[hr][hr][i][h1]Julia O'Sullivan... Nineteen years ago...[/h1][/i][hr] [i][u]Regal Square, Prince-Ed-Field.[/u][/i] It was exactly ten years since Julia's inauguration, and the ten year old girl was now all grown up. Currently in her twenties... and her so called training had come to an end. She was now a fully pledged member of the Blessed Three. She had all the benefits... all power over this organization. Alongside her father, of course. She was interested in all the knowledge they had in their possession. Which is why she was spending most of her time in the library underneath the building. Studying. They had already trained her in the field of biology... to the point where she was a medical [i]genius[/i] that could pull off feats that no one else could.... but medicine and biology was getting boring. She needed more to excite her. With a snap of her fingers, a male Secretary had stacked another pile of books on her desk to read while she shifted her current book aside. Ready to continue this meticulous process until she was a genius in every field there was. She is Blessed, after all. "...Master Julia?" A woman spoke from behind her, and made the sitting Julia turn her head to see an Indian woman wearing the same form-fitting suit as the rest of the Secretaries, but she remembered her as being one of her father's Secretaries. "Your father would like to speak with you in private. He said it's an urgent matter." Julia didn't like the sound of urgent, but she would get to the bottom of it soon enough. Julia stood up onto both feet, and nodded her head at the Secretary. Following behind her slowly. What could it possibly be threatening the Family? Is there really an obstacle that the Blessed Three couldn't surmount? [hr] Arriving in Shane's quarters, Julia looked up at her father pacing back and fourth in his office. When he turned his head towards Julia, he couldn't help but smile. "Oi, Julia," Shane said, "You made it, have a seat, we have much to discuss." Snapping his fingers, his Secretaries pulled out a chair in front of his desk that Julia sat down on, and Shane sat behind the desk with his hands folded. "There is another candidate for the Blessed Three," Shane bluntly started off. "Who?" Julia asked. "The son of two loyal members of our society... the Schmidts," He stood up, and folded his hands behind his back, and started pacing back and fourth behind his desk. "They produced a son that hits all the prerequisites. His father is a genius, and his mother is a Olympic level athlete - and has a PhD - which means the elders are considering this [i]boy[/i] for title of Blessed Three...." "But, father, I thought you said that the position of the Blessed Three belonged to our family - the O'Sullivans?" Julia quizzed, only to get swatted away with another comment. "I thought I could delay it long enough for your [i]sister[/i] to be ready..." Shane groaned, shaking his head. "This boy has to survive the ritual to prove he belongs among us, there isn't anything to-" "... Sister?" Julia questioned, wondering what in the hell her father was talking about since he never mentioned a sister before. "Oh, I've never told you, my little secret" Shane said as he leaned in forward, and used his hands to balance his upper-body against the desk. He was about to say something, having his mouth wide open, before he firmly shut it, saying, "...I think it's best that I show you." He looked over towards his Secretary, "Saanvi, prepare the transportation." She bowed, saying, "Right away, sir." [hr][i][u]Faircrest Woods, Roseview.[/u][/i] A limo transported the entire O'Sullivan family through Prince-Edfield to the southernmost parts of Baybridge known as Roseview. A limousine was not the most inconspicuous vehicle (Especially in Roseview, the last place you'd expect to see a limousine in Baybridge), but it was definitely comforting. The interior of this vehicle was a nice padded red color... but, it was nothing special to Julia. It was [i]mundane[/i] even. She sat right across from her father, and his Secretaries, with her legs crossed in a proper manner, and her hands gently resting on her lap. She would [i]rather[/i] continue studying those books, but the mention of a sister sparked her curiosity. What sparked it even further was the fact that her father was taking her all the way across Baybridge. In all her curiosity, she barely even noticed the limousine stopping, and her father and his Secretaries stepping out. Shaking her head as she was knocked back into reality, a Secretary opened the door for her, and she slid her way out. The first thing she caught eye of was the massive mansion before her... she turned around, and saw the large gates. She wondered what this facility was, but it couldn't have been on the radars of the Family if she hadn't seen or heard of it until today. The doors were opened by the Secretaries, and Julia was lead in. The large group were lead through the halls of the mansion, until they arrived at a large door with a keypad on the side. Shane punched in the code, and the doors opened wide... revealing a dark basement that just reeked with an acrid smell of some kind. She had to cover her nose. "Now, you have to keep this a secret, as the Elders don't know about this facility..." Shane said, "... Nor do they know about what I'm about to show you." A Secretary turned on the lightswitch, and the concrete steps were well illuminated. Well, the only thing that they seemed to be able to do was head straight down, and Julia took up the rear as she realized that Shane must really be hiding a secret of some kind. Julia heard of the schism that divided the Family... could this be it? Eventually, they reached the bottom of the steps, and Shane flipped one more switch, and Julia's eyes fell on the contents of the room... her eyes going wide, and her jaw going slack, as the shock overcame her. But, she found herself taking steps towards it. Towards the large objects that were on the other side of the room. Placing a hand across the glass as she stared inside.... There was a human being - floating in liquid - In the fetal position. Inside of a large pod that was like a test tube. Various pieces of machinery were attached to it. She couldn't take her eyes off what was inside... it was a human being, but [i]incomplete[/i]. Many body parts were small, and weak looking. Almost like a large fetus. "Father..." Julia asked, as she looked back behind her father. "...W-what is this?" "Julia, you ever question your mother's identity? Why she was never around, or even [i]mentioned?[/i]" Julia reluctantly nodded her head. "Because, you [i]never had one,[/i]" Shane bluntly said as he turned away from Julia, folding his arms behind his back, "You're a brand of perfection created not from decades of foolish eugenics, but by my design. I specifically used my genes as a template, and pick and choose everything about you until you were, just that, perfect." Julia was at a loss for words, she couldn't help but keep staring at what was on the other side. "It was decades of hard work, Julia," Shane said. "With the Family's resources at my disposal, I found the keys to creating [i]life itself[/i]. Just think of the possibilities, Julia. We can create a new brand of [i]perfect[/i] and lead the Family into greatness. But, not just that, but we can do things that no one else on Earth is capable of doing." "But, what is this...?" Julia trailed off. "Well, you see, Julia, you weren't the first attempt... there were many others that had to be flushed because they weren't... [i]perfect,[/i]" Shane started off. "Some came close, but I couldn't accept that... and when I finally got it right, I knew I couldn't stop there. I had to create more... this right here... is your [i]sister.[/i] Isn't she beautiful?" Julia was once again at a loss for words... she was wondering if she was even human - No. She was nothing but a lab experiment. Just her father's pride and joy. She looked up at the man with fear in her eyes as she wondered if she should even keep going. If she should kill her father, and... Even though she wasn't born with a mother, does that mean she should stop and doubt everything? She feels human. [i]I think, therefore... I am.[/i] Julia thought to herself to gently reassure herself. "...I have nothing to say." "I know it might be a shock... all of this," Shane said. "But, trust me, [i]Princess.[/i]" Julia narrowed her eyes at Shane upon hearing those words. "Let me teach you what I know, let me teach you how I did it," Shane said as he put his hands on Julia's shoulders, looking her in the eye. "Forget about those books you've been studying, they will not help you with the genetic-talents that you have running through you. We can make the Founding Family perfect..." Julia looked off to the side for a moment, as if she was considering it. "...Yes father." Those words were hard to say... Father. Was he really her father? She looked back towards the test tube. That thing was as much of a parent as Shane... and the mere concept was [i]horrifying[/i]. "Good... good, good, good, I knew you would do it, Princess," Shane said. "One benefit that came out of the failures was that I discovered something useful... maybe the imperfections have a use. I have started a new project of mine that I want you to finish..." He looked up at the tube. "...The ZODIAC project." [hr][hr][i][h1]Blake Schmidt... Nineteen years ago...[/h1][/i][hr] "He's here! He survived the ritual, he is [i]blessed.[/i]" A woman shouted as a small figure stepped out of two large metal doors, accompanied by two well-dressed women - that were most likely Secretaries ([i]His[/i] Secretaries). He was a boy that had to be no older than thirteen, with messy-black hair, and sharp-green eyes. He was wearing a tuxedo with a black king's robe draped over his shoulders. As he walked into the room, they were practically throwing confetti at him, but his eyes landed on an older man wearing a matching tuxedo, and a proud look on his face. "I knew he could do it... I knew he was blessed from the get go..." The man said as a tear fell from his eyes. "My son..." He trailed off. The boy looked off to the side, so he didn't make eye contact with the man. "...[i] Blake Schmidt[/i]." "Oh, my, um," A woman said as she walked up to Blake. She was different from the other Secretaries because, while well-dressed, she was quite expressive, and got close to Blake as she looked him in the eye. "We'll have to get you trained by the elders soon as possible... Once you're finished, you'll be perfect." A loud clapping came from the other side of the room. A slow, rhythmic clap. Everyone turned towards it. It heralded the arrival of both Shane and Julia O'Sullivan. "Oh, sorry we're late," Shane said as he looked around. "What? Did we miss the inauguration of the boy who will be taking the final position of the Blessed Three?" He asked. "No, you're just in time." The woman said, stepping aside, and letting Shane get a good view of the boy... Inferior. He doesn't deserve a position among the Blessed Three, but if that is what the Elders want... He'll put up with the child for now. "Now, you must be Blake Schmidt," Shane said. "I've heard so much about you! How about, before your inauguration... we should perhaps clash? Test power to power?" Shane asked as he put a hand on his chest. "Oh, lord Shane, he isn-" "No," Blake said as he finally took a step forward. "If I am going to stand with the Blessed Three... I have to do this." Blake's right arm exploded in flames as his suit was burnt to tatters... he stared down Shane. "Oh? I will not be sparring you tonight," Shane said as he stepped aside, putting Julia in front. "My Daughter, who has all my greatest attributes... shall be standing in for me." [i]I'm just an accomplishment for him....[/i] Julia trailed off as she took a similar stance, with the left side of her body being encompassed with cold, hard, ice that sent a chilling aura through the air. The young Blake jumped through the air with his flaming hand cocked back, throwing it forward as Julia merely threw her frozen hand up and caught the punch from the young boy. The clash pressed on for a few more moments before Blake's fist suddenly turned into stone and he wrestled his hand free from Julia's grasp. Throwing both of them back several feet. Shane looked on, excited. [hr] After their spar, Shane had gathered both into his office, for a talk that is supposed to take place before Blake's inauguration. The boy merely sat there, staring at the tall, Irish-man, that was supposed to be perfect in every single way. But, Blake knew that he was even more perfect. He will be the one to lead the Family, not this man. He crossed his arms and casually gazed to his left to see this man's daughter, Julia, merely sitting with her legs crossed, and her hands rested on her lap. "Now, that the Blessed Three is completed, there is something I need to tell you," Shane said as he paced back and fourth in front of the two. "For years I was the sole member of the Blessed Three – the supreme leader – only because there was a disagreement over how the organization should be... run." He shuddered for a moment. "Years ago when I was young, there were two others; Juno Anagnos, and Abdu Nasser. We were the Blessed Three – incredibly powerful, we had it [i]all.[/i]" Shane bitterly spoke... almost like he was betrayed, he shook his head for a moment. "But, they wanted to [i]change[/i] the organization into something that went against the very doctrine of the Founding Family. They wanted to halt our genetic experimentation all because ti was [i]inhumane[/i]." He stopped, before he hissed, "They were never [i]Blessed[/i] to begin with. They were merely fools that let their emotions get the best of them." He stopped for a moment, before he said, "I told the Elders of this, and they were going to be stripped of their position... but, it ended in a civil war between those who believed in the core ideology of the organization, and those who followed the fools... it was like a second ritual because, in the end, [i]I[/i] succeeded yet again." Julia got the underlying message of Shane's speech... And she was more frightened by her own father than ever before. "I killed Abdu... but, Anagnos fled," Shane started off, "But, I found out where that traitor scampered off to. She is hiding in Ireland with her brood of bastards..." "So, how does this concern us?" Julia asked, narrowing her eyes. "If she's off hiding in Ireland, then she is most likely paying the Family little mind..." She tried to convince her father that going after her would be foolish. "She knows secrets of the Founding Family... she can single-handedly ruin us, especially when young Blake here is merely in training...." Shane answered. "Even if she has no interest in us, we cannot let her live with those secrets." Julia sighed. "Julia, I have arranged for a flight to Ireland so we can have a word with her..." Shane said, he turned towards Blake. "You are too young and inexperienced to handle someone like Juno... she is a powerful Metahuman on par with me, but me and Julia should be more than enough for her...." Julia sighed. "... Yes, father." "Good... we'll leave the inauguration to Blake." The boy raised his head. "... It's your big day, Blake, go make them proud." [hr][hr][i][h1]Ezekiel Anagnos... Nineteen years ago...[/h1][/i][hr] [i][u]The Irish Country-side...[/u][/i] It was practically a routine for the young Ezekiel to find a book, and go wander the Irish-country side. There was virtually no one here save for a few vacationers, and other roamers. It was difficult for Ezekiel to find peace and quiet in his house as everyone would bother him as he's trying to read. A part of him wanted to go explore Ireland... it's a big country, and Ezekiel's practically an ant. Stepping on a stick, Ezekiel raised a finger up into the air, and it was encompassed with an electric spark that went up and down his finger, before it disappeared. ... Well, ants don't have the power Ezekiel has, far as he can tell. For now, the sun was getting ready to set, so Ezekiel would rather not wander around aimlessly at night, electrokinesis or not. He just needs to make sure he doesn't fall asleep at the tree again at the dead of night. Under his arm, he had Thus Spoke Zarathustra... a book that was a little ahead of him, but Ezekiel, thanks to his mother, could understand philosophy and the concepts suggested by Nietzsche just fine. Getting to the top of the hill, Ezekiel sat down, leaned his back up against the tree, and looked down at the book... ... Right before he could even get into it, gunshots rang from the direction of his home. Followed by roaring bolt of lightning. One that lit up the nightsky, followed by an explosive boom, before fading away. The boy's eyes opened wide, as he nearly dropped his book. Ezekiel was tempted to run away, but he recognized that electricity. He ran over to his house with the book underneath his shoulder, and every step he took he heard more electricity crackle, and pulse... He leaned up against the wall, and peaked around the corner to see.... Chaos. Bodies everywhere, so are shell casings... but, most frightening of all.... ... Was his own mother. "Shane..." Ezekiel's mother spoke with dead seriousness as she floated a few inches off the ground. All around her was bodies... Intimidation Unit soldiers that were immolated, or skewered with their own weapons, from Juno's onslaught. She stared down the Irish-man who was merely running a hand through his hair, and resumed staring her down. "Juno, even though you've... slacked in the training regime..." Shane trailed off, looking at all the weight that the former member of the Blessed Three put on. "You're still as powerful as ever... ruthless, too." He pointed at a dead body of an Intimidation Unit... who had her own rifle jammed through her skull. "You slaughter my men like animals even though you renounced all that made you... tell me, do you pick and choose your morality?" "Shane, don't give me that shit!" Juno shouted at the top of her lungs as her electric abilities flared. She pointed at Shane. "You're not [i]'like'[/i] animals, you [i]are[/i] all animals. You've come all the way here to threaten me and my children even though we were done with you narcissists!" "Nonetheless," Shane said. "Why were you even acting like you could renounce what made you? This was just a long time coming,[i] Juno.[/i]" He snapped his fingers and more of the Intimidation Unit came rolling up with their weapons drawn. "You're right," Juno started off. "It [i]is[/i] a long time coming... I finally get to finish what I started twenty years ago!" All of the Intimidation Unit opened fire with their assault rifles, but all their bullets came to a stop as they were surrounded with sparks of electricity. Juno threw both hands forward and a barrage cut through the soldiers of the Founding Family as she flew right into the thick of the group. What would be a suicidal move... only got her closer. One man tried to hit her with the butt of his gun, only for the weapon to blow his own head off. Juno pointed both hands forward and shot a bolt of lightning that split off into several streams that shocked at least seven soldiers at once. The weapons from the fallen soldiers were levitated as Juno charged through the small army at Shane. Right when they tried to aim their weapons at her again, the guns were literally ripped from their hands.... they were realizing it wasn't working and chose to rush her all at once without their weapons. That's when Juno created an "orb" out of all the guns that she had taken... there was a weapon pointing in every single direction. They quickly turned around, and tried to run for cover, but all it took was one [i]thought[/i] for Juno to pull the trigger and continue the massacre against them. Many more members of the Intimidation Unit were killed in that attack alone. Once the guns were dry, Juno kept going with her rampage against the Founding Family. Condescending all the firearms into an orb and launching it through the very center of their formation. Someone tried to come from behind with a knife, but a quick burst of electricity stunned him, before Juno made the knife swing back around and jam him through the jaw. Before the knife launched off and stabbed another man in the chest. Finally having enough, Juno spawned as much electricity as she could... making all the Intimidation Unit run for cover, as she killed so many of them they had lost all hope of even trying to kill Juno. Which left their leader defenseless... "[i]Shane![/i]" Juno shouted at the top of her lungs as she prepared to end this. "It's about time," Shane said as he looked at his watch. "I was personally wondering when you would let your guard down." Shane reached into his suit and pulled out a barrage of knives that was propelled through the air by Shane's telekinetic ability. Juno tried to catch it - only for her ability not to work on it. [i]It's... non-magnetic![/i] Was the thought she had before the blades pierced her, turning her into a living pin cushion, and before she knew it, she was falling from the sky... she was bleeding profusely... she coughed up a large gulp of blood as she tried to channel her electric ability through her hand, only for it too to get pinned to the ground by an extra blade. Shane merely walked over to Juno, and stood over top of her. "S-Shane... y-you bastard." Juno said as she was pinned to the ground. "Juno..." Shane said. "We could have built a great age for the Family... but, you had to throw it all away, and for what? This?" Shane pointed at the house. "[i]Great age?[/i]" Juno scoffed as she coughed blood. "What a load'a bullshit. We both know that all that would have happened is another few decades of the Family blowing themselves." She said, crass as possible. "I got tired of it Shane. Tired of torturing all those people... and for what...? Genetic perfection? The longer I remained in the Family, the more I realized that everyone there was nothing but a bunch of kids on a power high! I thought I could appeal to your humanity just like I did Abdu... show you that all of this is [i]wrong[/i]... but, clearly, Shane,[i] you don't have any humanity. No moral compass. Nothing.[/i] You're basically a maggot in the grand pile of shit that is the [i]Founding Family[/i]. I hope you rot [i]in hell.[/i]" Shane stared at Juno. Not saying a word as he produced another knife from his suit. Julia, realizing that the smoke finally cleared, looked on... She had something to say, "Father, is this really necessary?" Julia said, trying to convinced her father to spare Juno. "It's just-" The knife that he was holding was launched square into Juno's skull, and killed the woman that wiped out so many of his men. "... We used to be friends, Juno," Shane started off. "But, not anymore..." He turned off, and ordered the Intimidation Unit. "Round up the rest of the bastards and kill them on sight. We have no use for them." "Father..." Julia trailed off. But, on the end of Ezekiel... the boy was on his knees, loudly bawling because of the loss of his mother. However, he was losing control of himself. Electricity sparked off his small frame as he began to float. He overloaded with power, and the display didn't go unnoticed. "Oh," Shane said as he looked at Ezekiel. "Another of her bastards? Just kill him-" Ezekiel screamed at the top of his lungs as a bolt of lightning fell from the sky and impacted him. It hit with such force that everyone was sent staggering. Ezekiel pointed both hands at Ezekiel, pulsing with electricity, and let loose a powerful blast of electricity at Shane. The elder member of the Blessed Three loudly screamed as the electricity coursed through him, shaking as everything burned. It was such immense power. No human being can survive it. It wasn't long until Shane's eyeballs popped, and every fiber of his being was set [i]ablaze[/i]. Once it was over, there wasn't much left of Shane except for a burned carcass... Shane fell onto his knees, before hitting the ground. His jaw falling off on impact. Ezekiel went over to his fallen mother.... "Master Shane!" An IU member shouted, before taking aim at Ezekiel. "Halt! Lower your weapons..." Julia said as he slowly strut over. "But, Mistress Julia, he killed Master Shane!" The IU member said, refusing to lower his weapons. Well, Julia gave him a good reason as he grabbed onto him, and froze him solid. His screams were brief before he was encased in ice. Pulling her hand back, Julia snapped her fingers before the man crumbled to pieces. The remaining members of the IU got Julia's message. "Now... as of now, the official story is that Juno and Shane killed each other in combat," Julia stopped and looked over her shoulder. "Am I clear?" "But, that was your father...?" The IU member was amazed by her callousness. "Yeah, was," Julia coldly said. "He's gone, and that means I am the authority here." Since they were just as frightened by Julia, the Intimidation Unit merely followed her orders. "And call off the search for the rest of those kids, will you?" Nodding his head, they put in the order as Julia walked over to the sobbing Ezekiel. She squat down, and looked at him for a moment. Pretty sad... Julia should be feeling the same way about Shane, but he was nothing but her [i]creator[/i]. Shane will die with that secret as Julia merely holds onto the fantasy that she wasn't a produced abomination. "Hey kid," Julia softly said, getting Ezekiel's attention as he stared at her. "I know what happened here was hard on you... but, I think I have an offer for you. You interested?" Ezekiel nodded his head, and Julia smiled. "... There's a vacant spot in my organization for you." [hr][i][u]Regal Square, Prince-Ed-Field.[/u][/i] It was a few days later... and people were skeptical of Ezekiel. Having little idea of who he is... and those that did knew he was the daughter of a traitor. However, Julia was able to convince the elders to give him a chance on the basis that he's the son of a Blessed Three, and one of their top scientists. He must be blessed. Even now, Julia walked as Ezekiel walked up to the very same metal doors that she walked up to when she was just ten years old... now, she was curious whether or not she was made to be perfect just like her father said. But, now, the metal doors opened for Ezekiel, and now Julia will see if Ezekiel lives up to her expectations. The ritual was something else... if he dies, then it won't be of any loss to the Family, and they'll just find another. Julia just shrugged. Ezekiel stared at the doors in silent fear... before the doors opened, and Ezekiel stepped inside. Wearing a suit tailored for him on behalf of Julia. The room was bathed in a green light, and there were nothing but white tiles. The people inside were wearing environmental suits. "Alright, come with me," A man said as he grabbed onto Ezekiel's wrist, and pulled him through the room until he caught sight of a large black vat, with a platform above it with straps. Ezekiel stared at it curiously, but the man pulled his arm to catch his attention. "Are you ready?" The man asked. Ezekiel nodded his head. "Good." The man said as he pulled Ezekiel through the room, and the other scientists in environmental suits took off his suit save for his underwear, and hoisted him up on the platform. Strapping him to it as he dangled above it carelessly. Once he was completely strapped, they got off him, and stepped away. With one pull of a lever, Ezekiel was slowly lowered into it. "... If you survive we will know you are Blessed, genetically perfect." Ezekiel barely paid the words any mind... He was hollow at this point. Apathetic. He was lowered into the glowing green liquid and felt... empowered. He felt the Metahuman energy inside the liquid charge him. The longer his skin soaked on it, the more his power went up. He felt the power inside of him. The electricity sparked off his being... going through the liquid and even being visible at the very top as it danced. Ezekiel was barely conscious as his body was adjusting to the newfound power he was receiving... Badly. Ezekiel's already natural electrical ability that he inherited from Juno was being tripled... and the boy could already throw cars, shoot lightning... and now he would develop into a God. The platform was raised, and Ezekiel was alive... his body was surrounded with electricity, and he was loudly panting. The employees of the Family looked on in amazement. "... He really is Blessed." [hr][hr][i][h1]Julia O'Sullivan... Nineteen years ago...[/h1][/i][hr] [i][u]Faircrest Woods, Roseview.[/u][/i] After the death of her father, Julia quickly went back to America, and right to her father's secret little project... She walked down the concrete steps accompanied by her Secretaries, and walked up to the pod with an apathetic look on her face. She stared at the embryo inside, tilting her head to the side. Julia placed her hand against the pod, and traced her fingers across it slowly. Creating a thin layer of ice as her fingers graced across it. "Part of me is tempted to kill you," Julia said in a blank tone. "Put you out of your misery..." She took her hand off the pod. "... But, you're the same as me; a [i]creation[/i] instead of a person. Not born of flesh and love... but, a machination...." She shuddered as she said creation. "I can find a use for you... according to my father, you will be finished in about... five years?" Julia said. "Once you are complete, I will decide what to do with you. For now... you are a variable that not even the Family knows about." Julia turned away from her "sister," and folded her hands behind her back. "Sleep easy... [i]Chloe.[/i]" The elder O'Sullivan named her sister as she took a few steps forward, and spoke to her Secretaries as she walked up the stairs. "This facility will remain a strict secret," Julia said. "No one knows about what it is, or what goes on here. In addition, bring all of my father's research, and store it in the confines of this mansion." A twisted grin formed on her face. "... I'm going to make use of my father's research."