[h2]"Frankenstein's Monster"[/h2][i](Story Arc Intro)[/i]

[b][u]General James Lockheart[/u][/b]

James Lockheart was in his office, sitting at his desk and staring intently at the computer screen in front of him. He was looking at a message that he had just recently received, detailing some rather dark secrets that were not ready to come to light. James continued to read on, his anger rising more and more the farther he went. [color=9e0b0f]"[i]...Mission expectations are a successful demonstration with limited Human casualties? At least one Gifted kill expected?![/i]"[/color] He read aloud in an annoyed tone, then added his own comment. [color=9e0b0f]"Whoever you are, you must be pretty damn out of your head to consider [i]one[/i] Gifted kill a success! Especially with this great of a cost..."[/color] James scrolled down through the message further and kept reading. [color=9e0b0f][i]...Not to be underestimated[/i], Eh?[i]...Passed all of our tests and dry-runs...ready for a live combat demonstration?! Ready to accept any cost?![/i] You people can't be serious! I will not allow the testing of experimental research on civilian streets! That could cost hundreds of innocent, human lives!"[/color] James said, slamming his fist on his desk. He then leaned back in his chair and rubbed his temples as he started to reach the end of the message. [color=9e0b0f]"[i]...Nobody in that city is safe...yet you sit idly by as you rely on your spies to play hide and seek?![/i] Hide and seek! This is a war better off fought with tactics and espionage, not open combat!"[/color] He shouted, then stopped. He looked at the message closer, then his eyes went wide for a moment before his face flushed with anger as he read the signature at the bottom. [color=9e0b0f][i]"Tom Valentine..."[/i][/color] He spoke darkly, and reached for the phone.

[i]...[/i]

In a dark office room, there was a desk with a lamp placed atop it, that lamp acting as the only source of light in the entire room. The shape of a man could be seen sitting in the chair at the desk, his face looming just outside of the light...masked by the darkness. The man's arm moved, and his hand brought a lit cigarette up to his mouth. He sat there for a moment before pulling the cigarette away and puffing a cloud of smoke into the air that was lit by the lamp, creating a hazy fog over his desk. [color=a187be]"I cannot wait to die..."[/color] He started before he took another puff from the cigarette. [color=a187be]"...Because even after my death, my legacy will live on...I will be a legend. A hero of the human race...the man who succeeded where the military could not. The man who exterminated the Gifted menace, and put them in their rightful place! Students will learn about me and my ingenuity in their history classes...people everywhere will know my name. And even though my mortal self will have died, I shall live on forever...I shall not be forgotten..."[/color] The man dictated, almost as if he was giving a speech or a lecture. He took yet another puff from the slowly shrinking cigarette, and just as he blew out the smoke his phone began to ring. He snuffed out the cigarette and flicked it aside, picking up the phone to answer. He had barely put the phone to his ear when the gruff voice on the other end started yelling. [color=9e0b0f][i]"You expect me to approve a live combat demonstration of experimental research on public, civilian streets?! You're out of your god damn mind, son! Think of the possible casualties! Actual human casualties, caused by the government that's supposed to be fighting for them! The press would eat us alive, Tom!"[/i][/color] 

James' voice was loud and commanding, one of the many reasons he was such a perfect fit for the rank of general. But the mysterious man, otherwise known as Tom Valentine, wasn't phased by James' authoritative tone, and replied as if it were a normal conversation. 
[color=a187be]"Oh, general! How nice of you to call...it's been quite awhile since we last talked. I do hope you received my message?"[/color]
[color=9e0b0f][i]"Not long enough, you sneaky bastard. And oh, I read your message alright. I will not sign for your little science project, not with so many innocent human lives at risk!"[/i][/color]
[color=a187be]"Now now, general, there's no reason we can't be civilized about this. And I wasn't asking for your approval of the operation, either."[/color]
[color=9e0b0f][i]"You...WHAT?!"[/i][/color]
[color=a187be]"Did I stutter? Or was I not clear enough? I'm telling you that I don't need your approval, because the operation is already underway. The message was just to notify you of the operation. Ha! I'm the head of a top secret government research division, and a private contractor with the military-"[/color]
[color=9e0b0f][i]"WHAT?! How did a god damn son-of-a-bitch like you get promoted to head of the research division?! You may have shown promise all those years ago when I got you hired for the job, but I thought all of your illegal under-the-table actions landed you a spot in a penitentiary![/i][/color]
[color=a187be]"Haha! Come now, general. Did you really think they would lay a finger on me? I provide you and the military with valuable equipment, technology, and tamed Gifted dogs that far exceed your own! Speaking of which, I would suggest that you hurry up and contact your spies...because [i]Valkyr[/i], and a very expensive piece of technology, are headed to Triva by helicopter at this very moment. We wouldn't want your little pets to get hurt, now, would we? Good day to you, sir."[/color]

Tom hung up and set the phone aside, chuckling darkly to himself. [color=a187be]"[i]Those wild Gifted freaks will soon learn their place...no matter the cost. All identities will be hidden from the press, and nobody will know about the 'Valkyrie Project' until it's too late...[/i]"[/color]

[hr]
[hr]
[b][u]John Reynolds[/u][/b]

John was still on the sidewalk, trying to lead the two other Gifted along. They hadn't made it very far from the library, and they weren't making progress very fast. Although if they went too fast, they might attract too much unwanted attention. [color=00a99d]"Come on, guys...it's just a little farther...then we can just chill out and catch up."[/color] John said just before his phone began to ring. He pulled it out and looked at the caller ID to see that it was general Lockheart. He looked surprised for a moment before looking back at the two Gifted with him. [color=00a99d]"Uh..hey, look. I, uh, gotta answer this real quick. It's really important, and it's private. I'll be right back, just stay here..."[/color] John said hurriedly as he was starting to walk back towards the library, then turned and ran off to hide behind the library so he could take the call and try to keep his cover. Or, at least, what cover he had.

[color=9e0b0f][i]"John, listen, we've got a situation. Where are you?"[/i][/color] 
[color=00a99d]"I'm behind a public library, why? What's happening?[/color]
[color=9e0b0f][i]"An unknown asset is moving towards Triva by helicopter, sent by the Research Division. Don't know when or where they'll arrive, but we know it'll be soon. I'm entrusting you to look after them, make sure they don't jeopardize human safety. Do whatever you have to do, just make sure no human lives are lost, or you'll lose yours. Got it?"[/i][/color]
[color=00a99d]"Yes sir...I'll handle it..."[/color]
[color=9e0b0f][i]"Good luck."[/i][/color]

General Lockheart hung up, and John put his phone away, neither of them aware of the fact that someone had tapped their call. Someone had been listening, and had heard every word. It was, in fact, some unknown person working under Tom Valentine in the Research Division, who then reworked the feed back to [url=http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2013/342/d/2/valkyr_by_labet1001-d6x7vd1.png]Valkyr[/url] - who had just stepped off of the helicopter and officially arrived in Triva. She was wearing a strange looking suit that covered her whole body, painted red and black, equipped with a bizarre looking collar, two strange bracelets, and two anklets. Valkyr quickly looked around before bolting off, heading towards the library.

A few moments passed and John was still behind the library, pacing back and forth trying to decide if he should wait for this "asset" or if he should head back to the other two gifted. But before he could make up his mind on what he should do, Valkyr arrived and stood quietly. When John saw her his eyes went wide with surprise, she looked freaky. [color=00a99d]"Uh...hello there...uhm...sir?"[/color] John started, untying a piece of cloth that was around his left hand to reveal a branded mark that he then showed to Valkyr. But Valkyr just growled in reply. [color=ed1c24][i]"I'm a girl, asshole."[/i][/color] She said, her voice muffled by her helmet. John facepalmed and tried to apologize yet Valkyr continued to speak. [color=ed1c24][i]"Gifted sighted, what is your plan of action?"[/i][/color] Upon hearing this, John gave Valkyr a quizzical look and offered a confused reply. [color=00a99d]"Uh...right, my plan of action was to blend in and pick them off when I had a chance..."[/color] John tried to say in a believable tone, when he had no real plan to kill any Gifted so long as they didn't have lethal powers. But Valkyr didn't seem to be listening, and instead laughed. [color=ed1c24][i]"Exterminate the target and all nearby Gifted?...Yes sir, this will be easy. This one is very stupid."[/i][/color]

John stood there for a moment in shock; she wasn't talking to him, she was talking about him! He then tore the bandage off of his eye and the hamburger meat he had underneath fell to the ground, then reached underneath his coat to pull out two telescoping shock batons. Valkyr laughed and charged at John, who side-stepped and aimed a jab at Valkyr. She smacked his arm away before his shock baton could connect, but John continued to swing at her. Valkyr proceeded to block swipe after swipe, until John finally jabbed her in the gut with one of his batons to shock her continuously. He kept the shock baton pressed to her gut and electrified Valkyr to her knees, before she started to scream. But it wasn't a scream of pain, necessarily, more like a scream of frustration. John was then surprised as Valkyr reached for his arm - despite the intensity of the shock she was receiving - and moved the baton away. Once Valkyr was free from being electrified, she punched John square in the gut and sent him straight to the ground. But before John could get up, Valkyr pounced on top of him and pinned his arms to the ground. [color=ed1c24][i]"Now you've made me ANGRY!"[/i][/color] She growled, gripping John's arms with such force that she began to draw blood. John screamed through clenched teeth and let go of his shock batons, and then Valkyr let go of one of John's arms to grab his throat. She had only just began to squeeze his throat when John picked a shock baton back up and jabbed her in the side of the neck, causing her to rear back and let go of his other hand. John quickly grabbed the other shock baton to thrust both of them into Valkyr's gut as he freed a leg to kick her off of him. She fell on her back and didn't move...

John slowly got up to stand and began to walk away slowly, looking at the bloodied holes in his sleeves. Though when he glanced back at Valkyr, she was slowly rising to her knees. John watched in horror as he saw vials unfold from her suit on her back, seeing the liquids being injected just before she rose to her feet. John immediately turned to run back to the two Gifted he had left behind, a look of terror spread on his face. The vials on Valkyr's back hissed and ejected, falling to the ground as she let out an almost inhuman scream. John ran until he saw Nice and Chris, still where he left them, and began to shout at them. [color=00a99d]"Go! Gogogogogo! NOW! Run! There's a fucking MONSTER after me!"[/color] His words were quickly followed by the appearance of an angry Valkyr chasing after him in full sprint. [color=ed1c24][i]"GET BACK HERE SO I CAN RIP YOU APART!"[/i][/color]