[CENTER][hr][hr][COLOR=SLATEGRAY][H2][B]C H A P T E R I[/B][/H2][/COLOR][COLOR=SILVER][B][I]A S T O R M R I S E S[/I][/B][/COLOR] [hr][hr] [COLOR=SILVER][B][I]"Remember, the storm is a good opportunity for the pine and the cypress to show their strength and their stability."[/I][/B][/COLOR][/CENTER] [INDENT][COLOR=SLATEGRAY][B]I N T R O D U C T I O N :[/B][/COLOR][/INDENT][hr] [INDENT][INDENT]Fifty years ago, humanity would never have thought that a man could fly unassisted through the air, shoot laser beams out of his eyes or stop bullets with his skin. Yet in 1967, the Hyperhuman was confirmed to be living among its evolutionary predecessor. But there will always be those who abuse the gifts given to them. As such the world witnessed the dangerous side of Hyperhumans and began to resent those with abilities and reject them from society. But not everyone immediately wrote off that which they didn’t understand. Pro-Hyperhuman groups such as H.E.L.P. and 3HA, lobbied for equal rights and treatment towards Hyperhumans. A long, hard uphill battle to claim equal footing for men who could stand as gods among mortals. But yet after years, they had the public beginning to accept the existence of those with extraordinary gifts. What the world at large remains unaware of however is that there are others among them besides Hyperhumans who have abilities that are almost incomprehensible. The mysterious and mystical Draoi had been living among humans since the dawn of early civilization, and even still today endure despite being hunted by the dreaded Venari. Furthermore beyond even these, Earth has been visited by Celestial visitors for eons, most coming and going without anyone being none the wiser. Fear of the unknown has always plagued humanity, and continues to do so as unnatural storm clouds circle around the coastal city of Crescent City. For almost the past month, rain has pelted the city introducing flooding along the coast and along the other bodies of water within the city leading to whole neighborhoods being evacuated. With this rain has come damaging winds ripping through the vineyards outside Los Paraíso and landslides burying many of the main routes in and out of the city. Meteorologists are completely baffled by this storm as it seems to only be suspended above Crescent City and not moving anywhere. The storm clouds appear to originate from above Old Stone Mountain where a huge concentration of black clouds can be seen swirling around its tips leaving the resort that resides there completely closed down. This weather is causing a lot of tension within the city as the people are beginning to panic. Many of the people of Crescent City have begun to believe that the storm is the work of a Hype intent on eventually holding the city hostage. Furthermore, the city is in the midst of a mayoral election putting a lot of stress on the candidates to provide results to the pandemonium plaguing the city. In the midst of all this, crime has begun to spike as the local gangs have taken advantage of the situation and the evacuated areas. Neighbor has begun to turn on neighbor stretching the already strained emergency services to their breaking point. The city needs help, the source of the storm needs to be found and the only ones able to it are those who the city fears most...[/INDENT][/INDENT] [CENTER][SUB][I][COLOR=SILVER]You don’t know my kind, you don’t know my mind…[/COLOR][/I][/SUB][hr][H3][B][COLOR=SLATEGRAY]D A R K N E C E S S I T I E S[/COLOR][/B][/H3][/CENTER] [hr] [INDENT][COLOR=SLATEGRAY][B][I]Status:[/I] [COLOR=INDIANRED]URGENT[/COLOR] [I]Time of Day:[/I] [COLOR=SILVER]Night[/COLOR] [I]Weather:[/I] [COLOR=SILVER]Rain[/COLOR][/B][/COLOR] [INDENT]Clocking out for the night, Greg O’Connor rolled his eyes as a sign for the mayoral election blew by in the strong gust of wind. Guarding warehouses in the Power District was never something he had desired to do and each ten hour day dragged on for what seemed an eternity. Coming around a corner, he heard a noise as he turned his flashlight on. Seeing nothing, he tucked the tool back into his belt as he fumbled for the keys to his car. [b]“Evening O’Connor.”[/b] A voice startled Greg as he nearly jumped out of his skin, feet slipping on the wet pavement beneath them before he managed to catch himself on his car. Turning to the source of the voice, Greg sighed in relief as he held a hand to his forehead, shielding his face from the ran. [b]“Didn’t see you there, Nina.”[/b] Greg said with a slight chuckle as the mocha skinned woman stared at him. Cursing inwardly at the fool he had just made of himself in front of the beautiful woman, Greg tried quickly to recover himself. [b]“I didn’t realize you were working overnights.”[/b] He said. [b]“I’m not, just forgot something. Have a pleasant night Greg.”[/b] Nina said with a slight wave as she quickly walked away. [b]“Stupid, Greg, stupid!”[/b] The man muttered to himself as he tried to think of anyway the previous conversation could have gone smoother. The smell of smoke drifted into the air as Greg looked around for the source before shrugging his shoulders and assuming someone nearby had lit a cigarette. Shadows danced along the pavement at his feet, causing Greg to turn around as a horizon of orange caught his eye. Nearly a block away, fire could be seen dancing along the rooftops of the few houses that dotted the Power District. Flashes of red and blue could be seen through the streets as a single fire truck rushed to the seen. Stunned, Greg looked on in awe before looking skyward as if to ask whatever power was out there [i]‘Why?’[/i]. [b]“How does a fire burn in this weather?”[/b] The words stumbled out of his mouth, giving his head a shake before turning around to climb in his car. Suddenly, a large rumble echoed from the other side of the warehouse as Greg barely had enough time to look up before a large explosion lifted him off his feet and threw the heavy man across the parking lot. Flames rocketed into the sky as the night became filled with smoke and the smell of burning. Alarms went off all across the district as staff prepared emergency measures but no further sirens sounded from the emergency forces. Stretched far too thin due to the typhoon-like weather that had been plaguing the city, the fire department had been trying to stop flooding in other areas of the city. [b]“God help us…”[/b] Greg muttered as he struggled to stand up, looking at the flames that continued to spread despite the soaked ground and pouring rain. Staring beyond the warehouses, Greg could scarcely move as his body froze in fear, realizing the fire was on a direct path towards the plant itself.[/INDENT][/INDENT] [CENTER][SUB][I][COLOR=SILVER]'Cause when you lie like, the devil himself, no angels gonna hear your…[/COLOR][/I][/SUB][hr][H3][B][COLOR=SLATEGRAY]C R Y F O R H E L P[/COLOR][/B][/H3][/CENTER] [hr] [INDENT][COLOR=SLATEGRAY][B][I]Status:[/I] [COLOR=INDIANRED]URGENT[/COLOR] [I]Time of Day:[/I] [COLOR=SILVER]Night[/COLOR] [I]Weather:[/I] [COLOR=SILVER]Rain[/COLOR][/B][/COLOR] [INDENT][b]“Stay inside and no one has to get hurt.”[/b] Violet Parr heard the words echo inside her head over and over as she peered out the windows towards the street below her apartment. Vermilion and cobalt illuminated the street corners where commandeered cruisers sat while gangsters dressed in blues walked the pavement below. Screams echoed out of a nearby hotel as guests were escorted out of the lobby, gunfire exploded into the air as a volley of warning shots were fired. The screeching of tires could be heard a large vehicle came to a sudden halt, the gangsters opening the back of the vehicle and forcing the citizens inside. [b]“Hotel lobby’s clear.”[/b] A voice echoed over the radios as a handful of officers entered into the hotel. [b]“Clear the kitchen, check the rooms. Floor by floor check.”[/b] [b]“Can do Antonio.”[/b] Came the reply as the one who initiated the orders nodded and stepped back outside. The cold rain pelted against his face before he adjusted the brim of the officer’s cap to shield himself. [b]“Load the truck up and take off. See if any of them are worth anything to anyone.”[/b] Antonio ordered as he waved off the truck. [b]“Cut the phone lines and set up a jammer, we don’t need any more company here.”[/b] He ordered to the remaining men standing around. [b]“Del Toro, you’re with me.”[/b] He added with a pointed finger towards one of the men. [b]“Sure thing.”[/b] Del Toro stated with a nod as he jogged to catch up with Antonio. [b]“So what exactly is the outcome here?”[/b] He asked, [b]“What exactly does Raul hope to accomplish?”[/b] [b]“That’s not for us to know at this moment. If Mister De Vitis wants us to know his plans, he’ll let us know. Until then we do what he says and hopes he keeps the Russian away.”[/b] Antonio stated shortly. [b]“Boss,”[/b] The radio suddenly crackled to life. [b]“There’s someone special in the penthouse you might want to meet.”[/b][/INDENT][/INDENT] [CENTER][SUB][I][COLOR=SILVER]Pressure from the man got us all in rebellion, We gon' go to war, yeah, without failure[/COLOR][/I][/SUB][hr][H3][B][COLOR=SLATEGRAY]S U C K E R F O R P A I N[/COLOR][/B][/H3][/CENTER] [hr] [INDENT][COLOR=SLATEGRAY][B][I]Status:[/I] [COLOR=DARKORANGE]PRESSING[/COLOR] [I]Time of Day:[/I] [COLOR=SILVER]Night[/COLOR] [I]Weather:[/I] [COLOR=SILVER]Rain[/COLOR][/B][/COLOR] [INDENT]Despite the storm hanging over Crescent City, Los Paraíso’s Avenue Rogue had been seeing even more activity than normal. It would seem that the threat of the alleged end of the world drove people to indulge their base instincts and desires. Laughter and yelling could be heard from outside the strip club as the audible ‘THUD’ of another shot glass hitting Piquante’s counter as cheers filled the room. [b]“No one has ever done that many!”[/b] One member of the Third Street Roughnecks could be heard as another one yelled. [b]“Again!”[/b] A notion which was quickly seconded and then carried as another shot was filled up. The reigning champion suddenly shook his head before holding up a wad of cash. [b]“A round for all my boys!”[/b] He yelled as Thirds cheered yet again. Money was easy to come by when people were leaving houses behind left right and center, especially in the city’s richest districts. Most of the home owners in Paradise on the Water had at least two other homes and with the storm were among the first to leave. Stumbling out of the club, the Thirds made their way downtown. Giggling like idiots, one of them picked up a rock and chucked it at a nearby window. The glass shattered as the alarm went off, but the alcohol in their systems had the Thirds feeling far too good about something as simple as the police showing up. Suddenly another rock flew, followed by another as the Thirds climbed through the broken window panes and began to loot and trash the various empty shops that lined Los Paraíso’s downtown. [b]“HEY!”[/b] A voice suddenly cried out, interrupting the chaos that had overtaken the downtown. [b]“This is Crew territory. No Thirds allowed.”[/b] The voice said as suddenly a gang appeared from the various alleys in between the shops. [b]“Then I guess, I’m taking a piss in your territory.”[/b] The Thirds’ leader yelled as he unzipped his fly and let a stream loose. [b]“Looks like I just marked it as mine.”[/b] He slurred with a laugh. [b]“You fucker.”[/b] The Crew member replied as he picked up a loose rock and chucked it at the Third. The rock bounced off the edge of the nearby building, clipping the Third in the forehead as he stumbled away bleeding, tripping over his undone pants. [b]“Get that bitch!”[/b] He yelled as he scrambled to stand while the Thirds rushed towards the Crew.[/INDENT][/INDENT]