We will walk Hand in Hand into the Darkness

An interactive forum that focuses on DC and Marvel like superheroes...

Moderators: VagueDurin, Nichalus, WoH Coordinators

Post Reply
User avatar
Mir
KING OF STRONG STYLE
Posts: 18875
Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2006 5:43 pm

We will walk Hand in Hand into the Darkness

Post by Mir »

Star City, Washington

The theft from Queen Industries had not gone unnoticed. The family of archers had been paying attention and tracking the movements. Indeed, two of the members were either now in New York City or enroute. However, the archers had not been the only ones watching. No, there had been others. They too had been tracking the movements of the stolen goods. Not because they were interested in the goods themselves. Rather, because they were interested in how the archers would react. Now, with two members away, the two leaders actually, those who had been watching the movements of the shipment knew that they could move more freely about the city.

Therefore, it was time. They had a small window to do what needed to be done. Timing was of the essence.

Many years ago, a meteorite of some unknown origin had crashed in the state of Washington. Creating a massive crater, the meteorite had lain in the crater, untouched and observed only by the wildlife. Then, different earthquakes had forced the meteorite down in the depths of the earth, covered to never be seen again.

This had changed when humans had descended upon the area.

Ten decades after Jeb Star had founded Fort Plymouth, the Great Fire had claimed much of the land. During the rebuilding process, which some historians would argue had never truly ceased, better foundations for the city had been built. The renamed Star City was a beacon of the west coast of the United States and over time had grown. This prosperous community, albeit facing similar issues of crime and poverty as every large metropolis, had continued to expand.

If Manifest Destiny had been a completed thing, Star City took no note of it, at least within what appeared to be the established territorial limits of the region.

During one of those expansion periods, builders had been digging the foundation for a large office building, when they uncovered this meteorite. This connection to the ancient past was retrieved and taken to various labs downtown for study. Alas, their equipment had been too juvenile in development to truly uncover the secrets of the meteorite.

So it had remained, in a museum of astronomy and science, in downtown Star City.

Until tonight.

Until the activation of various sleeper units spread throughout Star City.

While it may be thought that the theft of such an item could happen any time, there was a reason why these things happen in the timeline they do.

For things take place when the Beast wants them to.

The instrument does not always know the designs of the wielder.

But the Hand does what the mind tells it.
Dark Lord of the Grill
Posts: 1913
Joined: Fri Jan 23, 2004 8:41 am
Location: Searching for a nursing home for Nichalus

Re: We will walk Hand in Hand into the Darkness

Post by Cazzik »

CONNOR QUEEN'S PENTHOUSE
DOWNTOWN STAR CITY


"Oh come on!" Popcorn flew everywhere as Jenna threw her harms up in disgust, "This is absolute crap! No one in their right mind is this stupid."

Nikki laughed, "Calm down! You're making a mess! Just shut up and watch the movie. It's a classic."

Jenna threw some popcorn at her friend, "A classic? No. And I'm glad you enjoy these stupid horror movies but there is always a dumb blonde that gets naked and then gets stabbed, or eaten, or ground up. Every single time. You never see a dumb brunette or red head. Nope, always a blonde."

Nikki took a sip of her soda, "Wow, hit a nerve? You know, there is always a stereotype in these old movies. Yours just happens to be hot, dumb blonde destined to be carved up by the slasher."

"Oh yeah? And what's yours? Karate super star? Seems better than horror cannon fodder," Jenna exclaimed.

Nikki shrugged, "Yeah, that or crushed by Godzilla or some other kaiju."

The girls stared at each other before bursting into laughter. Jenna Willis, aka Artemis and Nikki Tanaka, the Red Canary, were enjoying their much needed night off together while their mentors were running around New York. At the moment, life was pretty good.
"I'd like to nominate Cazzik for the Sexiest Man on Earth 2010." --Balsa
User avatar
Mir
KING OF STRONG STYLE
Posts: 18875
Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2006 5:43 pm

Re: We will walk Hand in Hand into the Darkness

Post by Mir »

Grell Museum

A group of people stood on a rooftop of a building near the Grell Museum. The building, under renovation, had been cleared out for a few days since the renovations had begun. Convenient, for their purposes. There were about twenty members of the Hand, in full regalia, atop the roof. They were not alone. There was a man dressed in a purple combat suit and next to him, a man dressed in a combat suit of his own, though his was a darker green.

“I still think we should go in quietly.” The man in purple said.

“There’s really no need.” The man in green said. “We have the firepower and we should be in and out before the police are able to respond.”

“What about-”

“The other two are away. We have reinforcements if we need.” The one in green said. “Don’t tell me you’re getting cold feet. You were paid.”

“I’m not getting cold feet. But we were paid for what we’re able to do. What we’re able to do is be smart.”

The other nodded. “Touche.” He turned to the members of the Hand. “What say you?” He asked.

“We do as we’re bid.” One of them said.

“We will retrieve the meteorite.” Another said.

“The Beast commands it.” A third said.

“Yes, yes, the Beast commands it.” The one in green said. “Well, get to it then.”

They started leaping off the building. The one in purple grimaced. “Quietly?” He asked.

“Let’s see what happens.”

20 Minutes Later

“They did not choose to do this quietly.” The man in purple said.

“No, they did not.”

There was an explosion in the museum and an armored car sped around the corner.

“They went with effective and efficient, if I had to guess.” The man in purple said. “Let’s just hope the little arrows are asleep in their quiver.”
Dark Lord of the Grill
Posts: 1913
Joined: Fri Jan 23, 2004 8:41 am
Location: Searching for a nursing home for Nichalus

Re: We will walk Hand in Hand into the Darkness

Post by Cazzik »

THE QUIVER - SECRET UNDERGROUND BUNKER

"So much for laid back girls night," Artemis said as she strapped her bow on and climbed onto her bike.

Red Canary holstered her eskirma sticks and did the same, revving the engine on her own vehicle, "You're telling me you'd rather stay and watch the movie instead of kicking some criminal ass?"

Artemis grinned, "Yeah, good point. Let's do this!"

The girls went flying out of the Quiver and onto the streets of Star City, heading directly for the Grell Museum which had just been robbed by a group that sped off in an armored car. They may not be Green Arrow and Black Canary, but these ladies were about to show some thieves the true definition of girl power.
"I'd like to nominate Cazzik for the Sexiest Man on Earth 2010." --Balsa
Dark Lord of the Grill
Posts: 1913
Joined: Fri Jan 23, 2004 8:41 am
Location: Searching for a nursing home for Nichalus

Re: We will walk Hand in Hand into the Darkness

Post by Cazzik »

It did not take the duo long to catch up to the armored truck. After all, their bikes were a lot faster than the 25,000 pound vehicle attempting to flee the scene. Artemis rolled up alongside the driver's window but she was unable to see inside, a security design made by the truck's manufacturer. She tapped her breaks and resumed her position at the rear of the vehicle, "I can't see who's driving. Could be anyone. I'm going to slow them down."

Before she could do anything several shuriken went soaring past her head. The girls looked behind them to see several red clad ninjas catching up to them via their own motorcycles. The girls locked eyes in amazement and Artemis yelled to her companion, "Are those Hand ninjas?!"

"It kind of looks that way! I'll slow them down. You focus on the truck," Red Canary responded as she whipped out a Canary Cry Bomb and threw it behind her. As the device hit the ground it let out a massive sonic blast the blew the ninja riders off their motorcycles. At the same time Artemis had pulled out her side weapon, a small automatic crossbow and fired explosive bolts at the tires of the truck. She successfully took out both rear wheels and sent the vehicle spinning into the brick wall of a building.

The girls halted their bikes and climbed off. Artemis gripped her compound bow as Red Canary pulled out her eskrima sticks. They could see police lights in the distance, the sirens signaling that the good guys were on the way. Artemis raised her bow and aimed it at the truck, "You have two options here! You can come out and lay face down on the ground. You will be arrested and no one gets hurt. Or you can disregard the first option and we can blow the truck apart and take you by force. You will still be arrested and we will hurt you. Choice is yours!"

Nikki's voice interrupted Jenna's bravado, "Artemis....you need to turn around."

As the blonde whirled about she saw a large number of crimson ninjas beginning to surround them, weapons drawn. One of them spoke, "Foolish little arrows. There is a third choice. We simply kill you and take our prize anyway."
"I'd like to nominate Cazzik for the Sexiest Man on Earth 2010." --Balsa
User avatar
Mir
KING OF STRONG STYLE
Posts: 18875
Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2006 5:43 pm

Re: We will walk Hand in Hand into the Darkness

Post by Mir »

The man dressed in purple gear sighed. Why couldn’t it just have gone nicely? Was that so much to ask? He looked over at the man in green gear. “Well I guess we’re now dealing with the two of them.” He said. “Would it have killed them to do it quietly?” He asked.

“Probably not, but all things considered the direct approach is usually the best.” The man in green said, before jumping off the roof. As he did, a jetpack of sorts activated and he began flying towards the standoff.

“Great, I’m the only one without speed.” The man in purple said, before fishing in his pockets for a small remote start. He pressed it as he too leapt off the building, using a magnet device on his belt to slow down his descent. His feet touched the ground as the motorcycle lit up.

He was on the move a few moments later.

The one in green landed in the midst of the ninjas. “Here’s the thing.” He said. “This meteorite has some really important stuff in it. And these people aren’t being nice and sharing. Sharing is caring isn’t it?”

“Not when you take something from the person.” Artemis replied.

“Technically it’s an organization.” The man in green said.

“You know what she meant.” Red Canary replied.

He nodded slowly. “I did, but really I was trying to delay a little bit.” He said and pointed over his shoulder as more ninjas appeared. The number was getting closer to forty now. Meanwhile, his comrade came racing around the corner, and was now on the other side of the two young women. “I don’t want to hurt the police, but I will if I need-”

He was silenced as one of them, he didn’t know who threw something at his face. Some kind of a webbing ensnared his face and threw him to the ground. He started wrestling with it as the man in purple sighed again.

“Get them.” He said, to the ninjas.

“For the Beast.” One of the ninjas said and they started their attack.
Dark Lord of the Grill
Posts: 1913
Joined: Fri Jan 23, 2004 8:41 am
Location: Searching for a nursing home for Nichalus

Re: We will walk Hand in Hand into the Darkness

Post by Cazzik »

Artemis didn't waste anytime. She capitalized on Red Canary's snare bomb. The archer leaped backwards as she simultaneously pulled several arrows from her quiver and let loose. The exploding arrowheads blew a line of concussive flames at their enemies, throwing multiple ninjas to the ground and lighting a few others on fire. She rolled backwards as she hit the ground and came up in a battle stance, letting loose more area of effect arrows of all kinds. Occasionally, she would cease firing long enough to take out an enemy who had moved within hand to hand range or to hit a single enemy with a hand thrown flechette.

Next to Artemis, Red Canary was holding her own. A flurry of canary bombs were devastating the Hand ninjas' eardrums. She was doing her best to assist her archer partner by taking out the majority of the enemies that were moving in close, allowing Jenna to continue to utilize her ranged attacks to keep the others at bay. The problem though....they were quite simply outnumbered. In an attempt to make sure the Hand wasn't able to surround them they had their backs to the armored truck, the doors arc welded shut by an arrow to make sure those inside couldn't join the fray. Nikki frowned as her left eskrima stick blocked a sai before she countered with her right, "We need a plan, Artemis! There are too many of them!"

Jenna knew she was right. They were good, but they weren't take on an entire army of ninjas by themselves good. The archer pulled another arrow and fired at a rooftop, sending a grappling line to the edge of safety. She threw several more flechettes, grabbed Red Canary's arm, and the pair lifted off towards higher ground. They hit the roof and rolled. Climbing to their feet they prepped themselves for another assault.
"I'd like to nominate Cazzik for the Sexiest Man on Earth 2010." --Balsa
User avatar
Mir
KING OF STRONG STYLE
Posts: 18875
Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2006 5:43 pm

Re: We will walk Hand in Hand into the Darkness

Post by Mir »

Earlier

“Why are you so big?” Jenna asked, shoving her older sister.

“I am not…you’re just small.” Melissa shot back, giving her sister a healthy shove back.

“Why am I a chauffeur?” Josh asked, from the front of the rented SUV.

“Because.” Jenna said.

The three Ayala siblings were driving down the highway into Star City.

Melissa pulled out her phone. “So everything we’ve got says this guy is here, tonight, in Star City.” She said. “We gotta get him.” She said. “For Uncle Chris.”

Jenna rolled her eyes. “We all know why we’re here, Melissa.” She said. “As pep talks go, that was terrible.” She said, closing her hand over the amulet in her grasp. “We find this guy, we take him out.” She said.

Josh’s grip on the steering wheel tightened. A determination came over his face. “I don’t know who he was, thinking he could do something like that to someone in our family.” He said. “But we’re going to find this guy and stop him.” He said.

==-==

Now

“That’s…that’s gotta be him, right?” Jenna asked, as the three stood on a rooftop.

They were watching a fight unfold in the streets of Star City. However, they were focused more on the man wearing purple gear than anything else.

“I think he fits the description.” Melissa said. “We’ve been tracking his movements. He…he could be the guy who attacked Uncle Chris.” She said. There was conviction in her voice, but there was also room to be wrong. “I think…well, I think they need our help, regardless.” She said. “Who are they anyway?” She asked.

“I don’t know, but they’re getting their ass kicked.” Josh said.

Melissa nodded and took a step forward. She squeezed the amulet around her neck as it started to glow. The other amulets glowed as well as they, in matching uniforms, stepped up onto the ledge. “Let’s do this.” She said, jumping off.

==-==

The man in purple listened over their radio equipment, finding out that the meteorite in the van was making it’s way out of the area. He turned to the man in green and smiled. They were almost there. He reached on to his belt and removed a grenade. Turning, he tossed it towards some nearby parked cars. The purpose wasn’t to hurt the two Team Arrow individuals. The purpose was to make sure the police focused on them and not the van.

The van escaping was the primary objective. He would make sure he got out. He wasn’t a die hard cultist the way these ninjas were. They were expendable to him.

He watched as three newcomers, all wearing similar outfits, landed in the street, in between the ninjas who were scaling the building and the two men.

“Sup.” One of them said.

His eyes narrowed. They wore uniforms he had seen before.

The White Tiger uniform.

But more than that, they also were carrying the Amulets of Power.

The man stepped forward, as did the older looking woman.

“You attacked our uncle.” The man said. “You’re going to answer for what you did.”

The youngest out of the newly arrived trio turned towards the scaling ninjas. She started running up a side of another building to get to the roof, to reinforce the two Team Arrows.

This was getting more complicated.
Dark Lord of the Grill
Posts: 1913
Joined: Fri Jan 23, 2004 8:41 am
Location: Searching for a nursing home for Nichalus

Re: We will walk Hand in Hand into the Darkness

Post by Cazzik »

"We should have stayed in and finished the movie. You know that, right? This was a bad idea," Artemis pulled another arrow from her quiver and nocked her bow, preparing to continue the fight. Red Canary didn't respond, she was too busy watching the flood of crimson converge on the building they were standing on. Police were finally rolling up but she knew the Hand, if these were indeed Hand Ninjas, would make short work of law enforcement. The two girls were lucky to be alive as is. Nikki backed away from the ledge and yelled back to Jenna, "Here they come!"

As her sentence ended several enemies swiftly made their way onto the roof. Swords, sai, and steel of all kinds glistened in the moonlight. It would have almost been beautiful had it not been so terrifying. Scared or not, the two friends had zero plans to die tonight. Artemis let a barrage of arrows loose, each hitting a different target and taking them down hard. None had been a kill shot but she made sure they hit where they would do significant damage. Red Canary was in full ass kicking mode. She made sure to get in close, too close for a sword. Canary bombs echoed across the skyline as they were expertly utilized to incapacitate the enemy. She brought an eskrima stick up into the jaw of the closest ninja, hearing a crack as it landed its target. Out of the corner of her eye she saw several of the red clad warriors turn and engage someone new.

With amazement both girls watched as a woman in a white cat suit jumped over several of their adversaries with an inhuman grace. She landed with poise and dispatched several would-be-assassins. Artemis yelled out, "Is that Catwoman?"

Red Canary shrugged as she blocked a pair of blades, "I don't know. Maybe? I've never met Catwoman!"

An arrow landed in the shoulder of the closest enemy to Nikki, sending an electric charge into the target. Jenna's voice rang out, "Uummm......isn't Catwoman a bad guy? Should I be shooting at her too?"

Canary whipped around and hit the closest ninja to Jenna with one of her sticks, "Yeah, I think Catwoman is a bad guy. But if this is Catwoman she's beating up the other bad guys! So I vote you don't shoot her!"

The woman in white finally spoke up as she executed a perfect kick to a man's face, "Jesus! I'm not Catwoman!"
"I'd like to nominate Cazzik for the Sexiest Man on Earth 2010." --Balsa
User avatar
Mir
KING OF STRONG STYLE
Posts: 18875
Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2006 5:43 pm

Re: We will walk Hand in Hand into the Darkness

Post by Mir »

“Who the hell is Catwoman?” Melissa said from the ground.

Jenna turned and gave an overexaggerated shrug.

Well they looked like they could be cats, Melissa supposed as she planted a boot into the stomach of one of the ninja attackers. Her eyes were moving around trying to keep track of the man in the purple gear. That was who they were here for. They needed to grab him and take him down. She wasn’t sure what the hell was going on and what they had gotten themselves into.

But they weren’t leaving without him.

Around the corner, police cars screeched as the Star City Police approached. The man in the purple gear unfurled some kind of assault rifle looking thing and took aim. Melissa watched as energy beams pulsed out of the rifle and towards the cop cars.

The beams melted tires and caused one of the lead cars to come to a sudden halt. But the motion was enough to lift the car into the air, tilting it so it fell forwards at an angle. On to another one of the approaching cars. She whipped her head back around and started running towards the man in purple.

She slid, diving under a sword strike from one of the ninjas and threw a few small objects from her belt, behind her. A gas was released from the pellets. She wasn’t sure if they would stop the ninjas, but surely it would slow them down right? Melissa was a bit new to all of this. Hell so was Jenna and Josh.

Speaking of…

Josh was currently engaged in a fist fight with some of the ninjas and was really really grateful Uncle Chris had made them learn a lot from the BJJ gym he had run in conjunction with a grant from the Rand Corporation. He spun on the ground, bringing his leg around and tripping up one of his opponents. He pushed himself up off the ground, twisting through the air. The other thing he was really grateful for, in this moment, was the Amulet of Power they had taken from Uncle Chris’ house before they had started all of this.

They were still learning everything they could do with them, but at the very least, they had saved the three sibling’s lives a few times already. This was looking like one of those times.

“Look!”

He turned at the sound of his middle sister’s voice. They hadn’t yet come up with codenames for what they should call each other. Their actual names seemed wrong. Something about being safe and all that. She was pointing as the man in purple had reached a motorcycle. The rifle he had been shooting slotted into the front of the motorcycle and he was gunning the engine, revving it up to go down the street, through the fight on the ground and towards the police.

Josh looked up at the rooftop where Jenna was with the two others. “We could use some help down here.” He said.
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest