."

Drex cracked his knuckles.

"Cut to the chase buddy, I've got people to kidnap..."

Johnny ran up and got in his face.

"You humiliated me back when we were 17, when you sold me to Dr. Aeon, when you killed my mother...you remember that...don't you?"

Drex shrugged.

"Ahh yes...I recall that"

Johnny fought the urge to hit him.

"I've dreaded the day when you'd return, but I didn't think you'd sink so low...attacking a powerless heroine, to anger me? Or maybe it was just to get your jollies...Do you like beating up on those weaker than you?"

Drex yawned.

"Obviously or I wouldn't be after you and your friends...

Johnny's heart beat as he grinded his teeth with anger.

"What do you want from us?"

Drex laughed a bit.

"I want you...out of my way... The future was mine, but then you and the Freedom Force changed it back. Without you in the picture...the future will belong to me...[i]"

Johnny continued to glow with anger.

"[i]You're insane! What? The world won't be perfect until everyone recognizes your amazing power?!?"

Drex smirked.

"Sound familar?"

Johnny growled.

"I am nothing like you!"

Drex approached Johnny's face.

"You're right...I'm better..."

Johnny lost control and threw a punch at Drex. Drex grabbed his hand and twisted it with ease. He then threw Johnny back and snapped. Howling Jak and Malevictus teleported next to him and an army of androids appeared around Johnny. The androids powered up and grabbed Johnny's arms. Drex approached and spoke.

"There's no need for that guys...I've got it covered."

The androids let go and Drex distorted the gravity around Johnny, levitating him upwards and crushing him together. Johnny barely yelled down to Drex.

"I won't let you ruin my life again!"

Drex dropped him and grabbed his head.

"Ruin your life? Awww, thats to bad...but hey...bad for you, good for me..."

Johnny swatted his hand away.

"Who do you think you are?"

Drex fired energy blasts into Johnny while screaming.

"WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE!?!"

He stopped as he observed Johnny writhing in pain. His androids grabbed him as Drex beat him into submission with energy covered fists. They dropped him and Johnny tried to stand up as Drex spoke.

"You know...I would erase you from history like your friends...but then I wouldn't get the pleasure of remembering how you died..."

Drex laughed maniacally and yelled at the battered Johnny.

"Well Johnny...5 years later! And ya lost AGAIN!"

Drex thrusted his hands forward and distorted gravity around Johnny's feet. Johnny flipped and fell off the side of the building. He fell like a rock and soared to the ground and he collided with the concrete in a huge blast. He laid there...bleeding on the concrete as Drex wiped his hands and moved on.

"Alright, now that that's taken care of, we need to get some leads on this Graphite so that we can capture him."

The androids followed as Malevictus and Howling Jak looked off the side of the building. They looked at eachother...fearing they may have made a mistake...they had just killed a man not even past 22... They just ruined someone's life. They looked at Drex, but he was entering his passcode to enter the base. He was unphased by the event. He was truly...evil...

All week long Ivory has had a harder and harder time, her ability to see local time possabilities and fluctuations has started to become an issue. She normally could see one or two possabilities and often used this to her advantage while in combat. But lately...lately there has been alot more. At first a dozen, then twenty. and today..well today she couldn't tell there was so many. Realities over realities over realities.

She went to pocket D later in the day when the visions weren't so bad and ran into Johnny. Things were alright, just a few headaches from the overlap, but something happened, causing it to flair up much more then before. She collapsed onto the floor in pain. Johnny nelt down to help her, touching his hand to her head to feel her forehead. With sudden bombardment of images and visions from the touch of Johnny's hand, she reacted violently, jerking away, smacking her head into the nearby wall. Johnny rushed her to the hospital where doctors were able to determine that she is seeing hundreds of visions overlapping each other, and mentally unable to decipher much of them. But also is phasing in and out of this timeframe, unable to focus on this one. After several hours and the onset of a neural inhibiter they were able to help her. Limiting her exposure to the other times. While they are still there, she does not percieve them. only one or two at a time. The only problem is, is that this makes her basically powerless. The doctors assured her they wold work on a better way.

Leaving the hospital, with intent to head back to Atlas and to her apartment she stopped to waite for a moment for the driver. Before the driver arrived a robot showed up and started attacking her. They faught, well she ran but did throw a few kicks, She ran as fast as she could at the moment, managing to get to skyway. It followed her, having already punched her and thrown her across a few streets. She managed to lure it into a group of thugs who defeated it.

She was wrong, it rebooted and came after her. Knowing she stood no chance in fighting, Ivory slapped her emergency base teleporter and got away just as it came upon her. Sitting down on a couch she called for anyone over the group comm, only Johnny replied.

She explained to him what happened, unable to hide her fear, fear of what was happening to her, fear of being helpless, fear for her family.

Maybe just maybe Johnny was worried to...Then he left her after giving her a reassuring kiss.

Leaving her to comtemplate alone.

The night air was crisp and cool as Techno Raven slowly glided towards her home in Steel Canyon. It felt good after the day she had had. It had been a long day in Paragon City for Techno Raven. The morning had brought the usual gang activity that she had been forced to patrol and then in the afternoon she had gotten a call to help out with an extremely large increase in the activity of Dr. Vahzilok's undead machinations in the sewers. She and her team had ended up neck deep in zombies and sewer waste. And then, before she could even shower off the sewer smell, she had been forced to fly directly to Skyway City to help take down some massive clocwork that was rampaging all over the place. The thing smacked her a few times pretty good, but in the end she and the other heroes had been able to bring it down. All in all not her idea of a great day, but hey what are you gonna do?

Just as she was approaching her top floor suite she pressed a button on her belt and the glass windows slid open for her. She landed gracefully in her living room and quickly dismissed all the secondary systems of her exo-skeleton with the press of a button. Now came the part she truly hated, she hit the button to dismiss the main exo-skeleton and instantly felt herself crashing from the drain on her system. The exo-skeleton disappeared leaving her clothed in nothing more than small wristwatch and her underwear. If not for the fact that she badly needed a shower she would have fallen asleep on her couch in the living room. She made a quick check of her security sytems and slowly dragged herself to the bathroom to shower.

Little did she know that a lone figure on a building about two hundred meters away was watching her like a hawk. Having already scouted out Raven's security system she knew that she was well outside its perimeter. The security system had been one of the most troublesome she'd ever had to deal with, and even after scouting it she had been unable to find a way to get around it. This is what led her to the decision to simply attack when Raven wasn't prepared for it. Either way she would trip the system but at least this way Raven probably wouldn't be ready for it. Her ears twitched atop her head, responding to the sounds of police and gunfire below on the streets, none of that mattered to her though.

'That Drex guy better be serious about the payment for this,' she thought to herself. Sniffing the air she thought, 'Its a great night for a job like this in Paragon City though, might as well get on with it.' Gathering her strength she crouched low and made a powerful leap through the air that sent her rocketing through toward Raven's apartment. At the last second she brought her arms up to shield her eyes and crashed straight through the window landing in the living room. An instant later the alarms started blaring and the lights started flashing, she needed to get to Raven quick!

Raven heard the crash of the glass and the alarms going off from the shower. She instictively brought her had to the watch on her wrist, but then she hesitated. She was still completely drained from having used the exo-skeleton all day long, and she wasn't sure if her body could handle the strain of using it again so soon. Another crash sounded this time closer to the bathroom and she quickly decided that she didn't have much of a choice right now. She hit the button and felt the familiar sensation of energy surging through her as her body once again bonded with the exo-skeleton. Before she completely adjusted to it, enough to press the button to activate the secondary systems, her bathroom door was flung from its hinges. A girl walked in, at least she was pretty sure she was a girl. She had ears that looked almost like dog ears on her head and there was something distinctly feral about her countenance.

"You're coming with me," commanded the girl. Raven started thinking fast, she couldn't activate the secondary systems now due to the delay that she experience when she did that, so she chose to use another of her skills.

"Who are you and why are you here for me?!?" she asked the girl.

"My name is Fury Fox and I don't have time for twenty questions now either you come quietly or I can beat you unconscious and drag your ass back the Isles," she said. She was actually growling now too, and Raven figured that it would be unwise to upset her further.

"The Isles? Someone sent you to from the Isles?" Raven asked.

"Yes! Now lets go, or do I have to make ya go," Fox responded, assuming a fighting stance.

"No I'll go quietly," Raven said, thinking quickly. The girl looked visibly dissapointed.

"Fine... then you go first and don't make any sudden moves!" she threatened. She moved aside and Raven walked quickly out into her bedroom. A plan was quickly forming in her mind but she would have to act very quickly. Just as she walked into the living room she quickly dashed for the hole in her window and, before Fury Fox could react, dove out of it. Growling, Fury Fox quickly leapt out after her.

Doing a quick calculation in her head Raven figured she had about nine seconds to activated her secondary systems before she would hit the ground. Quickly hitting the button on her wrist she saw the flash of light and felt the systems initialize themselves. With about three seconds left she felt the wings and boots finish initializing and activated them instantly. They slowed her just enough to leave her hovering about a foot from the ground in an alley near her building. She breathed a sigh of relief and was about to activate her comms so she could tell the rest of the Freedom Force what had happened when she was brutally ripped out of the air and thrown against the alley wall. She hit the wall with enough force to crack the bricks and her helmet began flashing warning lights for her flight systems and she knew why. No more then a foot away from her Fury Fox was discarding the remains of her right wing, with the circuitry failling out of the end of it.

"I told you not to try anything, but it's fine I prefer to fight for my game anyways," said Fox. She smiled in a vicious grin showing her fangs.

"Fine, if it's a fight you want," Raven started as she drew her bow and notched and arrow. They stared at each other for a second, Fury Fox in a fighting stance and growling while Techno Raven stood calmly with an arrow pointed direcly at her.

Fox made the first move, lunging for Raven. She was very quick but Raven had the advantage of distance. She let fly with the arrow but it simply broke when it hit Fox. Raven quickly leapt to the side as Fox's fist hit the wall putting a big hole into the bricks and causing the building to shake a little bit.

'Alright so she's invulnerable to direct attack," thought Raven. 'Everyone has a weakness though...' With a thought the dimensional quiver one her back shot out one of her flash arrows. She fired it straight at Fox and was rewarded with a cry of pain from her, but the elation lasted only a moment. Fox sniffed the air and that was all she needed to locate Raven without her eyes. She attacked again this time hitting Raven with a strong punch that sent her flying out of the alleyway into the streets. Slowly Fox followed her out, her sensitive eyes still burning from the flash weapon that bitch had used on her.

Raven was struggling to her feet, as her suit scrolled status reports on the various systems. No flight, no data uplink, and major damage to reflex augmentation. She'd have to rely on her own smarts for this one then. She watched as Fox stumbled out after her, still clutching her eyes.

'That's it!' thought Raven. 'Her enhanced senses are her weakness, if I can attack them then that should incapacitate her.' Quickly she drew a gas arrow from her quiver. Without the assistance of her exo-skeleton to aid in her shooting she would have to fire this arrow on her own. Fox was sniffing the air again looking for her prey she found her but there was something different too, something that burned a little bit to her sensitive nose. Quickly she realized what Raven must be trying to do, but it was too late. Raven loosed the arrow and it hit the ground right at Fox's feet releasing it's payload. Fox's sense of smell was completely overwhelmed and it burned her sensitive sense of smell.

"AHHH!" cried Fox as the feeling overwhelmed her. She struggled to put aside the pain in her nose and eyes long enough to use her last sense to hear where her enemy was, and as soon as she did she lunged for Raven. Raven was taken off guard by the quick attack from the enemy she was sure she had incapacitated. Fox grabbed her bow and snapped it before hitting Raven square in the face. Raven's visor cracked and shattered and if not for the helmet she would have been done for in that single blow, but she managed to stay conscious. Fox had her by the throat now and was growling loudly as she held her up off the ground in one hand.

"You know," said Fox between growls. "I think I'm going to just kill you despite the money for all the shit you've put me through!" Her hand began to slowly tighten on Raven's neck. She didn't notice that Raven had already managed to draw an arrow before she had hit her. A sonic arrow that emitted a high pitch screech that she usually used to disrupt her enemies while fighting. Raven, however, figured that those ears on Fox's head weren't just for show and this arrow might be more than just disruptive to her. Just as she was running out of air she thumbed the button to activate the arrow and threw it on the ground. Fox dropped her instantly and howled out in agony while clutching her ears. Raven dragged herself to her feet and observed Fox rolling on the ground in agony. She drew one of her stinger arrows from her back and hit her with it, the electric charge quickly overcoming Fox in her weakened state and knocking her unconscious.

Techno Raven stumbled a few steps as she activated her base teleporter. She stumbled a few steps off the pad before her exo-skeleton suddenly de-activated on its own and disappaeared. Without the exo-skeleton to supplement her already drained system she she blacked out instantly. She collapsed to the ground about ten feet from the teleporter...

It was midnight and Johnny still laid in a pool of his own blood. His cells desperately tried to repair his massive trauma, but that did not stop him from becoming incapacitated. It would take much time for the regeneration proccess to complete, so until then, Johnny was a sitting duck.

The bricks inside of the building next door were loose and Johnny's impact onto the floor caused them to cave downward after a while. The bricks smashed a hole into the sidewalk and they broke a hole into a sewer system. Johnny slid into the hole rolled over and hit the floor of the pipe. He instantly awoke and looked up. The sidewalk had caved in on the floor.

Johnny was not alarmed though, the sewers were not that much of trecherous area. He pushed up off the floor to stand up, but he could not. He looked down and saw his legs were completely mutalated. He could not move them. His cells would have to repair the tissue before he could even stand again. Johnny began crawling on the floor and scooted down into the sewage. Just then a massive tentacle grabbed him and threw him against the wall. He held his back in pain as Hydra Proteans came running after him. He fought them off, barely surviving. It was then that Johnny realized where he was...he was in the depths of the abandoaned sewer network...

Johnny looked for his comm to call for help, but it was smashed against the sewer floor. He ripped off his mask and noticed it was shredded and his specs were smashed. He threw it into the sewage and laid back...things were not looking good.

Liquidus sighed as he stared at his desk, it must've been days, maybe weeks since he's been in here. Paperworks piling up on him as the super-group slowly began to expand. He was tired and it was getting late, he wanted to call it a night but there's just so much work to be done and he knows that these things just can't run by themselves, he never thought it would be this much work, and not just any work... but paperwork. He looked over in the corner and saw his gears, he had taken them off for the first time trying to get comfortable. He turned his head and a black figure stood before him, flickering...

"What the..?"

He was hovering with his arms crossed, slowly the the flicker began to stop as he remains, the room had disappeared, all but a spotlight over Liquidus at his desk.

Rryyaaann...

A chill went down his spine as the voice trails off, then he realized who he was...

"Mantis!"

It was one of his old comrades from back in the day, Liquidus thought he was dead has he never heard from him or any of his comrades since his escape from Crey so many years ago.

"Mantis! You're alive?"

Liquidus bellowed out again with joy, Mantis was a power psychic in the old squad, but of course that came with a high price with his sanity. Mantis was able to regulate it by limiting his senses with a gas mask, very rarely does he take it off, only when full power is needed to dominate his foes. But because of Mantis, he was able to predict incoming danger and keep the squad's survivalbility up high, as well as increase intensive training with each squad members with their resistance to psychic invaders, espically Ryan due to his desire.

Rryyaaann, theeree's nooo tiiimeee... your frriieeends...

Liquidus raised his eyebrow as the voice trails off again, unsure what he was refering too.

"My friends?"

He asked.

Yooourr frieends... theeey're in daanger.

Then Liquidus realized that Mantis was refering to the supergroup, he's been in over his head with paperwork that he realized that things have been somewhat quiet, too quiet.

Mmmyyy poooweerrrs..... baarreelly geetttinnng thrrroouggh. Hhheee'ss tuuunnniiinnggg yyoooouuu ooouuut...

"He? Who's he?"

Ttthhheeerrreee'ss nnooo tiiiimeeee.... yooouurrr frrriieeenndsss aaarrree iinnn daaaanggerr.

The room started to get somewhat cold... really cold. He can see himself breathing as he started to realize a haze was setting in... "What the hell was going on," he thought to himself, Mantis started to fade.

Liquidus' voice started to echo in his head, trailing as Mantis faded completely.

So cold... so dark... so empty.

Liquidus' eyes widen, he jumped out of his char and assumed a fighting stance... it was him. There he was, just standing there, looking at him as he did a year ago. Liquidus had been looking for this mysterious foe ever since his incapacitation last year for 3 months, the Marines of USS Kahu had found Liquidus in Shark Isle in his own pool of blood, going into shock, they barely arrived on time.

Liquidus had described this mysterious foe to be just as fast as he is, maybe faster. His face resembled somewhat of a black skull figure, with 2 blue stripes on the right side, bearing a black technology type armor, very advanced from what he can tell, with his gloves, boots, shoulders and a belt also resembling a black skull. He spoked no words to Liquidus, but quicky launched a preemptive strike, the mysterious foe showed no mercy. After Liquidus lied there in his own pool of blood, the mysterious foe vanished without a trace; never to be seen again.

The mysterious foe slow raised his hand, as if he was lifting something... Liquidus got down to his knees as souls started to encircle him, screaming in pain, they were the souls of his friends in the Freedom Force. Liquidus couldn't bare it as he closed his eyes, trying not to see the images inside the souls; he held his head and screamed in agony, feeling all of their pain at once... it was too much.

Liquidus gasp hard as he woke up, shaking as papers began flying off his desk... "It was a dream," he realized. "It was only a dream..." He slowly began to catch his breath as he brush the sweat off his brow, he knows that something isn't right. He got up from his chair and put on his body vest and his gears, he looked back to his desk and walked up to the cabniet behind it, punched in the keycode requred and waited for the doors to slide open. There his blades and redding rifle stood, sheathed and encased as he was told to not rely on them so much anymore ever since the rise of the Freedom Force. The Joint Cheifs felt that Liquidus so put on a positive influence for the public, espically the younger generations.

But this time, something was admist... his comrades' lives may be in danger and he's gonna need all of his arsenal that he can get his hands on... besides... Liquidus knows he's no hero, his friends were the real heroes. They have many lives and yet they still fight selflessly against the villainy that pollutes the world, Liquidus was mearly trained for this... it's his job, they are the real heroes. Liquidus sighed one more time, looking at his desk, seeing paperwork still piled up but somewhat of a mess now since the nightmare... no mater. He walked out the door, turning the office's light off and made his way down the hall.

"This is Liquidus, you there Jay?"

After a few seconds, a reply came in on his comm.

I'm here, what's up man? Been a long time since we heard you, when you coming back on board to visit us you big hot shot superstar?

"There's no time, I need you to access the Freedom Force's mainframe and find the logs of all the member's Comm, I need all their locations and I need it stats."

Alright, I'm on it... gimme a few minute.

As Liquidus continued to make his way pass the med-bay area, accessing his SG Comm and see if anyone would respond, he stopped and realized there was someone on the ground from the emergency teleporters... he quicky ran up.

"Raven! Damnit..."

He slowly turned her around, trying not to move her too much but she didn't respond. She was unconscious, "What hell happened?" he started looking around the room, her suit wasn't on and she was badly bruised, he remembered Raven explaining to him how her suit function, it must've disappeared as she collapsed. Slowly Liquidus picks up Raven and carried her to the Medbay bed. He walked over to a cabniet and grabbed one of the patience robes to put on for Raven, he couldn't just leave her lying there naked. Liquidus then walked over to the screen and punched in a few commands, the device that stood next to the bed where Raven lied began to hum. "Hopefully this will keep her comfortable until she regains conscious again," Liquids thought, but he knew that she needed to get to the infirmary.

Yo Liquidus, we're bringing up the locations one by one but we thought that you should know that Johnny's Comm isn't giving off any signal, there's no interference going on within 200 miles of your radius...

Liquidus didn't respond, he walked out trying to think... passing the round table he saw Timekick on the couch, his eyes widen. Timekick didn't turn around but she look shaken but so too was Liquidus. He remembered what Timekick told her last week before the meeting, "Could it be now?" He thought, Timekick turned around as she realized Liquidus was behind her... but he quickly ran out, "...Ryan?" Leaving her alone once again.

Liquidus jumped on his bike and began revving it up, squeeling as he sped off.

"Jay, see if you can pinpoint the last known signal in Kings Row... do some satellite imaging and look for anything out of ordinary, espically around skyscrappers."

Liquidus heart sunk to his stomach as he said that. He didn't want to believe that; Johnny was tough, real tough... but if his radio wasn't working... could Timekick's vision really come true? He revved up his bike to gain more speed... 85... 115... 135... his senses starting kicking in to composite the speed, thankfully the traffic is barely non-existance, but he needed to hurry.

"Hang in there buddy... I'm coming."

Liquidus continued to rev his bike up to gain more speed... to Kings Row.

---

---In Drex's Office---

---

Shit... I do NOT need him to interfere...

Drex thought to himself, sighing as he lean forward to his desk as he encase his hands together, continuing to scan the monitors in front of him.

I guess I underestimated Liquidus' connection... who knew he had a psychic friend that could get through my shroud to keep him tuned out, guess I got a little careless "disposing" Johnny...

Malevictus walked in but Drex quickly raised his hand, signalling him not to speak yet...

But who was that... mysterious figure? I could've sword I've seen him before... but where... or when..?

Drex raised his eyebrow, continuing to think and soak in the turn of events. He leaned back in his executive chair and face towards Malevictus... grinning.

This could be of used to my advantage after all... perhaps... yes...

Malevictus looked at Drex confused.

"I don't care what you came in to report... Something has come up and I have a new assignment for you."

Malevictus started to get a bad feeling about this... then Drex continued.

"However... you might -want- to put together a team."

Drex's grin began to widen... began to get more... sinister...

With a long Sigh, Ivory looked around at the base, feeling soo out of it from the meds, and the lack of powers for the time being. Walking around, running her hands along edges, chairs, the podium, pausing there to place ontop of it her uniform, carefully folded so that her logo was ontop, her fingers carressing the timer logo's edges. She could not stay here, not now, she could not wear the uniform either, not while she was powerless and weakened.

She hoped people would understand, she couldn't let her family become a target, couldn't risk anything like that.

Leaving only a message for Ryan to contact her on her cell phone she left heading to her families penthouse to rest and waite.

Drex Vexel stood in front of his vast array of monitors. Each screen had it's own vivid image; destruction, fires, innocent civilians screaming for their lives. A few had video feeds playing back to savage beatings inflicted on some of the Freedom Force Members. There was no way around it - The Freedom Force was in dire straits.

Drex softly smiled to himself, conveying his own personal approval. He was doing what gangs, villains, even Arachnos couldn't do...take down the Freedom Force. And he was doing a damn good job of it, too. Timekick was indisposed, forcing her to leave the group for the time being. Johnny was crippled beyond belief and Techno Raven was considered still alive by Medical standards only. Liquidus was fast on his way to help his others, completely distracted by the dissaray. The other members were either out of town or incogneto for the time being. Drex was almost successful in his plans.

Almost.

Howling Jak and Malevictus made their way past the armed guards and fearful technicians. They stood behind Drex, not moving an inch as they looked on the flickering monitors. Drex began to speak to his cohorts, continuing to stand with his back to them, never once taking his eyes off the screen.

"...why isn't he dead?" Drex said.

"Which one do you mean?" Malevictus asked.

Drex reached over and pressed a few buttons. Every screen slowly changed to videos of Emerald Core. Some were of him flying. Others were him taking down gangs. A few showed him saving a civilian amongst a rousing applause from a crowd of people.

"...HIM" Drex stated bluntly. "You were supposed to kill him."

Malevictus looked at Jak, mouthing the words "talk you idiot".

"I didn't get 'em" Jak responded. "His friends was with 'im. I tried to kill 'im, but they stopped me. I hurt 'im good, but den they got away before I could finish tha job." Jak growled, clenching his fist. "Don't you worry Drex, I'll finish 'em off, once and..."

Drex held his hand up, silencing Jak immediately. "I didn't ask what happened," Drex said in without any fluctuation in his voice. "I said, you were supposed to kill him."

Sweat began to develop on Jak and Melavictus' foreheads.

Drex sighed. "No matter. I knew he would be a tough one to get. He's smart...intruigingly smart. After your battle, he stayed off the radar." He began pushing more buttons and a metal door slowly began to ascend to the ceiling. "I have the perfect man for the job."

A man with wild red hair, a purplish-blue costume with starbursts of yellowish orange, buckled gloves and boots and white face-paint with dark rings around his eyes slowly walked into the room. He was cackling softly as he continued to flip a coin as he walked. He never stopped smiling.

He rarely stops smiling.

"A CLOWN?!" Melavictus and Jak said in unison. Malevictus continued, "He's the one you're going to send to kill The Emerald Core??"

An evil grin came across Drex's face. He watched as The clown ignited his hands with a fiery blaze, causing his coin to catch fire as well. He flinged his coin rapidly at a group of technicians, causing them to run for cover. The flaming coin exploded, sending shrapnel and debris all over the place. The man finally spoke.

"I never......NEVER....get tired of that!"

Melavictus' and Jak's face became puzzled.

"Gentlemen," Drex informed the two, "I give you....Laughing-Stock."

"At your service!" Laughing-Stock stated. "It'll be a pleasure for me to maim, torture, burn, decapitate, slaughter, manhandle..."

He continued like that for the next 5 minutes.

"Laughing-Stock!" Drex shouted. "Get out there and kill The Emerald Core, and don't come back until you do!"

"You got it!" Laughing-Stock shouted, cackling all the way to the exit.

Drex turned to his associates. "Do you know how to fight intelligence?" he asked.

They both shook their heads. Drex gave them the answer.

"...with insanity."

Emerald was rushing to the burning building in Steel Canyon. He heard on the police scanner that a madman was burning the building...and anyone inside without remorse. Em was supposed to be hiding out, but this was an exception. He knew he had to stop the crazed villain and save the day.

...because the madman in the building was calling for him. It was all over the police scanner.

"Alright, stay calm" Em said to himself. "You don't know who it is, so just be ready."

Em finally landed in front of the towering inferno. He couldn't believe his eyes - the entire building was eminating a bright glow of flames. Whoever this was, he was a force to be reckoned with.

"...so, you must be The Emerald Core!" Laughing-Stock shouted behind Em. "You like my handy work?"

Emerald stared down the crazed man. He was a bit off-center, mainly because he was looking at....a clown.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know the circus was in town" Em said. "But I promise you this won't be a fun-filled afternoon!"

Laughing-Stock stood there, scratching his goatee and pondering. "Kinda lame phrase, dont'cha think?"

Em stood their baffled. "Wha..."

"I mean, sure, it SOUNDS good, but it is Statesman material?" Laughing-Stock leaped over to Em and stood next to him, putting his arm around him. "I like to think a good catch phrase gets a good spot in the paper! How about 'Time to put this fire out...permanently'? or 'This clown'll be laughing...all the way to the zig'?"

Em charged up his hands, leaned back and slammed LS right in the face. This was no time for funny business and Em was gonna take advantage of any moment. LS slowly got up to his feet. His voice became psychotically scary.

"That wasn't very nice," He stated. He ignited his hands; an orange and red glow illuminated from his hands. "...and now you'll pay DEARLY for that!"

Em's eyes lit up fearfully; he didn't realize LS could ignite a flame like that. "Oh crap," he said to himself.

A flare shot right towards Em's face. He ducked quickly enough to only catch the flame on his leg. Another flicker of red grazed his arm. Another his hip. He fell to the ground in pain. He wasn't burned badly, but there were marks enough to burn pieces of his costume off.

Laughing-Stock walked right up to Em, staring him in the eyes. "I told you you'd pay for that," He said quietly chuckling. Before long, as Emerald sat bent on one knee, He was maniacally laughing into the sky. His hands set ablaze, he stared down a beatened Emerald Core. "Too bad, I was hoping for something more. Well, maybe one of your other guys'll put up a better fight." Em looked behind Laughing stock for a quick second, then slowly smiled.

"What's so amusing," Laughing-stock replied with curiousity. "Is it me? Well, I do have a great sense of humor. In fact, some find it irresitable."

Em fired a massive shot of energy right at Laughing-Stock. He stepped to his right instantly, chuckling at his attempt. "You weren't even CLOSE!" He said. "Good last ditch effort though."

Em smiled. "Are you sure."

Laughing-Stock's smile finally faded. He realized Em knew something he didn't. He turned around and noticed a blast of energy heading straight for him. Off in the distance, there was a Paragon City Police Van, equipped with the newest technology. Em remembered his blast accidently hitting it, but ricocheting off and into the distance.

"Son of a bitch" was all Stock could utter before a powerful blast of energy slammed into the chest, creating a huge wave of momentum. Em stood up and charged both his hands. He thrusted forward with both hands, as hard as he could to match the momentum. The impact caused both men to fly in opposite directions. Em caught himself in the air, hovering in the sky. He watched Laughing-Stock fly through 3 buildings, 6 walls total, before hitting the ground and skidding through the pavment for a good 100 feet. He slowly picked himself up, bloodied and dazed.

Laughing-Stock saw Em coming as well as sirens of police cars filling the air. He leaped into the air, landing on top of a 5 story building. From their he continued to leap out of sight, preventing Em from following him.

"I better tell Liquidus about this," Em said to himself. "This is not good."

He made it back to the base and checked his wounds. He had multiple burn marks around his body. Nothing to severe, they would heal in a couple of weeks. He was lucky.

Em softly limped to his locker. He opened the door, looking at his heavy armor, the same armor NiteDevil gave him. He only wore the armor if he was in danger....or if he was going to inflict major damage on someone. Irriversible damage. Em picked up the helmet and stared at his reflection.

"That guy will wish he never trifled with me," Em said to himself. "All of them will pay for what they've done to us."

It had been four long days for Raven. She had been beaten and bruised pretty badly after her encounter with Fury Fox, but the real damage had come from her exo-skeleton's energy crash after having used it to supplement her already strained nervous system. She was actually lucky that it hadn't caused any permanent damage.

That wasn't the worst of it though. Over the course of the four days she had been forced to sit in the infirmary and do nothing as each of her friends were systematically hunted and attacked by different members of Drex Vexel's gang. Some, like Johnny Turbo, had done small stints in the infirmary with her while others were still simply unaccaounted for.

Once Raven had regained enough strength to walk around the Freedom Force base she spent her time repairing the exo-skeleton. Luckily there was an abundance of things that she could pillage for spare parts lying around the storage area or the base. She had almost completed the repairs, but some of the secondary systems required parts that only existed in her own personal lab. The base of the exo-skeleton was working perfectly and her bio-electric field, which was used to power the exo-skeleton, had finally stablilized after the four days of recovery.

Slowly she slipped on the exo-skeleton, feeling the mesh circuitry against her skin for the first time in so long made her feel better. Taking a deep breath she pressed the button on her wrist to activate. The instant surge of energy was immensely gratifying. She took a step of the infirmary bed, testing to see if the exo-skeleton was enough to support her beaten body. There was a very faint shadow of pain in her legs but otherwise she was fine. That was good it meant she could make her way back home to finish the repairs. Raven activated her communicator to let everyone know she was leaving.

"This is Raven, I just wanted to let you guys know I'm leaving the base now. I have some things to handle at home and then I'll be back here to help plan on a counterattack for Drex and his gang."

A chorus of Freedom Force members voices came back to her confirming her information and Raven stepped onto the teleporter...

Chapter II - History Lesson

Drex Vexel scoped around his base. He approached an elevator, pressed a button with a large B on it, and stood motionless. It moved downward slowly and seemed to go on forever. The elevator finally arrived with a loud clank as it hit on the ground. Drex exited the elevator and walked through a dark passage barely lit by torches. There was organs in jars and rusty computers lining the path. Drex arrived in a dark room where Jak and Malevictus awaited him. Drex cracked his knuckles and spoke.

"Gentlemen..."

Howling Jak blurted at Drex.

"What is this all about!?! Why are we down here?"

Drex hit a button and a wooden plank lowered from the celing. It descended into the center of the room. It was carrying a large piece of machinery. It was littered with switches and knobs and had power readings galore. Drex turned and moved two stones with a flick of his hands. The stones flew across the room revealing an android holding The War Champion. War was tied up with duct tape on his mouth. The android brought war to the machine and sat him in a chair. War struggled to break free, but the android held him down. Drex smiled and spoke.

"Let's get this going shall we?"

Drex glanced at War and his eyes turned bright red. The walls rumbled as Drex concentrated. Jak and Malevictus were frantically trying to figure out what was wrong, but Drex stood motionless. After a while Drex broke from his concentration and the walls stopped rumbling. Malevictus drummed up the courage to speak.

"Wha...Wha...What was that?"

Drex turned to Malevictus.

"That was me failing to infilitrate this fool's subconcious. Something was blocking me out!"

Jak responded with a question.

"Well...what could it be?"

Drex walked up to Jak.

"I'm not sure, could be will, could be a mental sheild... Either way, take him back to his cell and beat it out of him."

Jak and Malevictus took War back to the holding cell to "talk" with him. Drex smiled deviously and took the elevator to the rooftop. He lit a cigarette and watched a flag float in the breeze. A flag with a fist symbol on it. Drex nodded it at and smoked...

Johnny laid in the waste waiting for something to happen. He was in the belly of the beast, and if he moved at all he'd be done for. Johnny looked down the pipeways and saw a shadowy figure laying on the floor of the sewage in the distance. Johnny bobbed his head at this and crawled forward looking to see who he was. The figure did not move a muscle, even when Johnny started calling out to him. Johnny inched his way slowly, but suddenly three hydra tentecales came out fo the waste flailing wildly.

Johnny was in shock he tried to crawl back, but the tentecale grabbed his leg and threw him onto a ledge. They spewed toxic spit at Johnny. He was able to dodge it, but got hit by a few. He could not fight the beast back...he needed help.

Just then, Liquidus came running down the pipeway. He kicked the tentecales away and looked up at Johnny. He called out.

"Johnny! There you are!"

Liquidus jumped onto the ledge after Johnny. Johnny waved at Liq and said,

"Thank God you're here Liq"

Liquidus responded,

"Is your teleporter working?

Johnny handed him a pile of broken wires and said,

"I don't think so..."

Liquidus took off his and gave it to Johnny.

"Here use mine, I'll meet you back at the base."

Johnny raised his eyebrow at the shadowy figure one last time and teleported to the Freedom Force infirmirary.

As Liquidus stood there watching Johnny teleporting away, the beast started to screech loudly... guess that thing really wanted Johnny, which is surprising considering most people don't. He grinned, jumping off the ledge and making his way back towards Kings Row. When Liquidus found the hole, it was already sealed shut so he had to take the long way using the Sewers Network layouts that Jay pulled up and pinpointed where the hole went down too... but of course, this was the least of Liquidus' worry.

After Drex's shroud had been compromise with Liquidus, he had made arrangements to buy himself more time before Liquidus is able to regroup the Freedom Force and mount up a managable counter-attack... and that "arrangement" finally caught up to Liquidus in the abandoned sewer network. Liquidus sensed something in this distance and found cover behind the pipes, he activated his stealth generator... having no clue who or what it could be, he couldn't take the chance and there was no time for conformation.

Liquidus spotted 2 Androids walking down in his direction, scanning for something it seems. Liquidus stood still, he knew that if those Androids would have built in thermals... he'll be spotted, but at the same time... he's hoping that these things have no relations to what he was doing, unaware that these are Drex's. At the same time, Liquidus thought how often do you see Androids in an abandoned sewers of all places? He drew his pistols and stood ready. The Androids stopped dead in their tracks... motionless.

After a few seconds, the Androids started arming themselves, Liquidus then jumped out and started firing, aiming for the head. The bullets ricocheted off their armor but the Androids were knocked off balance as Liquidus shoved right through them as he makes his escape. The Androids recovered their balance and started running after their target and started blasting at him. Liquidus returned fire as he tries to run but the bullets still continued to ricocheted off their armor... no sign of any damage. Liquidus holstered his sidearms and drew his redding rifle (vanguard gun)... the rifle ammunations should pack a punch but he needs to find cover, Liquidus took his first nade (smoke) and threw it towards the intersection up ahead. The Androids slowed down and started scanning the area, looking at the 3 pipelines that Liquidus could've gone through but he was above them.

Settling in above, Liquidus aim towards one of the Androids' head and fired, the Android flinch and the bullet miss his head completely, but due to the angle and the direction the Android flinch towards too, the bullet landed on the shoulders, penetrating the armor completely. The left arm wasn't responding as quickly but the other Android jumped up in the ceiling pipes where Liquidus was spotted... but was greeted with a 2nd nade (frag), it exploded in the thing's face - slamming the Android back to the wall and into the ground. Liquidus launched out of the smoke with his Dual Blades handy and engaged the 1 1/2 arm Android. The Android was quick, able to dodge and block Liquidus attacks but with the malfunctioning left arm... Liquidus was able to land some critical strikes against it.

The Android that got slammed to the wall got up and launched towards Liquidus, grabbing onto his back... Liquidus underestimated their survivability, he wasn't expecting the Android to survive that blast upclose. The other Android took advantage of the situation and starting hitting Liquidus, after a few punches, the Android tackled him to the wall. The other Android jumped off Liquidus and started analying him for better performance. Liquidus took both his blades and shove it down the Android's back after slamming him against the wall and a electrical current shocked both him and the Android.

The Android that was analying formed a claw like blades through his wrist and stuck Liquidus in the guts and another towards his face, Liquidus brought up his blades before it stuck his face, pushing the Android backwards. The Android was a skilled fighter, the thing was able to hold its ground against Liquidus as the 2 engage in combat... but wasn't good enough as Liquidus created an openning and beheaded the Android. After catching a few short breaths, he saw the other Android getting back up again... Liquidus sheethed his blades and grabbed his last nade... expecting it to be another Frag, he realize that he grabbed the wrong one, but luck was finally on his side... an EMP. Liquidus grinned as he watch the damage Android readying himself and launched towards Liquidus... with careful timing, he grab the Androids arm and threw him to the ground, knocking him out of balance into the water.

"Guess today isn't a bad day after all..."

Liquidus said to himself, throwing the EMP into the water next to the confused Android and running for cover. A large electrical current took place, finally knocking the Android out of commission. Liquidus had no clue where he was but he could see light at the end of the sewers, holding on to his wounds, he slowly made his way towards the exit... but everything started to blur as the light got brighter. Finally he stood at the end of the sewer pipelines... but passing out into the water down below.

The hospital room seems almost soothing. The heart monitor going, the pain almost lulling you into sleep. It is so relaxing. That is until the computer siren starts blaring. It said that Liquidus was in trouble. Johnny reluctantly knew what he had to do. He focused his powers and dulled the pain he was going through. This gave him enough time to get Liq and hurry back to the base. If he was too late, he'd collapse back into the pain coma he was already in.

With the help of Techno Raven, Johnny pinpointed Liq's location in Independence Port. Right outside of a sewer drain. He was face down in a pool of his own blood. Johnny teleported there and tried to help Liq. Liq first called out.

"We...we...need it"

Johnny was not quite sure what he was talking about, but then he realized that he had been attacked by androids. Johnny whirlwinded into the pipeline shooting out the android. He knew that they could bring it back for info, that's why Liq wanted it. So he attached one teleporter to Liq and the other to the android and teleported them back to base. Johnny began making his way back to the base on foot, but he couldn't help thinking about that shadowy figure in the sewers. It gnawed at him like a rat. He reached the base and then collapsed as his dull pain wore off. Whatever was in the sewers...would have to wait.

---

A Few Days Later (Saturday 10/27)

---

A Halloween party was scheduled with the Paragonain Knights today...and Johnny was finally able to get back onto his feet. So it was party time...right? Wrong. He had spent the whole bed ridden week wondering about that occurence in the sewer. Who was that shadowy figure, was he even alive? There were so many questions left unanswered, and he needed to get them answered.

As the Freedom Force departed to go to the Halloween party, Johnny dashed down the Kings Row streets that were littered with decorations. He arrived at the crater where he fell in. It was caved in, but that didn't stop Johnny. He jumped up and kicked a loose brick causing a cave in. The entire hole was left wide open and Johnny jumped down into the sewers.

He looked about for the shadowy figure. There it laid, in the same spot, still there...after all this time. Johnny crossed over the sewage being careful not to awake any Hydra. He came to the figure and saw it. A man wearing a lab coat...with several burn marks all over him. His legs were broken and he was severely mutalated. On his chest laid an ID badge. He picked it up and read it aloud.

"Matthew Lee Fist, Founder/CEO of Fist Industries"

He placed the badge in his pocket and examined the body. There were several scars from energy blasts and bolts. Johnny narrowed his eyes and spoke.

"...Drex..."

The body laid right next to a door. It was battered and had the marking of a fist scratched on it. Johnny carefully opened the door. It was very rusted, but it opened. Johnny looked inside and saw pathways lit by torches. There were banners with fists pictured on them and jars of old organs everywhere. Johnny was baffled at what this complex was. He took a book off a bookshelf and dusted it off. He read the cover.

"Fist Industries Personnel Assesment"

Johnny opened the book and looked at a picture featuring Laughing-Stock, he flipped the page and saw Fury Fox. He closed the book and turned around to exit the tunnel. He returned to the sewer and closed the door. He turned to walk down the pipe when he came face to face with Howling Jak and Malevictus. Jak smiled and spoke.

"Trick or Treat"

Johnny clutched the book and backed up...bracing himself. Johnny stood there petrified. He was in no condition to fight a big behemoth like Jak or a caniving little weasel like Mal. Jak stepped forward and grabbed the book from his hands. He then smiled and spoke,

"Well looks like you're a regular Indiana Jones, discoverin things ya shudunt be."

Johnny was afraid, but his ego prevented him from showing it. He came back with a cocky remark.

"You honestly didn't expect anyone to find this?"

Jak reared his fist back and punched Johnny across the face.

"I didn't expect you to find it, after all, you're supposed to be dead..."

Johnny held his face and spoke.

"Please, I'm Johnny Turbo, it's gonna take a little more than that to keep me down..."

Jak lifted Johnny up by his spandex and yelled in his face.

"Listen you overly confident twerp, you've gotten on my last nerve! I aint gonna get blamed for you's gettin away!"

Johnny chuckled at Jak

"So you wanna fight? huh?"

Jak laughed loudly.

"You aint a fighter...yer a runner!"

Johnny swelled up with rage he swung his fists at Jak, but missed. Jak threw him against the wall and he slid to the floor. Johnny stood up and came at Jak full speed, but Mal football tackled him and fired a sonic blast at him. Johnny was on the floor writhing in pain. Jak stood over him and cracked his knuckles. Johnny took a swing at him, but Jak grabbed his arm and twisted it. He then shoved Johnny over to Mal who shoved him back. This went back and forth with Jak and Mal laughing maniacally. Jak finally flipped Johnny's cape over his head and kicked him on the back so he fell forward. Johnny rolled over angrily. He stood up and spoke.

"Fine...I'm a runner."

Johnny ran down the sewers while Jak and Mal chased him. He rounded a corner and came face to face with a couple of androids so he slid through the sewage and jumped up behind them sopping wet and smelling like feet. Jak and Mal collided with the androids and they toppled over into the sewage. Jak tried to stand up and he shouted at Johnny.

"I AM GONNA GET YOU ONE DAY! YOU CAN'T RUN FROM ME FOREVER!"

Johnny got out of the sewers and wringed out his costume. It was another rough day.

Ferocious Ferret sat at a chair in the Pocket D. She had seen/heard what the Freedom Force was up to now. She wondered who these villains were and decided that since she had heard they attack those heroes in the D why not just hang out and wait to see if they showed. She'd join up with em, if not for anything but amusment oh and information.

Maybe she, herself, would run into those heroes. Should prove to be interesting....

After leaving the Freedom Forces meeting, Lady Cosmic knew what had to be done, they were right, her orders were clear, they were correct in sending her to join thier ranks. She knew she had to act carefully and not be rash, many eyes would be on her now, this was in a way very limiting. How could she accomplish what she needed with her hands bound in such a way.

But she did know one thing, where to start. Well two things really, The team in a way were getting desperate and they were more or less two members down, including one of the leaders.

Chapter III - Strike When People Are Most Vulnerable

Deep in the heart of Fist Industries, Drex sat at a desk bored. He was putting together some traps that could be used to capture any stragglers that survived his "hostile takeover" of Paragon. Jak barged in with Mal following him slowly. He shouted over to Drex.

"We've got a problem!"

Drex put down his trap and stood up with a serious face. Jak continued.

"Johnny is still alive!"

Drex rolled his eyes clenched his fists. Jak spoke more.

"We ran into him in the sewers, we would have gotten him to, but we collided with a couple of your android scouts."

Drex cracked his knuckles and sat back down.

"Why was he in the sewers?"

Jak swallowed and spoke up.

"He found the secret enterance to the underground sector of Fist Industries..."

Drex growled at Jak.

"And you couldn't catch him!?! Pathetic! I can't believe you! This'll jeporadize everything!"

Jak begged for forgiveness.

"I know! I'm sorry! Please!"

Drex wove his fist at Jak.

"Enough! I don't want to see you within 400 yards of this place until YOU take care of your targets! I want Johnny dead and I want that Emerald Core kid captured!"

Jak yelled back.

"But!"

Drex cut him off by flinging him out of the building. Jak landed in a dumpster in a back alleyway. Jak got out of the dumpster covered in garbage, he spit on the floor and inched his way to complete his jobs.

Meanwhile, Johnny and Foxy were both getting drunk at a Halloween party. Foxy was hugging everyone in sight while Johnny was singing old 80s songs. Foxy was drinking like there was no tommorrow, all because the Turbo egged her on to. Then at around midnight, Johnny took off, leaving Foxy all alone in the club. He was too drunk to even really know what was happening.

He was stumbling his way down a street in Kings Row when Jak came out in front of him. Johnny drunkedly spoke,

"Well good day to you sir!"

Jak smiled and cracked his neck.

It was another rough day...

Foxy could see sparkles everywhere her eyes turned. This was a new sensation for her. She was being carried by someone, Suryal.

"I loves him..." she thought to herself, "I really don't feel so well..."

She threw up on him again. She felt awful in more ways then one.

"Sorry..." Foxy cried to him again.

Suryal gently looked at her and peted her hair. "It's going to be ok, don't worry."

She couldn't remember what had happened moments before to make the party go from super awesome, like when she was hanging out with Johnny, dancing on the bar, flirting with Paragon Shield, laughing, someone saying to her ,"You never know how the power structure will fall... ...only that it will" and having a bubbly great time to this.... She tried to think back but it was too hard right now. She closed her eyes and felt worse when she did. She could feel the spinning more so, quickly she opened her eyes again trying to focus on something....She kept her gaze on Suryal's face.

He got them back to the base safetly and Suryal rushed around trying to find a bucket and some washrags. He soon returned to Foxy and kept her company as she began to "recover" from the events.

Foxy soon fell fast asleep and Suryal kept watch on her through the hours waiting for Liquidus, their leader, to show up. He had some words for him. This was never going to happen again if he could help it.

Em sat at a computer in the base, typing away. He was in his super suit, geared up for another day of fighting...except it was still light out. Liquidus wasn't deterring anyone from fighting crime during the day, but he stressed teamwork and communication with each other. In a way, it was madness; Em came close to being toasted alive by Laughing-Stock. If it weren't for his saviness and quick thinking, he was sure to suffer badly. Unfortunately, the clown got away and there were no new answers.

Emerald scanned through news headlines online, while the TV near by blared the recent breaking news stories. He scanned page after page; "Clown kills 3", "Laughing-Stock tortures family; burns house to the ground", "Senator Johnson's son's birthday party attacked; 12 dead, 36 injured - witnesses see clown fleeing the scene".

"How did I miss this guy?" Emerald thought to himself. "Something tells me we should stay away from this guy immediately. No telling what he's capable of doing."

There was a noise that made Em jump out of his seat. It was his cellphone. He took it out of his securely hidden pocket and glanced at the phone number. It was Jennifer.

"Hey you," Em greeted Jen warmly.

"Hey, thought I'd give you a call. how's it going?" She responded.

"I'm good, just helping out a friend with his apartment," Em responded, fully lying to her.

"I remembered" she said, "I just wanted to call and tell you that I miss you."

Em smiled warmly. "I miss you too."

"I'm so glad we were able to spend time together these past couple of weeks. Sometimes it seems like there's so much standing in our way" Jen stated, ending her sentence a little sullen.

"I know" Em said. "But hey, I think we're doing good. The important thing is that we take it slow. I like getting to know you more...and these last couple of weeks have been great."

Em thought about the fact that the only reason they had so much time together was because he had to hide out from the psychos trying to kill him. He felt it was bittersweet - but time spent together is better than being dead.

"Yeah, definitely" Jenn responded while Em spaced out. "Well I'll let you go, but call me later this week, k?"

Em finally snapped out of it. "Huh? Oh yeah, of course, I'll call you."

"later."

Em closed the phone and placed it back in his hidden pocket. He put his gloves on and secured his boots completely. His suit and mask were already on...he never took them off within the base. Not that he was paranoid, but if you asked how many people have seen him without his mask in Paragon, you could count them on one hand...and still have 4 fingers left over.

The sky was a bright, sunny display of warmth and energy. Em flew through the air, thinking about how he could infiltrate Drex's operation. Info was scarce and so was time.

"...all units, we have a fire at 5th and charleston! There's massive flames everywhere! We need backup, I repeat, NEED backup! Suspect is still in the building! I...swear...I hear some weird kind of laughter! Please respond!"

Em sighed loudly. It had to be a trap. But innocent people could die. A lot was at stake. He left a message at the base to stay clear of him. Would he go against his word? What would Liquidus say?

"I can't, not now" Em said to himself. "Sorry, gotta leave it to the police."

He flew away at break-neck speed, leaving the area as fast as possible. He ended up in Talos Island, taking a breather. Em landed on a building that was clearly under construction; it had few walls, a steel skeleton structure and wooden floors for the workers. He caught his breath as he wondered if he did the right thing. Just then he thought he heard a voice.

...sometimes there is no right thing. Only the inevitable.

Malevictus walked out with 3 androids ready to fire. Em cringed as he exhaled loudly. He was caught with his guard down and he knew he made the mistake.

"I knew you would show eventually" Malevictus said. "Too bad you didn't respond to that fire. I have a feeling it would've been a lot less painful."

He shot a sonic wave in Em's direction, causing Em to fly back, falling 5 stories down. He hit 3 steel beams before slamming hard on a sandy pile, slowly rolling down to the concrete. He mustered enough strength to push on a communications device, alerting any Freedom Force member nearby the Talos area. Malevictus and his androids descended upon him, standing before him without any fear of retaliation. Suddenly, a figure came jumping from a building nearby, landing right near the grouping.

"Well well well, whadduwe have here?" Laughing-Stock asked as he stood before a fallen Em. "Looks like a cocky, damaged hero who tried to KILL ME." Stock ignited his hand, sporting a sinister smile across his face.

"Wait," Malevictus said. "We have orders to bring him in alive."

"Aaawwwww, c'mon!" Laughing-Stock responded. "He deserves it! Besided, Drex won't mind if he's a little burnt around the edges!"

Malevictus smiled. "Okay, but keep him alive. He's no good to us dead."

"With pleasure," Stock said. He bent down in front of Em, looking at him face to face. He grinned sadistically. "I'm gonna make you feel pain...and THEN I'm gonna stop being nice. I promise you, you'll never......EVER....forget my face again."

Em breathed shakily. He was afraid.

There was nothing he could do...except wait...and hope someone could save him.

Foxy had seen Emerald Core leave the base. She was in her "hide box" as she liked to be to sleep or be alone with her newly "obtained" items. She was a little worried cause Liquidus had told them not to leave the base alone. Even though her head still hurt a bit from the other night she thought it best to follow him. She grabbed her bow and snuck out the base and silently once again unseen.

She saw him go into Talos and she was starting to lose track of him till she heard a commotion in the distance. She felt her stomach drop and knew it was time to act.

She saw Emerald in trouble. She felt it time to drop her hiding act and come to to play as well. She readied her bow and pulled multiple arrows back on the string. They'd get a shower of arrows as a gift from Emerald's friend.

Malevictus smiled. "Okay, but keep him alive. He's no good to us dead."

"With pleasure," Stock said. He bent down in front of Em, looking at him face to face. He grinned sadistically. "I'm gonna make you feel pain...and THEN I'm gonna stop being nice. I promise you, you'll never......EVER....forget my face again."

Foxy saw Emerald was scared and as the arrows began to rain down she cast bubbles of protection on him to fend off the incoming shower.

"Well, looks like it's time we evened these odds. Tsk. Tsk. You don't know how to play fair...." Foxy laughed at the villains.

She put up her force fields and hit her com to alert the others of what was going on. Foxy closed her eyes and began to look like she was concentrating. It was time to test out her new skills that the academy wouldn't let her use.

It has been a few days since the attack on Liquidus in the sewers, the android that Johnny was able to recovered was placed back on his carrier for safekeeping with a team trying to get whatever they can out of it, any form of valuable information... only a matter of time. Liquidus stood outside on the roof of Freedom Force Headquarters, the sun was setting and he found himself admiring again, cherishing it as if it was his last. The sound of a rotor blade cutting through the air started to approach him... 3 SH-60 Seahawk was seen in the distance. With an army of androids un unknown numbers being made against Liquidus' group, it was time to even the odds... with a battalion of the highly trained United States Marine Corps.

The 3 helicopters slowly hovered over the roof, ropes being dropped from the side and soldiers began roping down and lining up before Liquidus. The battalion leader set his force at ease and saluted to Liquidus, Liquidus saluted back and scanned everyone's faces; they were fearless and ready, expected from the Marines.

"Good to see you well Liquidus, we got the call and ready for duty."

Liquidus nodded, "I'm assigning you to guard duty of the Headquarters... since we're on american soil, I rather not bring the fight to this new threat... but I need the headquarters to be a safe haven as all guardsman of the Freedom Force while we regain our strength, we're still too scattered to mount anything useful."

"Alright, you can count on us Liquidus... we'll keep this place locked tight."

Liquidus didn't want to call them in, he doesn't want them being at the end of the short stick of those androids or any of Drex's goons, but he hopes that they would be a fool to perform any sort of direct assault against the Headquarters. But then again, it's better to be safe than sorry and they're trained to fight. The Marines started marching into the bulding in a double file line formation.

The battalion saluted Liquidus once again, "Semper Fi."

...Semper Fi... that's right, Liquidus needs to have faith in them just as he does with all of his guardsman... his friends, then Liquidus started to realize that he might be getting soft.

---

--Some time ago--

---

Malevictus walked out and saw Jak walking up to him, "Did you tell him about..." but Malevictus cut him off and told Jak to come with him. "What's going on?" Jak was being somewhat confused, Malevictus handed him a picture and explained, "We're suppose to recruit him."

Jak examined the picture and couldn't really make it out, it was a hooded face with a 2 blue stripes, the rest of the picture was too dark to make out, "Who's he?" Malevictus responded, "No clue... Drex didn't give me a name, just told me to go find him and get him... he said he hangs out in one of the abandoned warehouse close to Rogues Gallery's." Jak stopped Malevictus and looked at him, "The Rogue Gallery? You kidding right? I heard about them, I don't think they'll be too thrilled about us recruiting one of theirs..."

Malevictus looked at him for a minute, "Why don't you tell Drex that?" He grabbed the picture out of Jak's hand and continued walking down the hall, Jak stood there for a minute before realizing that he would rather take his chances with the Rogue Gallery than with Drex. Once Jak caught up, Malevictus continued on, "Besides... it's probably considered a side thing for this guy, but Drex did say bring back up just incase... so we'll just bring the androids."

"How many androids?" Jak wondered, Malevictus shrugged, "Drex didn't say... but just to be on the safe side, lets take all that's operational...

...All 300 of them."

Malevictus and Jak made their way to the desinated warehouse that Drex pointed them out too, no problems so far. It was quiet, too quiet. Malevictus and Jak felt a shiver go down their spine as they approach to the big warehouse doors, the androids openned it as they made their way in. It was dark but they could see a spotlight up ahead, and a guy meditating. Course, they were soon greeted.

"Well well well... what have we here?" A glowy green eye was seen off the side, followed by a firey orange eye behind him, "You fools are either very brave or very stupid for walking in here uninvited." The figures appeared into the moon light shining through the broken ceiling glass, it was Ghost Face and Pumpkin Face. Rumor has it that there is suppose to be a third comrad but no one has seen him, no one alive at least... Malevictus and Jak stood ready, "Ooh, fiesty now aren't we, see you brought toys too." Pumpkin Face was looking at all the androids, as they initiate a battle stance.

"Is that guy over there the man with 2 blue stripes on his face?" Malevictus said pointing at the man meditating, hoping they could just get this over with. "And what of it?" Ghost face responded with a grin on his face, "We're hoping to interest him with some work." Ghost Face and Pumpkin Face looked at each other, "Sorry bro, but you're out of luck, he's not interested... and we learned the hard way that he is not to be disturbed while he's meditating, saw some nasty things done to people."

Malevictus stepped forward, "Unfortantly, time is something we don't have right now as our boss does not like to be waited." Pumpkin Face stepped up to him, "He's still not interested..." Malevictus was getting a little frustfrated, "How do YOU know what he wants... hell how does HE know what we have to offer, you all psychic or something?" Ghost Face crossed his arms and lean back towards the wall, "Not really, we just know what he wants... and right now, you're not welcomed here so I suggest you go back to your boss and tell him to shove it."

Jak mumbled, "If only it was that simple."

Malevictus was now getting impatience, "Look... we're going to talk to HIM, not YOU guys... so either get out of our way or else." Pumpkin Face and Ghost Face was looking at each other, then started to laugh hystarically, "You think you're going to fight us? You're not even worth out time, we got better things to do." Pumpkin continued as Ghost Face started walking out to the door, "We were on our way out... we just thought we do you guys a favor by warning ya but hey, if you wanna piss him off, its your funeral. We'll just end up getting more power after he's done binding your souls to him."

Malevictus and Jak was looking at each other, puzzled. They could still hear the Faces, "Think we should help him out? That's a shit-load of toys they brought, could be fun." Pumpkin asked, "Nah, he can handle himself; besides, we got our own problems to deal with." Ghost Face looked back at Malevictus and Jak then busted out laughing once more.

"What the fuck?" Jak was furious, "Not worth their time? They're not worth OUR time!" Malevictus grabbed Jak's arm as he started walking out, "Don't... we can't screw this up, how often are we told to bring backup just to recruit a guy? Drex knows something that we don't." Jak looked at Malevictus, still furious, "Fine... this guy better be worth..." But before he could finished, the androids started forming up in front of the two goons, preparing for a fight. Malevictus and Jak raised their eyebrow, as they stared into the empty spaces of the warehouse. They felt the shiver once more and started to notice a haze forming in the moon lights all around them. Then they realized that the man meditating was no longer there, they stood ready.

Johnny strolled into the D battered and bruised. He had gone through a lot in one day. It all started way back at 5 AM. When Johnny was face to face with Jak. It was not even really a fight, it was more like a baby pony giving a ride to a 200 pound woman. There's a good analogy for ya. The only reason Johnny got outta there with his life was because he whipped out the "last resort."

Oh? You don't know what the "last resort" is? Well let me explain it to you. When two males are fighting and one is getting the crap kicked out of him (i.e. Johnny's situation) The only way to get out of that fight alive is if ya go for...the twins. The male's weakness...you know what I am talking about.

So Johnny whipped kicked Jak right in the place he did not want to be kicked and superspeeded away. But it did not end there, later at the D, another unknown attacker assaulted him...he wasn't sure who it was, he just knew she was a fighter, because she left him covered in slash marks. Yet strangely she kept saying

"I have to make this convincing"

So what are you going to do? Shake it off? Nope, not for Johnny, you're going to explode at a fellow teammate and act like a damned fool. After making Foxy cry at the D, Johnny got rid of the good luck coin she had gave him and strolled down Kings Row to find his apartment. He entered and found it ransacked. Everything was broken, and Drex exited the bathroom.

"Why Johnny, I was expecting you home for several more hours"

Johnny nodded his head.

"I can see that"

Drex walked up to Johnny and spoke

"So you're probably wondering what I'm doing here, huh?"

Johnny clenched his fists and Drex laughed and spoke again.

"My, my, my, look at the temper on you boy..."

Johnny grinded his teeth while Drex leaned in.

"Do you want people to stop following you Johnny...do you want the public to hate you?"

Johnny shrugged Drex off, but Drex continued to get into his head.

"Everybody has an akilies heel Johnny, some have more than others. I mean just look at you..."

Johnny growled at Drex.

"What about me?"

Drex giggled to himself and mocked him.

"I am Johnny Turbo, I love myself more than those around me, but I want those around me to praise me. Too bad I shun them away by being a jackass all the time. Plus, I am stupid...really stupid!"

Johnny stopped him

"I get it, I'm a walking disaster...but you aren't one to judge..."

Drex raised an eyebrow and spoke.

"Me?!? I have no akilies heel..."

Johnny smirked and snapped back.

"I am Drex Vexel, everyone has to bow to me because I'm perfect! Except when it comes to being a decent human being, thats where I suck! I suck bad at that!"

Drex raised his voice

"I am nothing like that!"

Johnny raised his voice

"Yes you are! I am nothing like what you said!"

Drex yelled at Johnny.

"Shut up!"

Johnny yelled at Drex.

"No you shut up!"

Drex slapped Johnny and Johnny slapped Drex and then Drex punched Johnny and Johnny punched Drex. They both growled at eachother and yelled at the same time.

"God damn it, I hate you!"

Drex kicked Johnny back, and laughed at him.

"I'm right about you Johnny, you love the spotlight, you love to be loved, but sadly, you aint gonna be loved no more."

He cracked his knuckles and lifted up a TV remote. He flipped on the TV to the 11 o clock news. Johnny looked at it angrily. The clip of JT yelling at Foxy and making her cry and then an anchorwoman appeared on the screen and spoke.

"Statistics show that Johnny Turbo is one of the most favorite heroes of Paragon City among the population. For halloween over 200 kids were "Johnny Turbo." Does he deserve all this spotlight? This reporter, says nay. Johnny Turbo is not a good person, sure he's stopped crime, but for the wrong reasons. Suddenly it looks like Paragon's morals have slipped into the wrong areas. Johnny Turbo is a terrible role model for kids, Johnny Turbo is a terrible role model for heroes, Johnny Turbo...is terrible... So everyone, let this has been rot on the street for the rest of his life, don't give him the time of day because this reporter says Johnny Turbo...is a menace..."

Johnny frowned at the mudslinging being thrown against him. Drex turned off the TV and walked up to JT. He smiled.

"Don't tell me that I'm not a good person Johnny...because you aint so good...yourself"

Johnny was too sad to even punch Drex. Drex teleported away and Johnny ripped off his mask. He laid down on his bed and went...to sleep.

Ferocious had seen Johnny drop the coin down the monkey cage and she couldn't believe it. How could he be so inconsiderate? It in furiated her to no end. She was going to get this coin back if she had to jump into the pit herself.

Ferocious ripped the cage open with her claws and watched as the monkeys run out towards the crowd. She had no time to deal with them, this was way more important. She tore apart the cage and as she reached down to pick up the coin someone grabbed her.

"You're under arrest! You've used your powers in Pocket D and now you've created choas, not to mention you destroyed this entertainment. Anything you say can.."

Ferocious stuck a right claw in him. Not enough to kill the poor man but enough to make him step back.

"I go by no rules, got it!"

Fericous reached down to pick up the coin once again and watched it float away in front of her face. She could hear laughter in the background. This was not going to be a good night. She couldn't catch up to the coin with all these cops surrounding her.

"DAMN!" She yelled out in annoyance.

Ferocious completely disappeared in front of the policeman that stood before her. She jumped through the crowd of them and hustled it to the exit.

The men in the monkey cage stood dumb founded. The one officer down looked around and told his men, "Find the records of this Ferocious Ferret."

"Trying to sir....nothing's coming up....it's like she doesn't exsist..."

Johnny woke up the next morning. He rubbed his eyes, walked out of bed, and turned on the TV. The news had stopped bad-mouthing him for the time being. Breaking news had occured at the Zig, so most news stations had shifted focus. Of course, this would not end the big scandal, after whatever happened at the Zig was cleared up, they'd be right back on Johnny's behind.

JT clicked up the volume to listen about what was going on at the Zig. An in the field reporter had been dispatched to the Zig to get the whole story.

"It is a total bloodbath here today. We are not sure of the specifics, but a group of criminals attacked Prison Block B6 breaking out tons of former gangsters. Longbow was dispatched to the situation, but they were slaughtered. One of the security cameras actually caught on tape an entire Longbow squad being viciously beaten by these bloodthirsty villains.

A video came onto the screen showing a group of Longbow soldiers firing their weapons. Suddenly, Howling Jak came and wiped out four guys with a headbutt. He grabbed another by the leg and tore him in half. Malevictus teleported into the scene where he blasted three soldiers with a screech. A Longbow Sargeant ran across the screen on fire screaming as Laughing-Stock giggled in pleasure at the poor boy. Suddenly, a Longbow minigun platoon arrived and fired their weapons at Jak. Sadly, Fury Fox approached from behind them and ripped a chunk of ground from the floor. She threw it at them knocking them all back. Drex dropped down and encased the entire platoon in an antigravitational hold. They floated off the ground and began spinning. The entire group laughed together at the people in peril. Laughing-Stock then lit them all on fire and then burned right there. The group moved on and the camera moved turned to a different corridor. Some ex-freakshow burn out came out with glowing fists. He called out.

"FOR FIST!"

He charged on after his gang and the footage stopped. The reporter appeared back on screen.

"Longbow was not the only team dispatched though. A group of heroes was even sent into the fray. None of them survived..."

Another video came on the screen, this one showed four heroes deep in the heart of the Zig. One was creating force bubbles to sheild the other three. The other three had varied powers. One had spines jutting out of their body, another had encased himself in stone armor, and the last had a glowing bow.

Fury Fox jumped the one creating forcefields. The three were left exposed and the rest of Drex's goons came in. Fury smashed the forcfielder's head into the floor until she had become battered and bloody. Jak duked it out with the armored stone hero and they beat eachother silly. The bowman fired an arrow into Malevictus and he fell to the floor. Laughing-Stock ran in and caught the bowman on fire, then kicked him down. Drex came in and grabbed Malevictus, he yelled at him,

"Get up damn it!"

Mal stood up and fired a sonic blast at the spine hero. The freakshow burnout ran up to him and delivered a mighty blow into his head. The spine hero went flying into the stone tank and they collided. Drex distorted gravity and picked up a large chunk of rubble off the floor. He then used it to crush the stone and spine heroes. The bowman burned and fell over defeated as the forcefielder laid in her own blood. The group charged on and the video cut off. The reporter came back.

"Most of the damage has cleared up, of course, the entire prison block is now empty. The intruders gained access threw a hole they created in the side of the building. That will need major repairs fast because it could cause a cave in of the entire complex. In other ne-"

Johnny turned off the TV and sighed. At least this would take attention off him...or so he thought. He went out for a drink and when he returned...his apartment was torched. All of Kings Row had burnt his home down. Charred Johnny turbo action figures laid everywhere and a banner was raised over the burnt ashes. It read:

"Where were you...hero..."

Johnny shook his head and walked away. The whole city had turned on him...

Rei was inbetween classes looking at a newspaper, her mouth hanging open in shock, the Headline reading "Freedom Force, friend or foe". Quickly she read the article, shocked more and more as it brought up times of destructionby them, property damange, fighting in Pocket D, bad public image...the list went on and on. Then towards the end a comment about how some people of Kings Row had took matters into thier own hands and torched the home of one Johnny Turbo.

Now Rei knew that she wasn't the best of friends with Johnny but she couldn't just sit by, not after this.

She reaches down then to grab her bag by her feet, fumbling around in it trying to find... "Ms. Agawa." she looks up, there infront of her, the Dean of Paragon U, and a contingent of Longbow. "I'm going to have to ask you to come with us. I'm sorry. There's no choice."

Foxy hugged Johnny while he slept in the D where he would be living for now until he got a new place. She made a statement to him.

"I may not be around forever Johnny but rememeber that I care and always will care."

She turned from him. It was time to get things into action before she was to go away for a while. This news on the Freedom Force had to be erased, the files frozen or non-exsistant. It would be her gift to them before she'd go. It was possible all this was set up by Kain in the first place.

She walked to the PPD and walked into Detective Stan Walker's office.

"I need one last favor."

"What is it kid?" Walker said not even looking up at her.

"The Freedom Force, I need those news files, the lognbow files, all of it. I want it all erased and I want the folder of the printed verisons you have. You and I both know I can't stick around here for too long."

"Kid...we really are gonna have to have a talk.." he said as he finally glanced up at her. "Ya got moxy...thats good..ya fight da good fight..bonus.." Walker stood up and lit a smoke in his office staring through the window. "Ya reallly need to sit and plan a bit more..find your sources before ya go chargin in..trust me I know. One of these years I'll try and learn ya somethin about detective work..a lot of its boring but it could help ya in da long run..catchin bad guys aint just about poundin the snot outta em..although thats the fun part."

He pointed to a spot on the map in the room. "Media HQ from around here and there's the Longbow base if'n you want to "talk" with them."

Foxy smiled at him and waved goodbye.

After this was done, she'd go meet with Pit Dragon and then if Kain wanted her she'd bring it to him, head on. She was not about to stay here and endanger the rest of her teamamtes. And maybe if she was bored....She'd follow Drex and try to stop him.

For now it was time to clear out a few buildings of their "files and paperwork."

As Rei sat in the Deans office looking around as he questioned her she started thinking....Glass windows....guards oustside the door...guards inside the door....glass window in the door....

and none of them wearing ear protection..

"Ms. Agawa, you are associated with these people, the Freedome Force correct?"

duh ofcourse she was..not like she had any other life

"You know that they have been a problem as of late yes?"

let's see..all over the news...the papers...the radio...her classmates whispering behind her back..

"you also realize that we cannot afford to have this effect the schools image. I'm afraid it's time for us to split ways."

With that she only nodded once..snatched up her back pack, stood...snapped opened her wings...more for effect then anything....amazing how even hardened members of longbow reacted to seeing a person with a 16 foot wingspan..

Then slowly folding her wings in she stepped out the door and turned towards the courtyard, reeady to shred any of thier eardrums if they tried to stop her...she suddenly wasn't in a good mood...

Selene walks into her apartment a few hours after the Freedom Forces meeting, things were spiraling out of control quickly. Emerald Core seemed to be alright if in a bit over his head, Johnny Turbo was oddly quiet last night. Techno Raven was back from who knows where. Foxy....well Foxy deserved a more indepth background check... So does Rei.

Looking up from her thoughts she notices that the light by her phone is flashing...lovely a message.... so she walks over and hits the play button.

A male voice is heard "The time has come, you need to act quickly" click..

Well, she'll give her boss this much... not one for many words..

How exactly she was supposed to complete her mission she wasn't sure of, she had no help, no friends over here in Paragon, no contacts. No one to help her do what she must... But she will manage, she always does.

Glancing towards the clock on the wall she throws on a jacket and turns heading back out. There is one or two people she needs to visit before the night is over.

Liquidus sighed a bit then pushed his chair back away from his desk... funny how he managed to find himself in this spot after leaving it about a week ago, course it's not to say he had some running around going on. His first stop was ofcourse... the University. He valued the education greatly for his little brother so after hearing news with Rei's dean... he needed to act quickly.

"Go back to your desk, sit down, and shut up."

Liquidus walked into the Dean's office, it was at the end of the day so the Dean must've been tired and was ready to go home, at least he thought he was going home.

"Who are you? And what do you want from me?"

Liquidus was wearing his trench coat on, the Dean thought it was a burglar or hell... even a murder. But then again, the Dean was half right. Liquidus took off his sun glasses and tossed em on his desk, sat down on the chair and pulled his feet up and leaned back in the chair, the Dean was getting abit frustfrated.

"I didn't tell you to talk, did I?" Liquidus said, while looking around in the room, "Nice office though, wish I had something like this."

It took the Dean abit to realized who he is, his mouth dropped, "You're Liquidus, that special agent guy right? Also the... leader of the Freedom Force?"

"Again... I didn't tell you to talk... did I?"

...

Liquidus waited 5 minutes to make sure he got the picture of who's in control, then took out a file and tossed it in front of him.

"You know, my brother goes to this university, first year too. Thought it'd be a great thing for him till I found about your little meeting with Rei Agawa... and to be quite frank, I was not pleased."

The Dean started going through the files.

"In there you'll find all kinds of dirt that wouldn't have a good effect on your so called... "image," and hell, this is like a walk in the park for me. I could dig deeper, go through things with a comb if I wanted to... who knows what sort of goodies that are just itching to be surfaced."

"But the Lon..."

"I'm sorry... did I say you can speak yet?"

Liquidus lean forward on the desk, waiting for a reply... Dean sat there speechless.

"We're not worried about the Longbows right now... are we? We're worried about you... aren't we?"

The Dean raised his eyebrow... wondering what Liquidus meant by that.

"I'm going to cut to the chase here, from now on... anything involving the Freedom Force and it's heroes will be mine and mine alone to deal with. Next time you even think about pulling this crap on Rei or any future students that's apart of Freedom Force, just remember who I am and what I do... because I can guarantee you that your life will be just that much harder... just nod if I make myself clear..."

The Dean nodded slowly...

"Good... go ahead and keep that file, I made copies..."

Liquidus put his sunglasses back on and stopped at the doorway.

"One last thing... quit snopping on your wife, she's not cheating on you."

He walked out leaving the Dean shocked and offended by that last statement.

Liquidus spinned his chair around to face the window behind him, started thinking about how good it felt to be able to pull something like that off for the sake of another. He knew he's no hero but he felt like he accomplished something for once. He looked out the window and saw a line of longbow forming to stop a group of protesters from entering the building.

"What are you doing here Liquidus? You got a lot of nerves showing your face around here after what your group has done this past week..."

Liquidus walked into Ms. Liberty's pencil pusher's office. Liquidus knew his correct title was the Director of Freedom Corps but he knew that he has never seen or been apart of a real combat before, just merely a pencil pusher with the right connections at the right time as he made his way up to the director's position.

"Yea... we need to talk."

"What is there to talk about? Your group is out of control, I'm already in the process of appealing a disband movement."

"Oh really? On what motives?"

"For destorying both public private property, endangering the public's safety, and breaking a truce on neutral grounds!"

"So just because you can't find the real party that caused this whole thing in the first place, you simply pointed at the other party that stopped them form doing more harm?"

The director raised his eyebrows, getting up from his seat.

"Please... have a seat, let's talk."

Liquidus raised his eyebrow, nodded, and took a seat.

'Well..? I'm listening."

The director waited impatiencely. He may be a pencil pusher but being able to climb up to this position under Ms. Liberty without seening a shred of combat counted for something, right? Psh...

20 mins had passed and Liquidus still hadn't said anything... just staring at the director, not bad for a pencil pusher. Course Liquidus had been up for a few days so he started to dozed off a little, the director mistook it as mockery.

"... You're wasting my time here if you don't have anything to say..."

...

"... Look, I realize that Freedom Corps and the NSA have a good standing relationship with each other because of you... but you can't just simply go around with your little group breaking rules everywhere! The line must be drawn, we have laws to up-hold..."

Liquidus raised his eyebrow, but accidently lets out a yawn.

"... You know what, you've wasted enough of my time, just get out of my office and don't come back unless you can justify your actions."

Liquidus shrugged and started walking out... but before he could get to the door, the director yelled out, "Wait... that's it?"

Liquidus shrugged. "What do you want me to say? I mean... your mind was already set before I even walked in here. But obviously, you gonna be causing problems for me and my group and ofcourse, I will react against them to keep our head above the water. But keeping our head above the water will take up most of my time, that means... no under the table "business" between Freedom Corps and NSA... right? And uh..."

Liquidus turned away from the director's face and stared out into the hallway, "that missing party of yours was also responsible for that Zig breakout. I'm sure the family of those Agents will be very upset to hear about their own sons or daughters, fathers or mothers, brothers or sisters was killed in action, only to find out that their killers are still at large."

The director grinded his teeth as he squeezed and crumbles a paper in his hand, "Fine... Freedom Corps won't be bothering Freedom Force anymore."

"And the mobs? They're going to be in harm's way... we can't deal with every single one of the." The director started twitching a little, "... we... will take care of it..." he said slowly.

"You know... you're not such a bad guy after all. Give Ms. Liberty my thanks for having Freedom Corps giving us assistance, I really appreciate it." Liquidus walked out with a grin on his face.

The director let out a quiet arg, pencil pushers definitely play their part.

Liquidus turned his chair back around to face his desk, well... the day isn't over yet, but at least he felt like he got something done for once.

Foxy was at a loss of what to do. Suryal and Dragon kept telling her to take a "vacation" and go into hiding for her own safety. Liquidus and the crew told her to stay. In fact Liquidus ordered her to stay....She was never very good at following orders....

"Well I'll be around just hiding in the Isles. If they need me they'll call and I'll come by."

With things going as crazy as they were it was time for Suryal and her to get the kids to a safer place. She hoped they'd be in the Paragon City before something awful happened to her. She had asked not to have her name linked to it so Ashford Orphanage it was to be called. He was sponsering them so it would just be linked to his charity. This way if something did happen the kids would finally be in a safer place. Foxy wanted a break and headed to a peaceful place to her.

Chapter IV - Domino Effect

Drex sat at the head of a table with Howling Jak, Malevictus, Laughing-Stock, Fury Fox, and the ex-freakshow burnout (Drooke). Drex began to call the meeting to order.

"We're making progress..."

Jak banged on the table and called out,

"Enough of this stalling! When are we gettin rid of that hostage, he's drivin me up a tree!"

Drex shot an energy blast which hit Jak back into his seat. Drex explained,

"His will is too strong to penetrate! But he is almost broken, once he has given up the will to fight, I can retrive whatever I wish from his mind..."

Jak rolled his eyes and Fury Fox rose her hand and asked a question,

"If all of these Freedom Forcers have such strong will, how the hell can we break them all?"

Drex nodded at Fury and elaborated,

"It's a domino effect...we take down the most influential leader of the group, the rest go down. You knock down one domino it hits another, so on and so forth"

Laughing-Stock raised an eyebrow and asked a question, holding back insane laughter.

"b-b-b-b-but who is the mu-mu-most influential le-leader?"

Drooke nodded at Laughing-Stock,

"Yea, whoz we gotz ta take down?"

Drex looked at the group and explained.

"Are you all that stupid, the most influential leader...who rides in on a white horse and saves the day, who always has the "quick fix""

The group looked dumbfounded and Drex angrily spoke,

"Liquidus! The leader! Liquidus"

A loud group "oh" was heard as Drex pulled out a file and threw it on the table. He put his feet up and explained the file,

"This is all the info I've gathered on the son-of-a-bitch so far..."

Mal read the file and noticed something that could be trouble.

"Woah! Woah! Woah! It says here this guy is an NSA operative, you really think you can take down a government operative?"

Drex laughed at the statement,

"Ha! Trust me, by the time I'm finished with him, he'll be begging me to kill him off..."

Drooke sat up and asked,

"So howz we gonna be doin diz?"

Drex stared at Drooke and wondered if he had ever said a grammatically correct sentence and then said,

"I am open to all ideas..."

Laughing-Stock called out,

"Lets burn his house down!

Drex stared at Laughing-Stock blankly,

"That's all I ever get from you! Arson! Arson! Arson!"

Jak hit the table and shouted,

"Lets tear off his arms and legs then put his arms where his legs should be and his legs where his arms should be!"

Drex pointed at Jak,

"Alright Jak, I want you to go sit in that closet until i tell you to come out!"

Jak walked into the closet and Drex called out to his cohorts,

"As for the rest of you...I don't care what you do...just make it hurt...hurt bad!"

His team cheered and left and then Drex opened a door to another room which was full of Zig breakouts. There were at least 300 of them and Drex addressed them all,

"I want you to make Paragon City hell! You owe me your lives, and the streets you will claim in the name of..."

Drex pulled out a uniform combat suit with a fist insigna on the chest. Drex finished his previous sentence...

"...FIST!"

The inmates bursted into thunderous applause and cheer. They all grabbed their suits and strapped on their gear, but it wasn't done there, Drex had one last errand to run. He teleported to the Dean of Paragon U's office...

When he arrived he grabbed the Dean's throat and he was shocked. The Dean was scared and he called out,

"Look if that Liquidus guy sent you...tell him...I did what he told me to, Rei's allowed back in school!"

Drex laughed at the Dean,

"Haha, believe me, I am much worse than "that Liquidus guy""

Drex teleported himself and the Dean back to Fist Tower...

Hell was about to hit Paragon.

Selene gathered her things up, pulled on her shades and her longcoat, making sure she had her identification with her...all of it, not just her cover identity and fake hero registration. The last thing she grabbed was a secure currier packet and her sidearm. She left on her way, heading to meet up with Liquidus, although he didn't know who he was meeting today. Boy was he in for a surprise.

Johnny was staying with Minx for the time being. Considering his apartment was torched and if he stayed at the D any longer he'd probably have that techno crap they play permenantly stuck into his head.

It was 3 AM and Minx was out when a knock at the door was heard. Johnny got up and put on some pants to answer the door. Before he could even reach it though, someone kicked it open. The stranger spoke,

"Detective Rick Lopez, I have a warrant to search this house..."

Johnny crossed his arms and replied,

"What the hell do you think you are going to find here?"

Rick put on some gloves and spoke again,

"The PPD thinks the Freedom Force has something to do with the situation in Kings Row..."

Johnny quirked his brow.

"What is going on in Kings?"

Rick pulled out a case file and explained,

"It has been declared a danger zone by the mayor. Several "Fist" soldiers have overtaken the sector. They've been breaking windows and demolishing buildings. It is not a pretty sight..."

Johnny scratched his beard and wondered. Rick continued,

"No civillian is allowed in...or out. It is a bloodbath over there. We've sealed all enterances from Independence Port, Skyway City, and Galaxy City. We've shut down the Yellow Line as well, there is no way in..."

Johnny knew of one way in...but it would be risky... When Rick started the search Johnny snuck out of the house and to the sewer network enterance. He spoke to himself,

"I just pray this isn't sealed off yet..."

A man stood on the sidewalk, casually typing something on his PDA. Cars slowly drove by him on the city street, kicking up leaves and dust as they drove. People were walking by him, not giving him a second glance. It was a normal day; people were shopping, getting groceries, enjoying the last few days of the market's presence, gathering their fresh fruits and vegetables before winter's calling.

He was dressed in a long brown trenchcoat, a a matching derby hat, black leather shoes and smooth black gloves. He continued to type away at his PDA as he looked towards a 3rd floor building sitting directly across the street. There was a man in the window, cleaning his apartment and shifting objects around. The man in the apartment seemed too pre-occupied to notice the man in the trenchcoat. He had been there for months, yet never even noticed.

...Emerald never noticed the man.

He was repsonsible for the assissination attempt on Em's life; Em had messed with council one too many times, trying to find Rei at the time and he paid dearly. This man was responsible for the violent altercation but had done nothing else to Em since.

...until now.

The man grabbed his ringing cellphone out of his pocket and flipped it open. All that could be heard was his side of the conversation.

"Yes," the man said. "That's correct.....I don't care what you think....So?....we've dealt with lunatics before, HELL we work with them on a daily basis....Exactly....I promise, we'll be paid hansomely for this....That's right, give him the information....."

The conversation continued for a few more minutes, when the man looked up at Em before uttering these final words:

"That's right, today's the day....Exactly. We're going to finish him off once and for all."

The man hung up the phone and walked away from his spot. His job was finally done.

Drex stood in front of Malevictus and Laughing stock. He was discussing future operations with them when a small, feeble-looking assistant came rushing in with a crimson folder. He walked over to Drex and without hesitation began to whisper something in his ear. At first, Drex looked beyond enraged...that was until he heard what the assistant was saying.

"Oh?" Drex stated. "Leave it with me then."

Drex picked up the folder and began thumbing through it. Each turning page made Drex smile more maniacally. Finally he looked at his confused cohorts, sitting at the desk uncomfortably. Drex finally spoke.

"It appears our friend Emerald Core has more info than we thought."

"What do you mean?" Malevictus spoke up.

"Seems Emerald has had many altercations with the Council. He destroyed an ongoing operation in King's Row and it appears he even helped Citadel take down Vandal, one their leaders in Talos island."

"So?? Why do we care about that nonsense?!" Laughing-Stock shouted while flipping his coin. Drex glanced at Laughing-Stock for a moment then returned to the folder.

"Because..." Drex said, "They apparently have figured out something that none of use could."

Both underlings looked up at Drex inquizzitvely. Drex finally spoke as he grinned happily.

"....his secret identity."

Brian walked from the market towards his home. He felt relaxed as he walked with his bag of apples and lettuce. Brian enjoyed the cool breeze against his face as he crossed the street. The Freedom Force was in dissaray, but Brian had experience in THAT before. As usual, he was lost in thought, not paying attention to the world around him.

....that is, until he heard the woman scream.

He instinctively looked over to see her, wondering if she needed help. She was fine, he noticed, but her composure was still rattled. As was everyone around her. They were all looking towards top of a building. A few figures stood in the blinding sun, then swooped down.

It was malevictus and a couple of androids. They walked calmy in the city street as people ran for cover. Cars were being left on the streets as people fleed for their lives. People knew who they were and weren't about to stick around to find out what they wanted. Brian began calmly but swiftly walking away from them. He figured he could find dark alley and change quickly. It was suicide, but he had to try.

As he walked across the street, he couldn't help but notice Mal was staring at him, grinning like an idiot. A small feeling of panic began to trickle through Brian's body. Did he know who he was? How?

He didn't see Laughing-Stock jump right in front of him from a store's rooftop. they stood eye-to-eye to each other, neither saying a word.

"Good to see you, Brian" LS said. "...or should I say, 'Emerald Core'!"

Brian's eyes grew wide and his face filled with panic.

"How....how did you find..."

Before Brian could finish his sentence, he knocked sideways by Malevictus' screeching vocals. He hit the pavement hard, skidding for a few feet. LS was right there to pick him up and throw him into a cavalcade of cars that crashed into each other.

Brian flew over the cars, falling on the other side. He laid on the ground, holding his side. He was in real pain. Laughing-Stock ignited his hands and shot a fireball right towards the cars. The vehicles exploded in a fury of smoldering parts, shooting Brian back a good 50 feet. He hit a city mailbox so hard he broke it off the bolts holding it in place. Mail spilled out all over the street. Brian's leg was bleeding, his hair muddied and his clothing cinged. He struggled to stand up but immediately fell back down. He couldn't fight back.

"Remember, we want him alive," Mal said. Laughing Stock looked at him and they both began to laugh histerically. "That was good" Mal said. "Kill him."

"With pleasure!" Laughing Stock said as he cracked his knuckles. He lit up his hands. Just as he was about to burn Brian to death, a shot of ice put out his hands.

"What the Hell?!" Laughing Stock shouted as he turned around. There were a dozen longbowmen and women with 3 heroes at their sides. One who had the power of Ice, another who could grow plants from the ground and lastly a woman who had the power of nuclear radiation.

"You'll pay for that!" Malevictus said. The two Super-villains lunged towards the group, immediately killing 3 of the longbowman, leaving only six. Powers were being spread around the area and the fighting grew more intense. In the thick of it all, Brian managed to get up.

...he didn't see the large black vehicle screaming towards him. The vehicle looked like an ambulence, but bigger. The van drove right up towards Brian and 5 people rushed out. Three were holding large weapons and 2 of them grabbed Brian. He couldn't fight them; he was struggling to stay conscious. The 5 people dressed in black, wearing expensive sunglasses and sporting weird watches rushed back into the van. The vehicle spun it's wheels and screeched out of the area.

"Son of a BITCH!" Laughing-Stock screamed. "HE GOT AWAY!!"

"It doesn't matter" Malevictus said. "We know who he is! He can hide, but we'll find him! Let's get back to Drex!"

Laughing-Stock ignited an apartment building, causing chaos for the protectors. The Villains rushed out of the area as the Protectors tried to save the people in the inferno. Brian was gone, and there were no signs of his disappearance.

...The Freedom Force would have to be without Brian for a few days. Hopefully he would be back. Who were those people that grabbed him?

Johnny entered the sewers carefully. He did not want to wander into the abandoaned network again, he'd rather stay the course in the "normal" sewer system. He waltzed his way through the sewage, it was surprisingly quiet in the sewers today. Not a Hellion nor Lost was stirring. He hugged the wall as he spotted the Kings Row exit...

There were PPD everywhere, which explained why the sewers were so quiet. PPD hardsuits were patroling the area as a group of officers were hoisting a metal plate over the Kings Row enterance, they were getting rid of Johnny's only ticket in... A security captain walked away from the construction and spoke on his walkie talkie.

"Yea it's gonna be expensive, but that place is a hellhole now, we can't afford the slightest exit point."

Johnny saw the captain and grabbed him. He covered his mouth and said to him,

"You've got to call off the operation..."

The captain elbowed Johnny back and spoke,

"Who the fuck are you?"

Johnny realized he was still in his streets. Maybe these cops wouldn't be able to recognize him...if he used a false name. He spoke in a much deeper voice than usual,

"Yeah, I'm Detective...Clarence...Montgomery..."

The captain quirked his brow.

"Who?"

Johnny yelled at the captain,

"Clarence Montgomery! I am a private consultant, I've been called in to investigate...the...uhh...the...uhh...scene."

The captain shrugged and motioned him to follow. Johnny walked up to the hardsuits who both immediately shouted in a booming voice,

"State your business!"

Johnny spoke in an equally booming voice,

"Detective Clarence Montgomery, I am here to investigate the scene, I was called in by Detective Rick Lopez."

One of the officers stood up and spoke,

"Lopez sent ya? Alright, come up to the surface."

Johnny walked by the glaring eyes hoping nobody realized he was not in fact, "Clarence Montgomery." The officer opened the sewer pipe and Johnny crawled up to the surface. They closed the gate and got back to work...

Johnny pulled the lid off of the manhole and hopped up. He was in Kings Row...everything seemed fine...except for the abscence of people. He wandered on the sidewalk looking for any sign of life. A group of at least twenty people ran up to Johnny and shouted,

"You! Hello! Is the sewer open! We have to get out of here!"

Just then a large boom was heard and one of the pedestrians dropped to the floor dead. A group of Hellions wearing Fist Combat suits were standing there ready to fire... Laughing-Stock dropped down with flaming fists. He laughed maniacally,

"HAHA! Where do you think you're going!"

He fired a flare at the group lighting most of them on fire. A few got away and tried to run for the sewers, but the Fist infantry fired shotgun shells at them. Johnny dove in front of the remaining pedestrians and took a few shells to the chest. He quickly regenerated and charged at the group. He football tackled a Fist soldier knocking him backwards. Laughing-Stock turned and threw a fireball at Johnny's back. Johnny's jacket caught on fire and he threw it off. The Fist soldiers jumped on him, but he threw them all off, and one even hit LS.

LS slammed onto the floor as Johnny ran to a fire hydrant. He unscrewed the top and water came spewing out. LS stood up and charged at Johnny with firey fists. JT stomped on the water spout and it shot out towards LS. It smashed him back and douched him with water. Laughing-Stock stood up drenched, he tried to ignite his hands, but he couldn't. Johnny ran up and kicked him right in the gut, he went flying back into the wall and rubble piled on top of him. Johnny cracked his knuckles and superspeeded off. That would be a sufficent hold for the time being...

Johnny snuck through buildings dodging the view of other Fist soldiers. He spotted Drex, Howling Jak, & Malevictus in the center plaza of Kings... Blue Steel was on his knees severely beaten. Drex was yelling at him angrily,

"I am in charge of here now! This is my town! KINGS ROW IS MINE!"

Drex opened a dimensional rift and sucked Blue into it. He closed it...God knows where he could've gone to. Drex turned and spoke to his comrades,

"So the PPD sealed us in here?"

Malevictus nodded and continued,

"So they think, Drooke and some androids drilled through their barrier into Galaxy... We should probably have that sector under our control by tonight..."

Drex smiled deviously and continued,

"What about the rest of the Freedom Force? Won't be long til there buddin in..."

Jak smirked,

"Aint like dat stopped us before..."

Drex shook his head,

"Aint like we've faced em head on before...they want their reputation redeemed, and the only way to do that is to take us down and prove they are heroes... You think they aren't gonna give it their all to come after us?"

Malevictus scratched his beard,

"I get it, so without Liquidus leading the charge on us, they're be nothing but ants...while we're the mean kids with the magnifying glasses."

Drex quirked his brow,

"I wouldn't use an analogy that pathetic, but yes that is the jist of it..."

Johnny hugged the wall, being sure to stay out of the view Drex, Mal, and Jak. He peeked his head out and heard someone shouting,

"Ahhh! Someone help! NOOO! Someone! AHHHH!"

Johnny turned away from Drex to see what was going on. He saw Paragon U's Dean tied up dangling from a rope held by Fury Fox. Below him was a sea of androids each weilding a different sharp implement that would make a very gruesome demise.

Johnny rushed out from behind the wall and tried to get a surprise attack on the android mob. He kicked one back and it exploded blowing a huge crater in the center of the street. Androids flew everywhere and smashed onto the street. Fury Fox dropped the Dean and came after Johnny. The Dean hit the floor with a thud as Fury punched Johnny across the face. The remaining androids spotted the Dean and recited their programming,

"Target: Accquired, Painful Interrogation: Commencing, Dispose of Body: Irradication"

Johnny kicked Fury back and dove onto one of the androids. He dashed to the Dean to help him but before he could get there a massive android wielding a bussaw swung at him. He kicked the saw back and the android cut his own head open. He dove underneath its legs and grabbed the Dean. Johnny untied him and they dashed for the sewers. Drex, Jak, and Mal teleported in and saw Johnny getting away. They shouted,

"After him!"

Fury, Drex, Jak, Mal, and a sea of androids began chasing after Johnny and the Dean. Johnny reached the manhole and opened it. He threw the dean into and prepared to jump in himself. An android fired a laser blast at JT, but he dove out of the way. He picked up the manhole cover and threw it at the group chasing them. It hit Mal in the face and he fell to be trampled by the android army. Johnny hopped down the sewer as Jak, Drex, and Fury followed.

Johnny grabbed the Dean's arm once inside the sewer and shouted,

"Let's GO!"

They rushed over the building site where the PPD was putting up the seal and Johnny shouted to the workers,

"Hurry seal up the passage!"

Johnny tugged on the rope and the seal went up...they were safe. Johnny fell to his knees exhausted. The Dean looked at him in awe. But this was not over yet. The seal bursted open and out of the debris came Drex riding Howling Jak with Fury Fox following. The PPD fired their weapons, but Fury tore them to pieces. Jak took on the hardsuits as Drex came up to Johnny. Johnny turned to the Dean and yelled,

"RUN!"

The Dean took off full speed running and Johnny prepared to fight with Drex. He punched at Drex, but Drex fired an energy blast at him blowing him back. Johnny stood up and kicked sewage at Drex. Drex coughed for a bit as Johnny kicked him in the groin and then smashed his head onto his knee. Drex teleported behind Johnny and choked him. Johnny tried to fight him off, but Drex tightened his grip. He finally flipped Drex off of him and Drex went flying into the side of the pipe. He stood up, unphased. Johnny dashed down the pipleline after the Dean as Drex chased after him. Johnny saw the sewer exit and dove for it. Drex flew after Johnny and grabbed his foot. There they were, fighting for control. Johnny saw the Dean and noticed a "Door Close" button by him. He called out,

"Press the button!"

The Dean slapped the button and a grate came down fast. It smashed onto Johnny's ankle, but it also crushed Drex's hands. Johnny freed his foot and crawled across the floor. Drex retreated back and tried to fire an energy blast at the door, but it just bounced off. He cursed and shouted,

"I'LL KILL YOU!"

Johnny dragged his bum ankle and took the Dean up to surface. It was over...for now...

Machines buzzed all around the room. LCD screens flickered with brightly animated lights and thousands of numbers. The room was a fairly large room, covered with Medical equipment. There were a few doctors walking around, checking charts and discussing information with each other. This wasn't like any ordinary hospital...this was too good to be a city hospital.

Brian finally awoke Sunday afternoon. He was still somewhat injured, but it seemed the hospital was more than equipped to heal him. He had a few tubes going through his arms, his legs and around his nose. He had an IV drip in his left arm and he was surrounded by machines monitoring his vitals. He looked around confused, albeit a little disoriented. A woman noticed him waking and immediately walked over to see him.

"Wha....what happened? where am I?.....who ARE you?" Em asked, one question after the other. The woman grabbed Brian's chart at the end of the bed without even acknowledging his questioning.

"......um...Hablo Englais?" Brian said, wondering if maybe he was somehow in another country. Considering he didn't even know what day it was, anyplace was possible. The woman thumbed through his chart and checked the machine. She continued to do so without so much as a glance towards Brian. He gave up asking, figuring he'd find out sooner or later...on their terms or his. After a few minutes, she walked back to the foot of his bed and placed his chart in the slot. She finally looked towards Brian and then did something that took Brian by surprise.

She smiled warmly at him.

"You're lucky to be alive," She spoke with a thick, English accent. "Those villains caused you a lot of trouble, but luckily they weren't able to finsh the job."

Em slowly lifted his arm and scratched his head. He had a tendency to do that when he was confused. He finally realized, in mid-scratch, what had happened. He remembered that he was ambushed by Laughing-Stock and Malevictus. He was almost killed before a van full of suspicious-looking people grabbed him and took him with them. He also realized that he was not in costume...he was a civilian. Brian thought that maybe there was a chance they didn't know who he was.

"Hmmm...let's see..." The woman said, thumbing through another notepad that she grabbed while Brian was lost in thought. "You're known as Brian Winters, aka 'The Emerald Core'...affiliated with The Freedom Force."

Brian grimaced.

"Don't worry," The woman smiled again. "You're secrets safe with us. We've known about you and your friends for awhile now. Our operative is very good."

Brian finally realized after all this time; it took a second listen of the accent to realize who the 'Operative' was.

"...Lady Cosmic" Brian said.

The woman looked up at him and smirked. "What gave it away?"

Brian smirked back. "I should've known there was something about her."

"...and you should thank her greatly for her actions" she said. "With her help, we were able to gather some intel between The Council and Fist Industries. We realized that Drex Vexel had received some serious intel from the Council and was able to hack their systems. Unfortunately, it was a little too late. We were just barely able to get to you in time."

Brian finally smiled. He looked around the room, then at himself, then back to her. "I'd say you made perfect timing."

She smiled at him yet again. "Good to see you still have your sense of humor. Your charts show that you have no major damage. You'll have some bruising and some burns to heal, but no scarring. Our doctors are top of the class and did a fine job on your case."

"What are you, a big-shot doctor or something?" Brian asked curiously.

"That...among other things," she stated. "It's best we don't talk about that. I have information to protect after all.

Brian nodded. ".....and my, uh, secret...."

She looked him straight in the eye and smiled caringly. "You have nothing to worry about. We keep classified information within our department. Nothing ever gets out without our consent. I would worry more about your enemies...seems they know your secret as well."

Brian frowned upon hearing that. He realized he'd probably have to move, let alone hide out at the base for awhile.

"I guess this means more lying to my girlfriend" Brian said.

The woman chimed in. "Your girlfriend, friends and family all believe you went to London for an assignment with England's premiere documentary organization. You're sitting in for one of our esteemed collegues who came down with the flu. You'll be gone for a couple of weeks but told them not to worry, you'll call them from a new cellphone you received to keep in the loop."

The woman held up a cellphone and placed it in a bag. The bag also contained Em's suit, all ready to go. "We were already at your apartment. Your stuff has been moved out and is waiting for you in storage. I'll give you the address...it's under the name Josh Stevens."

Brian sat in silence, completely stunned at her words. "You guys know a good floral shop to send a bouquet of flowers?" Brian asked.

The woman smiled as she was about to walk away. "We don't do EVERYTHING for you, now do we? Get some rest, you'll be released Monday afternoon...understand that we can't tell you where we are and where you'll be dropped off, but rest assured you'll be completely safe. We'll make sure of it."

Brian nodded at her. "Thanks," was all he could say.

The woman continued walking towards the door and left. A few people were in the room, monitoring his vitals and checking x-rays. Brian looked around the room again, feeling more relaxed. He was in safe hands for once. His thoughts rested mainly on the woman and Lady Cosmic. What was this group? How did they know so much?

Brian was happy that he'd be able to make it to the meeting and sort out the rest. Unfortunately, things were going to take a turn now that Brian's identity was out.

Chapter V - The Aftermath

One month later...

The base was dimmed down, the red hue from the his mask was the only thing giving light. The base was very quiet, it's been awhile since it had this kind of peace, it was nice. He paused and stood between the old meeting table and the entertainment room, looking around, it was a mess. Books everywhere, the television was on the ground broke, chairs everywhere. One can say that a lot had happened in these rooms, enough to break someone's will outside these walls, that is... till the mobs finally broke into the headquarters.

He continued to walk down the hallway towards the Grand Marshal's old office, he tore down the "Do Not Cross" police banner that was taped onto the door and placed his hand on the keypad next to it.

Access Granted, Please Enter...

He let himself in and stood before the Grand Marshal's desk, he brushed off the papers that piled onto the desk and placed his helmet on it with the red hue slowly dimming down. He grabbed the remote off the floor and turned on the radio.

"This just in, it appears that Supreme Warlord Drex has been assassinated not too long ago, although the body has not been found, there's been rebellions going across all neighborhoods as the Fist crumbles from power with Drex's Lieutanents on the run.

While the First-Police is trying to maintain order, the once disbanded PPD is now taking their place in their old headquarters to establish their base and getting things situated in Paragon. Heroes are also seen entering the city again as the force around it is dispersing, could this be the end of the Tyrannic Fist Rule that dreaded over the last month?

Stay tune..."

As the annoucement was going off the waves, he was fixing the computer and bringing it back online, the monitor was turned on. He pulled out the keyboard and punched in the Login Information...

(On Screen) Name: Waters, Ryan - Liquidus Password: ********

Access Granted...

So... what happened?

Just as the Freedom Force was scattered around and Drex finally took control of Kings Row, it was only the beginning of things to come. Drex Vexel and his goons slowly started to expand his rule, using the same dimension that he used to send Blue Steel out of sync with reality, he developed a way to shroud all the areas that was under his control to bring that out of reality to keep outsiders from entering and making such a threat.

Drex Vexel also recuited more goons to his side, one most important to mention was Liquidus' nemesis, Cascade. Although no one really got his name, they were soon shrouded with power of the shadows, boosting their over-all combat. Even the androids themselves became more powerful with Cascade's help. The Fist started to become more powerful than anyone could imagin and there was really no one to stop them, the members of Freedom Force have lost their morale to fight.

While all this was happening, back at the Headquaters, there were angry mob groups after groups started to get furious about Drex's new Invasion and continued to blame Freedom Force for it, Longbow and the Marines could no longer contain the situation and they eventually broke into the Headquaters and destoryed everything. What was once known as Safe Haven was diminished into nothing.

Emerald Core's identity became a great risk to himself and others around him, he dissapeared along with his new found love, Jessica and hid our for awhile in the mist of all this. He finally told her about his second life and she agreed it was for the best that they leave the city. Eventually, they started a family and Emerald was finally able to get the peace in life that he wanted in the months ahead.

Liquidus had gone missing after the headquaters was broken into, rumor has it that the NSA pulled him out due to a more important mission reguarding the Rikti as part of the aftermath of the war. But there are also rumors that he became a double agent and turned his backs against everyone, no one really knows for sure what happened. While Lady Cosmic tries to gather intelligence on this - she was quickly denied and was told not to touch this at all as it is part of NSA's and the U.S. Department of Defense' matter. She proceeded to Time Kick who was suppose to be retired and ask her to maintain what's left of Freedom Force, but how she got Timekick to do this will be told by another.

A month went by, with Paragon under Drex Vexel's rule, he quickly became the Supreme War Lord and was planning his next move towards other cities of United States and eventually, the world. However, with Liquidus missing, Cascade quickly became tired and left the Fist in his own persuit. Drex feels that he has no use for him anymore as he gained enough power on his own to fight against others with his overwhelming resources. But he was then said to be assassinated as said in the news, no one knows who yet, but the mystery lies in the body of Drex which was not found. What was a domino effect against Freedom Force is now a domino effect against The Fist, now the group is crumbling and the hero is now rallying against the tyrannic Fist in hopes to regain their city once more in the name of freedom. But the Fist are still powerful enough to squash these pocketted rebel groups. Their only chance is for someone more evenly matched against the Fist can bring the fight to them, perhaps a group that still needs redeeming... stay tuned.

After the Freedom Force/Drex Vexel situation was becoming too hot the Champion brothers knew to disperse and lay low awhile til things cool down. Drex Vexel, understanding the occurences between Project Champion and Negative Champion, has sent Negative to destroy the Champion bros.

The Negative Champion after the previous battles with Infinity Champion has grown tremendously stronger, ever being fueled by an unseen black hole hidden orbiting the sun and is soon in it's revolutions towards earth.

Adrian and Justin took refuge on the Project Champion Space Station. Believing they were safe, they let their guard down.

The Negative Champion, undetected smashed his way through the base in search of the brothers. Infinity assumed his heroic position and put on his upgraded Ultima suit for the last time.

An epic battle occured outside the Space Station. Infinity/Adrian discovers Negative Champion is his praetorean counter-part. As this unveils a nova beam struggle occurs and the Negative Champion is sent and engulfed by his own power source/the intense gravity of the black hole and Infinity is projected towards earth as his armor burns up in the atmosphere and the trip downwards with only reverse thrusters to cushion his fall.

As a result, Adrian and Justin leave Project Champion when their debt to them was paid. Adrian and Justin choose to leave the hero business for something safer...

They visit the Freedom Force base a final time and post a notice of leave. As they exit Justin still feels his drive to be a hero, and a split between the brothers occur. Adrian becomes an archaelogist's assistant and Justin returns to fight crime as a new identity.

---

Somewhere on the West Coast

---

The TV was on, but nobody was home...it was playing a news broadcast

"In related news, the situation in Paragon City has finally been resolved. Residents are now moving back into their homes as the Fist starts to diminish. Drex Vexel is presumed dead, but we will never forget the torment he unleashed on the city. Several heroes are M.I.A. and are thought to be either deserters or dead... We have a list: Crimson Bow Liquidus Gray Foreshadow The Infinity Champion The Emerald Core The War Champion Blue Steel Johnn-"

The TV shut off. Johnny stood there stroking his beard. He dropped the remote and sat on the sofa. He remembered what had happened on his last day in Paragon City...

---

A Month Earlier
Paragon City

---

Johnny was rubbing his knuckles. He had just punched Core in the face after he sided with Lady Cosmic instead of him. Johnny stormed out of the base. Core's final words were still ringing in his ears...

"FINE GO! It's not like you'd understand! YOU NEVER DO!"

Johnny deeply inhaled and then exhaled. He sat down on a stool at the D and saw the TV. A reporter appeared from Galaxy City.

"BREAKING NEWS! Fist soldiers have breached the barrier to Galaxy! Tons of people are dieing! It's a madhouse! The PPD can't seal them off anymore. Reports say the henchmen known as Howling Jak and Malevictus have brought soldiers into Perez Park, Atlas Park, and Steel Canyon. Laughing-Stock has led an all out invasion on Skyway City. All of the city districts have been overrun. All heroes are being called to the scene immediately! Civillians have been told to STAY IN THEIR HOUSES! Oh wait. NO!"

Drooke pummelled the reporter with a glowing fist and she dropped to the floor. Johnny stood up angrily. He turned to leave when he saw a man standing there. He spoke.

"Rushing off to save the day hero?"

Johnny quirked his brow

"Alvin?!?""

It was Johnny's last living relative...to his knowledge. Alvin, his uncle, a respected underboss in the family.

"Good to see you again Johnny...hows things been since Renneti"

Johnny shrugged

"Well the fucking city is fallign apart."

Alvin spoke

"So you're going in to save it?"

Johnny replied

"Well..."

Alvin nodded his head

"Johnny, no wonder your dad was so worried about you...that guy wants your head on a platter. If you go in there you're giving it to him..."

Johnny scratched his head

"but what am I supposed to do?"

Alvin handed him a plane ticket, 1-way to San Diego.

"I have a summer house there, stay there...forget everything thats going on here..."

Johnny wondered

"What about my friends?"

Alvin replied

"Fuck em'"

Johnny stood back

"b-b-but if I run away...doesn't that make me a coward..."

Alvin spoke to him

"Yer only a coward if ya come back to your friends...a real man moves on...forget them..."

Johnny stood there. He took the ticket and dashed to the plane. He boarded it and sat there thinking about his decision. He spotted the city in chaos below. He swallowed and sat back...it was not his problem anymore...

---

Back in the Present
San Diego

---

Johnny felt mixed feelings about his decisions. He was right in some aspects. Lady Cosmic's group did not handle the situation, but would he handle it any better...he liked to think so. His new life in San Diego was not glamourous. He worked as hot dog vendor on the beach. Was there any way to go back to the place he deserted though. His teammates would definitely not be happy to see him... How would he look to everybody...a guy who says he's got all the answers and can do anything, but then...when the going gets tough...he bails out. Johnny sighed...and knew what he had to do. If he didn't go back...he'd regret it forever...and if things weren't that great and his teammates shunned him...he would be sure that they would not mind him deserting again...