The City of Royale

Jack walked down the street with his umbrella over his head, the road was almost completely deserted. He didn't mind though he liked being by himself on a day like this, and possibly with this kind of weather there wouldn't be too much crime to stop, it'd be nice to have a day off for a change. Looking around him Jack didn't believe that anyone would be able to hear him in the downpour so he spoke openly with out any worry of anyone spying on him. "Today might be a good day to patrol the city," he said quietly to himself.

Taking a quick chance to duck down a small alley, he changed his clothes right there behind a dumpster, this wasn't the most conservative job option in the world. He finished the outfit with his domino mask. After freezing his bag to the ground in enough ice that nobody would be able to get through for quite a while. He began his adventure not knowing what was in store for him.

It was a rainy day, but a quiet one at best. Feeling the cold droplets of water in his face, Song Mao Ken stood upon a tall, elegant building in New York City. He liked silence, the stark beauty of it just amazed him. However, he could not lose focus. Meditating upon the tall structure, he was trying to clear his mind of all thought, his hands upon his knees. His eyes were closed, and his face pointed forward. Sitting with his legs crossed on the ledge of the building, he was not concerned for his safety. After all, if he fell he could simply glide down with the white wax wood staff he had upon his lap.

With his meditation, he could hear lots of things. The rain on the ground, machines making their noises, cars out and about. One thing he hadn't expected to hear, however, was a man far below him. "Today might be a good day to patrol the city," he heard faintly. Springing to his feet, the staff flew into the air with his sudden jump. With his quick reflexes, he extended his arm and caught it, pulling it to his side safely. Looking down, he saw the man turning to the alley to his left. It was rather dark, and a common place for thugs to hang out. This person, however, didn't seem to be a thug. A thug doesn't speak as intelligently, or dress quite that way.

Giving in to his curiosity, he jumped from the side of the building with a running start, and on his way down, his robes flailing about as he came down, he used his staff to glide, with some help from his air manipulation abilities. Landing directly behind the man with his fast on the ground and his body crouched, he quickly stood straight up, put his staff to his side, and asked, "What will you be patrolling?" He asked it in a quizzical manner, but with a slight tone of aggressiveness. It was to make sure that if he was a crook, that this man meant business. The area was dark, and he could not see any particular genre of clothing, even though he wore a super-hero's costume...

Frost was only just done with freezing his bag to the ground when he heard somebody approach and speak to him, it was obviously a man's voice and it was hard, as if he meant business. Frost stood without turning to look at the man and spoke to him in an equally hard tone, "the name is Frost and I'm a hero." He then turned to look at the man, who was wearing a robe in the rain, there was something wrong about that. There were two possiblities as to what that robe meant for Frost; one it could be that this man was a highly trained martial artist or two this guy was a lunatic and wanted to pick a fight. He was leaning toward the latter being more possible.

"Are you trying to start a fight?" Frost asked as he took stance ready to take on man before him.

Realizing his curiosity got the better of him once again, he quickly widened his eyes and began to speak to clear this up. "No, in no way am I trying to start a fight," he said calmly. "Please, be calm. I want peace." He looked at the man's stance, and down at the frozen baggage. Realizing this could not have been down by the rain, and that it's completely isolated which wouldn't make since, the guy must really be what he says. "But, a Hero? How interesting..." Taking his hand off his staff, it stayed there straight up, and he scratched his chin in interest. He took a step back, as to give Frost his personal space back, and started to get annoyed with the pitter-patter of constant rain upon his head. "I am a Hero amongst the common people. If the robe is what you're looking at, I'm a Shaolin monk, you should know."

Mao put his hand back upon the staff and quickly twirled it to his back, and put it in its casing to keep it out of the way. Putting his hands to his side, it was apparent he really did mean it when he said he did not want to fight.

The man in front of Frost put his staff away, making it obvious that he meant no harm. Frost wanting be polite and to return the favor stood up and no longer held his stance. "It's nice to see another hero around here," Frost said cautiously walking toward the monk in question. "You'll be the second one this week, I wasn't expecting to meet so many," he said with a laugh and before he got to close to the monk he extened his hand in a casual manner.

"What's your name," Frost smiled, he was giving this guy the benefit of the doubt but he hadn't yet given him his full trust yet.

He watched as that guy exited his stance. Agreeing to the fact that it's nice to see another hero, Song replied, "I've never met another Hero... Although, there were plenty of villains." He smiled, reassuringly. As the guy walked closer and pulled up his hand, Song also extended his hand. It wasn't like him to shake hands, as he usually put his palms together and bowed, but this guy isn't a monk. He firmly grabbed his hand, began to shake, and replied "My name is Song Mao Ken."

It was hardly an ideal place to meet new people. It was dark, dank, and nasty. "What's your name?" His eyes quickly looked up towards the tall buildings, thinking of a way to get back up there and perhaps under the little camp he made, with a tent. No seats, though. When he needed to sit, he usually meditated. Sleeping wasn't done in the city, so no bed, either...

"I go by Frost, otherwise the mask wouldn't really help," he said touching the left hand corner of the domino mask on his face. Most people didn't understand how effective the little mask coould be, when people looked at his face they would only notice the mask and forget his other features, which was a good thing. "You seem to be a long way from China," Frost said trying to start up a bit of conversation. "What brings you to New York?" Frost asked the monk.

"What's your real name?" Mao didn't like Hero names; they gave a sense of power that could be used to turn to more evil ways. He in no way wanted that, so did not go by his Hero name. Mao couldn't see the mask all that well. After all, it was dark. In reply to his question, "Yes, my home land. What brings me here is the dark taint of mankind, and the military attack on my people." He answered with a bit of a metaphor, as he didn't want to reveal vital information just yet. "Please, let's get inside," Mao said nicely. "It's raining, and I do not enjoy such weather."

"I won't give you my real name, I'm sorry," Frost said putting an edge on his words, he wanted to protect people he knew from being targeted or even worse hurt because of him. "Dark taint," he said with confusion evident in his voice, this guy was deffinately different. "I think it would be best if we stay outside," Frost said trying to be polite, "I want to make sure that the streets are safe and you can't really do that indoors, I can't at least," he laughed a little at what he said again trying to keep conversation going. This guy wasn't having any of it though. It looked like the monk was about to say something when he thought heard something.

"Wait a second," Frost said stepping around the man in front of him. Frost listened closely, then without warning there was a gunshot. That was never a good sign in New York. "Sounds like there is a bit of a need for heroes at the moment are you in?" and with that Frost ran from the alley looking for the source of the offending noise.

R.E.A.P.E.R. walked down the streets of New york, the rain falling all around him. Reaper enjyoed it, for the rain both encouraged people to stay and doors, and if not hurry to thier destinations. With his appearance, the meant he could walk the street with ease as long as we wore a hat with his usual coat.

Which was good, as Reaper had buisness to conduct. He had heard on the televiosn of aconflict breaking out on the south asian sub-continent. It was a fantastic oppertunity if exploited, but to gather more info he needed access to a powerful networked computer. He was in a port city, which gave him easy access to international transport, but also meant one of his own network terminals was not near by. at least not after his purge of his redundant systems after his awakening.

Luckliy there was a local IT firm near by by the name of Intertech which according to his files not only had a computer of such power, but also had a strict policy regarding government officials on the residence. He could easily overcome thier minor security and be gone before the employees go through thier own beuracracy to even call for help.

"Observation: Beuracracy for organics ineffecient and hazardous. Conclusion: Take steps to encourage localization of power in large institutions."

R.E.A.P.E.R. entered the Intertech building and removed his hat. Th nearest security guard paniced, took aim, and fired with his guy. He was quite skilled, and hit him in his no visible, metal skulll head. The bullet merely bounced off though, piercing the glass windows and shattering one. R.E.A.P.E.R. didn't even turn as he spoke.

"Warning: It would be wise to leave the building. Any interference will be dealt with brutally."

Mao knew he wouldn't get a name. It wasn't like a person to be as trusting at the first meeting, even if who Frost was talking to is a monk. Mao would also do the same, if only there were any close people to him that weren't already dead. "The Dark Taint, as in the always present darkness within," Song replied. "We as people cannot prevent it, but we can fight it. We Heroes specialize in that, do we not?" He listened as Frost spoke more about staying outside, and understood what he meant. Song, however, didn't need to be outside to hear things.

Also hearing the gun shots, he realized it much sooner. As Frost just began running out to the road, Song was already running on the side of the building he was recently on top of, he staff out and keeping his balance by pushing it against the other wall opposite of him. Jumping out of the alley with a skillful spin, he landed on his feet, his fist pounded into the ground. He looked up to also see the flipped car, and the dieing person upon the ground, the policemen at his aid.

It was a nice rainy day. Something Elena quite liked. Wanting to have a day to herself. Leaving Malice and Huntress back at S.C.A.R headquarters. As she tried to enjoy the day.

She wore the usual clothes. A white tanktop. Ripped up tight blue jeans. Hair red like fire spilled down her back. Eyes green and murky looked around. Then the sound of a gunshot caught her attention. She slowly stalked the shadows of an allyway. Looking for the source of the sound. Apparently someone had been shot. Interested she ignoring the cops walked up to the dying man. Placing her hand upon the gubshot wound. Muttering the words of a speel. As light blue etheral tendrils snaked from her palm. Glowing lightly as the entered the wound. After about half a minute the bullet popped out. As the flesh slowly began to close. Bleeding stopping. As the chant came out like a silent whirlwind of words. In about three minutes the wound closed up. No trace of it left. Then satisfied sh stood up. Sighing in slight exaustion, walked away. Well began to walk away.

Frost made his way over to the women helping the injured man, "That's a cool trick you've got up your sleeve." Frost had never seen this woman before and she seemed more than a little intimadating with her firey red hair. He had no clue what she was cappable of and asked her a simple question to get things started off. "Are you a good guy?" he asked looking into the building they were in front of. This was going to get tricky with all the people this was beginning to attract.

Things were getting out of hand. Apparantly the deflected bullet went through a car window as well and caused a bad accident outside. This was attracting far too much attention. It was also attracting the worse kind of attnetion, namely meta-human attention. As he watched teh scene outside he noticed at least three instances of super powered beings. Honestly, one was deduced on the costume he was wearing, but most people with a masked costume were heroes these days.

Three seperate beings, each showing some degree of compassion towards the injured. Theis could be problmamatic, and R.E.A.P.E.R. was working on a time table. This led to his eventual decision.

"Strategy: Ignore interference and proceed further into labs. Heroes will distinctly follow. Increased chance of less resistance, narrow spaces more favorable iif outnumbered."

With this Reaper turned away from the scene and moved towards the buildings elevators, which he began to pull apart. Even if he did not have the buildings blueprints in his memory, IT firms always get the mainframes below ground. Once he got these dorrs opened, he would jump down to avoid the time wasted on the elevator.

"A hero? No my dear im not. In fact." She was silently speaking the words to her Shards of ice spell. All she needed was ten seconds to rid herself of the cop and this annoying boy. Afterall he dared to even venture her being a hero. "In fact I might consider you to join me in a nice little organization if your willing." Four more seconds. A light white mist emanated from her right palm. Then she held it out. About five feet away from Frost. As a torrent of sharp and deadly ice shard shot from it. All ready to punch through both Frost and the cop not too far behind him. After all she never liked heroes. Always getting in the way of her magic. So she wanted to kill all of them she could. Starting with this boy.