[CENTER][IMG]http://i.imgur.com/aEEXoZU.png?1[/IMG] [B][color=black]♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ [/color] SEASON ONE: GODS AMONG MEN [color=black] ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦[/color][/B][/CENTER] [COLOR=1E90FF][indent][sub][B]Location:[/B] [COLOR=SILVER][I]Four Freedoms Plaza[/I] - [i]New York City, United States of America[/i][/COLOR][/sub][sup][right][b]Season One #1.05:[/b] [COLOR=SILVER][I]Devastation and Reform[/I][/COLOR][/right][/sup][/indent][/color][sub][hr][/sub][INDENT][color=1E90FF][sub][B]Interaction(s):[/B] [COLOR=SILVER][I][@Webboysurf] as Arsenal and Captain America, [@Hound55] as the Blue Beetle, & [@Star Lord] as Wonder Woman[/I][/COLOR][/sub][SUP][RIGHT][b]Previously:[/b] [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4933365][COLOR=SILVER][I]The Needs of the Many[/I][/COLOR][/url][/right][/SUP][/color] [INDENT][COLOR=SILVER]The suit had been badly damaged during the fight with Wonder Woman. The majority of its power reserves had been sapped. Stryfe had no knowledge of the engineering that went into it, but even he could guess it had not been designed for prolonged combat with Wonder Woman. It was a showpiece, a prop, at best, it was a prototype. Still, Stryfe was able to sustain flight as he limped back towards the Four Freedoms Plaza. Forcing the suit to fly a little higher, the leader of the Metahuman Supremacy Front re-entered the building. Firing the suit’s thrusters in short bursts, Stryfe maneuvered the suit the best he could, still coming to a rough landing. Griffin was the first to greet him, helping his father stand while the technicians began to examine the suit and attempt to repair the failing power systems. [color=#db7093]“Status report!”[/color] Stryfe called towards the techs. [COLOR=WHITE]“Star City is completely offline.”[/color] A technician replied while others began to remove the heavy armour from Reverend Stryker’s body. [color=#db7093]“No,”[/color] Stryfe ordered, raising a hand to wave them away. [color=#db7093]“The battle is not over, we have to make our last stand here.”[/color] [color=#ffb6c1]“Dad,”[/color] Griffin started, but Stryker silenced his son. It wouldn’t do him any good now to hear the pleas of the boy he knew was going to be left fatherless. [color=#db7093]“You need to go home,”[/color] Stryker ordered, [color=#db7093]“Someone will need to take care of your mother.”[/color] He added before turning to address the rest of his followers. [color=#db7093]“In fact, anyone here who is the sole caretaker of their household, you must leave. Our mission, while burdened with glorious purpose, should not leave those who cannot fend for themselves defenceless.”[/color] Stryfe bellowed, [color=#db7093]“There is no shame in this, you have fulfilled your role, and I can not ask any more of you.”[/color] [color=#db7093]“To those of you who stay,”[/color] He continued, [color=#db7093]“You will be facing death, but know in that, there is salvation. You die for the greater good, you die so that others can live, free of the children of the atom”[/color] As the group cheered, Stryfe nodded in satisfaction. Activating the stolen technology, Stryker created a portal for those who needed to depart. Sharing one last look with Griffin, Stryker turned his back, unable to watch his son leave. [COLOR=WHITE]“They’re gone, Sir.”[/color] One of the technicians informed him, prompting Stryfe to immediately shut down the machine. Raising an armoured fist, he quickly brought it down on the console, erasing any chance of his pursuers being able to follow his boy. [color=#db7093]“Come now,”[/color] Stryfe motioned towards the doors and windows, [b][color=#db7093]“Prepare the room for breaching.”[/color][/b] He ordered, [b][color=#db7093]“We may die here today as martyrs, but we’re sure as hell not going out without a fight.”[/color] [/b] [hr] The building was eerily quiet. Roy had his sidearm drawn, while Cap had his shield out. There was no movement, no signs of anyone nearby… just silence. They couldn’t access the top few floors from the stairwell, seeing as Reed was apparently far too paranoid and secure for his own good. The two men made little sound as they searched the floor briskly. Of course, no signs of the hostages nor the MSF. Steve turned his gaze towards Roy and his quiver of arrows. [color=#00aeef]"Please tell me you have-”[/color] A low hum from across the open room made them both silent, and the two men raised their respective weapons as they approached the elevator. Whatever was on the other side… it couldn’t be good. Roy tapped on his tinted glasses a couple times, and the visuals changed until he got exactly what he wanted: A 3D thermal view through the elevator shaft. The archer watched as the elevator came into view from below, filled with armed soldiers. Roy raised his left hand as he observed the soldiers rise more and more. He was so focused on watching where the soldiers were going that he almost missed another thermal signature… below the elevator. The scarlet archer tilted his head slightly at this, before looking to Steve. [color=#ff0000]“I… open the door.”[/color] Steve gave a nod, holstering the shield on his back while forcing his fingers in between the sliding metal doors into the elevator shaft. With one quick motion, Steve was able to easily slide them open and hold them in place while Roy crouched down and looked up, sidearm pointed up towards the blue figure dangling from beneath the elevator, not saying a single word as he waited for the hostiles to exit the elevator. The Blue Beetle looked down to where bright light burst into the elevator shaft, he glanced nervously up towards where armed soldiers were disembarking, watching a sliver of light flicker with shade matching their footfalls. He looked back down towards Roy and offered a feeble wave. [hr] Ted stood in the elevator bay with a red garbed guy and Captain America, re-coiling his line while getting the low-down from the pair. [color=skyblue]"So… I take it you got my message…"[/color] Steve shook his head. [color=#00aeef]“I’m afraid not, son. We picked up some weird signals here and ran a quick scan. Found hostages and hostiles. Speaking of…” [/color]Captain America lifted his wrist to his mouth as he walked away, a furrowed brow forming above his eyes. Roy turned his gaze back towards Ted, shrugging his shoulders. The archer raised an eyebrow at the new guy. [color=#ff0000]“I hope you’re a hacker, Pajama Sam. Or we’re sincerely screwed.”[/color] [Color=skyblue]"Really? You guys just found this place on your own..? Well-- well now I just feel like a dick."[/color] He scratched at the back of his cowl. [Color=skyblue]"Blue Beetle."[/color] Ted held out a glove to shake hands, and then awkwardly removed it once he saw that the man in red had his arms crossed, sizing him up, and how that wasn't going to change anytime soon. [Color=skyblue]"I'm the reason why these things are only tearing the Hell out of Midtown instead of spreading to the outer boroughs, so… I guess..? Maybe, probably, sorta..?"[/color] He glanced down and checked his belt to make sure his USB was still there. [Color=skyblue]"Let's just go with 'yes.'"[/color] Steve returned, giving a slight nod to both men. [color=#00aeef]“Alright, intel shows that the MSF has barricaded themselves in with the equipment and the hostages. So we are only going to have one chance at this, and no live ammo. Arsenal, you’re breaching from outside. Blue, you’re with me.”[/color] [Color=skyblue]"[sub]No live ammo..?[/sub] Sure. Not a problem."[/color] Steve gave a nod as Roy pulled out his bow and nocked an arrow-like it was second nature. With the arrow loaded, the archer pulled a small metal box from his utility belt and flicked open the top, revealing a line of microrope and attaching the exposed end to the modified arrowhead. He used one hand to toss it towards Cap, who caught it and hooked it onto his belt while Roy fired the arrow up into the elevator a few floors above. Cap gave a curt nod to Harper as the archer made his way across the room towards the windows, before turning his gaze towards his new ally. [color=#00aeef]“Alright, the goal is to incapacitate the hostiles before they can start opening fire. Arsenal is going to give them a party favour, and then we burst into the room. Keep behind me, and make a break for whatever is controlling the towers as soon as you have the chance. We’ve got your back. Any questions?”[/color] [Color=skyblue]"Ah no. No, that's-- that's pretty straightforward really."[/color] The Blue Beetle unholstered his makeshift B.B. gun and looked at it. He still had no idea if the thing would even work. He steadied himself and got ready to go. [color=#00aeef]“Wait for my signal.” [/color]Steve stepped out into the stairwell, and the microrope caught his weight and allowed him to hang over the impending pit. With a tap on the metal box on his utility belt, and the rope began coiling itself to allow Cap to begin automatically hoisting up towards the elevator up above. When he reached the elevator, Steve pulled out a nondescript canister. He lifted the canister up towards the bottom of the elevator and sprayed a foam circle. Almost immediately, Cap holstered the canister and then removed his shield from his back, placing it between himself and the foam ring. Within seconds, the foam began burning bright as the modified thermite foam began cutting through the elevator’s floor until the crude circle Cap had drawn fell out from the bottom of the elevator and dropped the long distance towards the lower floors. [color=#00aeef]“Alright, all clear.”[/color] Steve suddenly felt a light tapping on his right shoulder. He looked down and saw the Blue Beetle had thrown a grapple line up at him. [Color=skyblue]"Little help..?"[/color] He whispered. Steve dropped the rope back down, reached down and hoisted up the blue hero with one arm. [Color=skyblue]"Thanks. I'm-- a little banged up at the moment."[/color] Cap helped the Beetle into the elevator, before using a single arm to hoist himself into the elevator. Captain America readjusted the grip on his shield. Roy, on the other hand, was a bit busy. He was busy pulling a small laser from his utility belt and cutting through the glass. It took only a few seconds for the pane of glass to fall out towards the street below. A modified grappling arrow later, and Roy found himself outside of the building and walking parallel to the structure. Roy loaded up a small gun that looked similar to a flare gun and lifted it up towards the window of the floor just above. A tap of his HUD, and Roy was able to see the thermal readings of the individuals up above. He took a deep breath and began counting down. [color=#ff0000]“Ten, nine, eight…”[/color] [color=#00aeef]“Three, two, one…”[/color] [color=#ff0000]“Kick it!”[/color] Roy fired the gun, and a canister shot through the window shattering it. It bounced off the ceiling and hit one of the hostiles square in the jaw to knock him out cold instantly. It took a second for anyone to realize what was going on. And by the time they had, this party favour activated. The canister opened up and launched smaller flashbang grenades, which created a massive blast of light and sound to disorient everyone on one side of the room. And with that, Cap and Roy breached simultaneously. Cap forced open the elevator doors and immediately rushed forward, shield up to begin bashing MSF forces out of the way. Roy, in the meantime, lifted up his ICER rifle and detached his line as he began firing at the MSF forces… until his eyes settled on one particularly well-armoured individual. Roy swore in his mind profusely as he quickly finished unloading the ICER round while shouting out towards Stryfe. [color=#ff0000]“I think you ordered an ass-kicking off Prime Now. I need you to sign for it, you fuck.”[/color] Cap shook his head as he delivered a swift punch into a dazed MSF operative’s jaw, knocking him out rather quickly as he muttered under his breath, [color=#00aeef]“Kids these days.”[/color] [b][color=#db7093]“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,”[/color][/b] Stryfe lifted his gauntlet towards the archer to fire a blast that just barely missed. [b][color=#db7093]“For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”[/color][/b] The Blue Beetle ran across the room, his legs pumping like pistons. Worn pistons deteriorated from use and corrosion, but pistons nonetheless. Ted raised his B.B. gun and fired off a single blast of blinding bright light, disorientating the soldiers on one side of the room. He spotted the control room, veered to change course and slid through the door, turning and slamming it behind him for what little protection it could provide. The room had screens everywhere. A console with flickering lights and buttons… and a laptop jacked into an auxiliary port to the console. They'd brought their own equipment. Further confirmation that this was outsiders just looking for a powerful established system to jack into. Ted raced over and turned the laptop on, hearing crashes and groans from behind the door, which told the story that the conflict still raged on outside. The hostages took the chaotic moment as an opportunity to run away from the conflict and barricade themselves into a separate room, apart from the evil armoured man. Meanwhile, Roy was still busy dodging blasts from Stryfe’s gauntlet, ducking and weaving between the furniture, equipment and crates. His luck ran out when he tried to zig, and Stryfe chose to aim his gauntlet to zag. Arsenal went flying backwards, slamming his back into the far wall behind him as Stryfe turned his attention towards the Blue Beetle. Stryfe began sauntering over towards the Beetle until a particular vibranium shield slammed against a support pillar in front of him before colliding straight into the hostile’s chest. Cap rounded that out by rushing up behind Stryfe and slamming his palm into the back of Stryfe’s head to bring him down to the ground. The sheer force of the impact created cracks in the floor beneath Stryfe. [color=#00aeef]“Welcome to the USA, pal.”[/color] The victory was short-lived, as another firing of Stryfe’s gauntlets into the ground was enough to send both men shooting up towards the ceiling. Cap’s back slammed into the tiled ceiling before the two both fell back through the cracked floor and into the open floor below. [Color=skyblue]"Come ooooooooon! Load! … [b]LOAD![/b]"[/color] Ted scowled at the slow-booting laptop, standing over it with frustration. [Color=skyblue]"There!"[/color] Ted started working away, he pulled his hack tools out, jacked in and set to work on the password security. Cap and Stryfe were both bruised and beaten rather spectacularly, and were a little slow in getting up. Stryfe spat out a glob of blood and mucus as he stared his foe right in the eye. [b][color=#db7093]“You can not stop what is already done, Captain.”[/color][/b] Steve forced himself back up on to his feet, closing both of his fists and holding them up as he got back into his fighting stance. He gave a small smile with his cracked and bloody lips. [color=#00aeef]“I could do this all-”[/color] Before he could even finish that statement, Stryfe fired his gauntlet square towards Cap’s chest and knocked him backwards. The World War II vet flew through the window behind him, managing to just barely catch the ledge before he began a rather long and rapid descent to the pavement below. He struggled to hold on with his fingertips as Stryfe sauntered over. [b][color=#db7093]“I would say it has been an honour, Captain, but I don’t lie.”[/color][/b] As he lowered his gauntlet, a voice called out from behind Stryfe. [color=#ff0000]“You forgot to sign, asshole.” [/color]Stryfe was barely able to look back before the explosive arrow impacted against his back and rocketed him forward and out the window to take a tumble towards the ground. Roy walked over and held out his hand towards Steve, who was able to pull himself up enough to get hoisted back onto a solid floor. The two were very clearly out of breath and sprawled themselves on the ground for a moment to enjoy the breather. The Blue Beetle sighed with relief as he bypassed the password screen, finally free to get to the inner workings of their system. First things first, beat the bomb. Ted started to search through past processes looking for something like a countdown or self-destruct sequences. The glow of the screen lit his smile as he found what he was looking for. Cap and Roy groaned their way back on to their feet, only to hear a noise from outside. Stryfe had just rocketed up into view, his gauntlets pointed towards the two “heroes.” [b][color=#db7093]“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be[i] filled[/i].”[/color][/b] Roy gave a quick look to Cap and sighed. With speed and finesse that had earned him his old sidekick nickname, Arsenal nocked back an arrow while quickly hooking up a microrope from his gauntlet onto the arrowhead. Cap, on the other hand, lifted up his forearm just in time for his trusty shield to come flying in and lock in place. Stryfe fired both gauntlets in their direction, and the force was intense. Roy only had time to wrap his fist as tightly around the microrope line as he could before he was sent flying across the room and back into the wall next to the elevators. Cap, on the other hand, dug his feet into the proverbial dirt as he slid back a couple feet while his shield absorbed most of the energy. Stryfe went flying back into the building as the arrowhead had impaled itself through his armour and leg and hooked itself in, pulling the villain as he was connected to the scarlet archer temporarily via microrope. As Stryfe went to pass Cap, the latter was able to regain his footing just in time for a well-placed shield bash to the face. [color=#00aeef]“It’s over, Stryfe. Surrender now peacefully. This is your last chance.” [/color]Cap unholsted the sidearm from his belt and lifted it towards Stryfe’s head. The hero turned his gaze away from Stryfe for a second to give a side glance towards Roy, who was lying unconscious and severely wounded. When Cap turned his gaze back towards his target, a raised fist was waiting for him. [b][color=#db7093]“I don’t negotiate with the unclean.”[/color][/b] Yet another gauntlet blast was triggered just before Cap pulled the trigger. The shockwave sent the bullet flying backwards and into Steve Rogers’ shoulder as the hero went flying back into a support pillar, placing a sizable dent in it. Cap fell back on to his side at the foot of the pillar. His body was weak, and he spat out a bit of the blood that was pooling in his mouth. All Cap could bring himself to do for a moment was to just breath as he watched his adversary rise to his feet and lift his gauntlet up in the air towards him again. [b][color=#db7093]“It’s a shame it had to be you, Captain, I was really hoping it would be-”[/color][/b] Stryfe paused when he heard the wall behind him breaking and turned to see Wonder Woman with her iconic sword. It was covered by fresh blood along with her armour, which still had some dust from their last encounter. She stared at him without saying a single word in anger and disgust. Stryfe aimed his gauntlet and fired, but she quickly moved out of the way. In an instant, Wonder Woman grabbed and crushed his hand with ease. Stryfe cried out in pain, staggering backwards before approaching Wonder Woman. [b][color=#db7093]“I tell you..”[/color][/b] He started, continuing to move towards Wonder Woman. [b][color=#db7093]“Do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.”[/color][/b] Wonder Woman heard his words but felt nothing at all. She pulled out her lasso, shoved Stryfe to the ground, and tied it around his neck. Stryfe tried to escape by punching her with his left hand. But it only caused her to crush it. He didn’t scream or plead, but instead remained silent, accepting of his fate. [hr] The Blue Beetle continued to work away as sweat dripped down his face. This time he was pretty sure it wasn't just flop sweat from the heightened anxiety of the situation. It was hot as blazes with all of the machinery. Clearly, the room wasn't designed for the door to be closed normally. He wiped it away with the back of his glove and kept working. So far he had ended the threat of the bombs, stopping the countdown with only a few minutes remaining, and now he was working on a way to shut the towers down entirely and end this whole horrific endeavour. He brought up a list of established networks and began checking them. [CENTER][pre]{View OMFS#1A}[/pre][/CENTER] One of the monitors cut to static. [Color=skyblue]"Ah, ok. That one's down. Getting the hang of this, not long now..."[/color] [CENTER][pre]{View OMFS#1B}[/pre][/CENTER] [color=skyblue]"Okay, Madison Square Garden. Do that one last… Let's see if I can't hurry this along a little..."[/color] [CENTER][pre]{View OMFS#1*}[/pre][/CENTER] Suddenly all of the monitors cut to feeds, left to right with numerous screens set to static. [Color=skyblue]"We'd done better than I thought."[/color] [CENTER][pre]{End_Session OMFS#1C}[/pre][/CENTER] The third screen, featuring a tower in Bedford-Stuyvesant cut out. Ted could barely contain himself. He checked his comm-link and his 'partner' in the Bug. [Color=skyblue]"How're we going up there? One should have just cut out in Bed-Stuy?"[/color] [COLOR=WHITE]"It did. I was about to tell you! The little light went off!"[/color] [Color=skyblue]"That was me![/color] Ted shared in her excitement. [Color=skyblue]"I did that! Hang on, I think I've got this figured out now! I'm gonna shut this all down, and then I'll come to get you!"[/color] [CENTER][pre]{End_Session OMFS#1C} {End_Session OMFS#1D} {End_Session OMFS#1E}[/pre][/CENTER] [COLOR=WHITE]"They're all going off now!"[/color] The Blue Beetle couldn't keep the smile from his face if he wanted to. [hr] Wonder Woman didn’t pay any attention to anything except Stryfe. She looked at him emotionless and asked, [color=FCDA63]“How do we undo your mess?”[/color] [b][color=#db7093]“You cannot undo that which is already done.”[/color][/b] Then, she asked another question. [color=FCDA63]“Did you make both the towers and robots?”[/color] [b][color=#db7093]“The Lord works in mysterious ways, first he giveth…”[/color][/b] Another one but she made sure to pull on the lasso harder. [color=FCDA63]“Then, who did?”[/color] [b][color=#db7093]“...Then he taketh away.”[/color][/b] Wonder Woman paused to reflect the answers. What was he saying? It didn’t make any sense. Regardless, she asked her final question. [color=FCDA63]“What was the point of attacking both New York City and Star City?”[/color] Cap slowly rose to his feet, holding his side as he leaned against the support pillar that he had collided with. His gaze rested on Diana’s blade. The blood was not a good sign… especially after the talk, they had not that long ago. But that wasn’t important right now. He lifted a finger to his ear. [color=#00aeef]“Captain Rogers to Forward Base Alpha. Four Freedoms has been secured. We’re going to need EMS ASAP.” [/color]With business taken care of, Cap turned his gaze towards Diana, and nodded towards her weapon. [color=#00aeef]“What have you done?”[/color] [color=FCDA63]“My job.”[/color] Wonder Woman answered coldly towards her old friend. She grabbed Stryfe and threw him into the nearest elevator. He was thrown hard enough to leave behind a dent on its metal wall. Then, she walked towards him and grabbed onto the rope to keep him from running away. [color=FCDA63]“Come on, let’s get back to ground level. We can talk if you want.”[/color] Cap shook his head. [color=#00aeef]“We’ll talk later. Right now, it’s best we take care of Stryfe.” [/color]Steve took a moment to bend down next to Roy, giving him a few light slaps to the face to wake the archer up. [color=#00aeef]“Check on Blue upstairs and wait for SHIELD support to arrive.” [/color]With that set of orders given, Captain America entered the elevator with Stryfe after calling his shield back to his wrist. On the floor above, the Blue Beetle looked on his handiwork and grinned. Bombs? Check. Towers of screaming nanodrone death? Check. He had noticed a costumed kid not moving on the monitor for 1J, looked to be across from Staten Island. Ted had got back in touch with Spider-Man over his comm-link and sent him to help the kid. He assumed most of the fight was over, as it had been a long time since he had heard any signs of a scuffle outside. He slowly edged open the door to the control room and found himself alone, surrounded by a bunch of unconscious MFS soldiers scattered around with no sign of the hostages. [Color=skyblue]"I'll get this, shall I?"[/color] He uttered, pulling a bunch of zip-ties out of his belt and restraining each of the thugs. Wonder Woman waited for Rogers to enter the elevator before pressing the button that took them to the lobby. Nobody talked once the elevator started going down. Both of the heroes looked slightly disappointed but for different reasons. A small television in the elevator was tuned a news channel. It showed footage of the Empire State Building collapsing while the reporters took a moment to update the viewers. The update was followed by eyewitness accounts of the incident. An older man, covered in dust, told a reporter that he saw Wonder Woman and someone inside a suit leaving the area after it collapsed. Stryfe stared at Captain America and waited for some sort of reaction. Steve’s face was stoic, and he just stared ahead. His grip on Stryfe’s arm tightened, while his other hand rested on the grip of his sidearm. After what must have been the most agonizing minute the heroes had ever endured, the elevator doors opened to the lobby of the Four Freedoms Plaza. [hr] Back upstairs, the Blue Beetle finished restraining the last one and double-checked his handiwork, counting the tied-up goons. He peered down the hole and called out. [Color=skyblue]"Hello?"[/color] He sighed and started reeling out his grapple line. Attaching the hook to a solid-looking chunk of foundation in the broken floor, he swung himself down the hole. The rope pulled taut, before proving that broken foundation is seldom as solid-looking as it appears. Leaving him flat on his back on the floor, looking up at the gaping hole in the ceiling. [color=skyblue]"Dammit…"[/color] He grunted with a murmur. He couldn't even pretend to be surprised by it all anymore at this point. He gingerly got to his feet once more. He staggered over to the elevator bay and hit the 'Down' button for the lobby. Roy Harper stepped out of the elevator on the floor above. He looked left and right, seeing Ted’s handiwork and shrugging before he moved to go calm down the hostages in the side room all while waiting for SHIELD officials to arrive. [hr] Outside the building, the press had already begun to gather. They crowded the series of double doors that lined the exterior of the plaza, cameras flashing from every side of the windows. Looking up towards his two captors, a smile spread across Stryfe’s face. [b][color=#db7093]“Ready to feel the world’s judgement, false idols?”[/color][/b] Wonder Woman avoided Stryfe’s comment and started walking away from the building. Soon enough, police and SHIELD agents began arriving at the scene. Yet, the paramedics and firefighters were already treating the victims. She stopped near the fountain and waited for the officers to take him away. While she was retrieving her lasso, several members of the press began surrounding both of them and asked their questions. [COLOR=WHITE]“Several witnesses said you were at the Empire State Building around the tim-”[/color] [COLOR=WHITE]“Is it true that you left the city after th-”[/color] [COLOR=WHITE]“Did you cause the Empire State Building to coll-”[/color] [color=FCDA63]"Please move out of the way.”[/color] Wonder Woman ordered the journalists. [color=FCDA63]”I will answer all of your questions after I’m done here.”[/color] [b][color=#db7093]“Wonder Woman could have forced the fight to occur wherever she pleased.”[/color][/b] Stryfe suddenly called from Captain America’s side. His comment prompted the reporters to turn towards him, microphones extended towards his mouth to ensure they caught every word. [b][color=#db7093]“Instead, she chose to fight me not only within New York but at the Empire State Building.”[/color][/b] Stryfe added working the reporters into a frenzy. [color=FCDA63]“Don’t believe in his lies! He’s trying to turn everyone against us! That was why he attacked New York City and Star City! To make sure that this nation hates mutants!”[/color] Wonder Woman interrupted Stryfe before he could finish. [b][color=#db7093]“Then why didn’t you bother to check for survivors, hero?”[/color][/b] Stryfe sneered.[b][color=#db7093] “So quick to point the finger at me, but I guarantee your death toll is just as high as my own. You may claim to fight for these people, but you do so without any regard for their lives.”[/color][/b] [color=FCDA63]“You were planning on blowing up the entire city! You had to be stopped. Besides, you were the one that caused the Empire State Building to fall. Not me!”[/color] Wonder Woman responded to the question and looked around at the growing crowd. [color=FCDA63]“I would have checked for survivors! But, this murderer was planning on killing millions! He had to be stopped!”[/color] [b][color=#db7093]“Wonder Woman had me dead to rights, but she let me go. Why? Wonder Woman was part of the Metahuman Supremacy Front." [/color][/b] Stryfe smiled. [b][color=#db7093]“All this was a show, it was her plan in the first place.”[/color][/b] The crowd gasped in horror at the grand reveal, but Wonder Woman knew the truth. She stood in front of Stryfe to get their attention. [color=FCDA63]“I was [b]never[/b] part of his group! I would have never joined in the first place!”[/color] A ding could be heard in the Four Freedoms Plaza lobby, and the Blue Beetle emerged, seeing a media scrum start to form outside around the two heroes of old and the villain of the day. He trotted after them. One of the press raised his voice and said, [COLOR=WHITE]“I mean… with your recent actions at the Capitol and Transia… This might be crazy to ask, but were you apart of his group?”[/COLOR] [color=FCDA63][b]“No!”[/b][/color] Wonder Woman cried out. [color=FCDA63]“You’re falling for his lies!”[/color] [b][color=#db7093]“Colonel Trevor would be so ashamed of you. I doubt he could even look you in the eyes after the atrocities you’ve committed today.” [/color][/b]Stryfe interjected. [color=FCDA63]“Don’t you fucking dare say his name, you bastard!”[/color] Wonder Woman turned to look Stryfe after Trevor was brought up. She shoved him towards the fountain as the crowd gasped. Stryfe began turning towards Wonder Woman, a broad grin on his face. He was about to get exactly what he wanted, and everyone would see these abominations the same way he did. Stryfe closed his eyes and began to lift his arms wide open. But as Diana took a step forward, she felt an elbow shoved straight in her sternum. Captain Steven Rogers, in one smooth motion and no expression on his face, unholstered his sidearm and pointed it directly between Stryfe’s eyes.[CENTER][H3][SUB][SUP][I][COLOR=WHITE]~ BANG ~[/COLOR][/I][/SUP][/SUB][/H3][/CENTER] With one shot, the armoured villain fell backwards with his arms outstretched on either side as his deathless gaze looked towards the sky. Captain Rogers holstered his sidearm and turned away from the media. Steve gave a brief look towards Diana, sighing slightly before turning around and raising a hand. [color=#00aeef]“Clear the Plaza. Go home, spend time with your loved ones.”[/color][/COLOR][/INDENT][/INDENT]