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[color=dd2323]Location: The Silicon Strip, Central City, United States
Date: January 1st, 2020[/color][/center]
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[color=dd2323]”Thanks for humoring me today girls, and sorry for dragging you two out here on New Years.”[/color] The brunette said to her two friends as they walked down The Silicon Strip, draped in the light of the evening sky. Despite the danger that was usually associated with being in the city nowadays, she couldn’t help but gaze around as the marvelous urban metropolis slowly began to awaken for its night shift.

[color=d3d3d3]”Don’t worry about it, it was actually pretty fun. And, to be honest, it’s the least we could do after the whole bully thing.”[/color] Her curly haired redhead friend replied, looking to Brooklyn with a smile.

[color=dd2323]”Still, you could’ve at least let me pay for my own stuff, those parfaits weren’t exactly cheap…”[/color] Brooklyn replied, a small frown on her lips as she looked back over to her friend.

[color=d3d3d3]”But, they were delicious~ And besides, we both pitched in so it’s no biggie. Your help with those bullies is worth way more than some parfaits.”[/color] Her blonde friend replied, giving her usual playful smile which always caused Brooklyn to smile back.

[color=dd2323]”... If you say so… I was just stopping jerks from being jerks though, nothing special. Anyways, you two got rides right? Don’t let me keep them waiting, I know you two wanna get back home.”[/color] Brooklyn replied, waving her hand at the two to playfully shoo them away. While she mostly wasn’t too scared to be in the city after dark, she didn’t want her friends to possibly get hurt.

[color=d3d3d3]”Are you sure you don’t wanna carpool with one of us? It can get pretty dangerous out late you know…”[/color] The redhead asked with a small worried frown on her lips.

[color=dd2323]”I’ll be fine, don’t wanna take up any more time from either of you two. Besides, the bus stop is just over there and if anyone wants to try something funny, I’ve got my pepper spray on me. Now go on, get ‘atta here!”[/color] The bespeckled brunette replied, pointing over to the nearby bus stop before putting on a horrible Bostonian accent as she shooed them away.

With that, her two friends said their goodbyes and went off to wherever their parents’ would be picking them up while she headed off towards the bus stop. [i][color=dd2323]’Another New Years alone huh… Well, I guess it wasn’t so alone this time.’[/color][/i] She thought to herself with a small smile as she leaned against the bus stop. [i][color=dd2323]’Still, guess I can’t blame them, work has been hitting them hard with how things are going… Shawn is off with friends as usual, but that’s just how it’s been for a few years now. Eh, whatever, I just really hope this whole Meta-Human thing calms down so they can catch a break.’[/color][/i] She mused before a vibration in her pocket pulled her from her thoughts.

Pulling out her phone, Brooklyn turned on to see a new trending topic on r/MetaHumans. Looking around to make sure the bus wasn’t here yet, she swiped her phone open to look at the topic. [i][color=dd2323]’Another robbery in Keystone? What is that, like the third or fourth this week? Par for the course I guess… Oooo, but what’s this… Sol huh… Well, she does have the flashy outfit to be a superhero. The pink though… eh, I guess it works well enough on her. Hope she comes over to Central though, people here could definitely use her. Then again, who doesn’t need someone like that in these times?...’[/color][/i] The brunette looked up at the sound of the bus pulling in to the stop and stashed her phone away before making her way to the opening doors. With a swipe of her phone across the payment terminal, she then walked to the back of the bus before settling in with her switch. It wouldn’t be too long of a ride but might as well get comfy.

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[center][color=dd2323]
Location: ???
Date: January 1st, 2020
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Brooklyn breathed a sigh of relief as the mission complete banner flashed across the screen of her switch. She knew lunatic difficulty was going to be, well, difficult, but that particular mission has caused her so many restarts in order to get everyone out alive. Too many for a bus ride of this length actually… With furrowed eyebrows, Brooklyn looked up from her switch to find that the bus was completely shrouded in darkness.

[color=dd2323]”Uh, driver did we miss my st-”[/color] Brooklyn cut herself off as she looked across the empty bus, which includes the now empty space where the driver is supposed to be. [color=dd2323]”...Fuck, I didn’t get on the wrong bus did I? Is the driver on break now or something?...”[/color] She grumbled to herself as she stashed her switch away in her backpack before starting to make her way to the front of the bus to get out and see where the heck she was. When she pushed open the bus doors to reveal a rough stone floor however, she only grew more confused. Pulling out her phone once more, her hopes were dashed as she glared at the no cell service icon. [color=dd2323]”Of course… Ugh, I should’ve just carpooled…[/color] She groaned with a pinch to the bridge of her nose. After another sigh, she turned on the flashlight on her phone and armed herself with her pepper spray before beginning to venture out of the bus.

Brooklyn moved her light back and forth over her surroundings, noting both the stone walls and stone pillars that surrounded her while wondering if she was in some sort of cavern or underground ruin. [i][color=dd2323]’How the hell did the bus get here?...’[/color][/i] The stone floor was slightly damp, small puddles filling some of its small crevices as she slowly stepped forward and continued to explore her surroundings. The air in her surroundings was also slightly humid to match with its damp surroundings, though the temperature was actually a bit cold. Her eyes focused on something that reflected the light of her phone. [i][color=dd2323]’Is… Is that a caterpillar in a glass jar?...’[/color][/i] She asked herself, doing a double take, and staring at the glass dome the insect was enclosed in with furrowed brows. Her attention was immediately snapped to the other side of the cavern however when a voice echoed out her name. Her eyes peered through an opening in the stone wall which revealed a hall of some sort.

[color=ffd700]”Brooklyn….”[/color] The voice echoed out softly once more, confirming that it was indeed coming from inside the hall. By this point, the brunette was thoroughly creeped out and kept a tight grasp on the pepper spray inside of her skirt pocket. Seeing that the hall was fairly well lit, she turned off the light on her phone before stashing it back into her other pocket and slowly proceeding into the hall.

Unlike the previous cavern, this hall possessed more stonework than just cavern rock. The floor was tiled with squares of smooth stone of various sizes while the walls were lined with stone pillars. At one wall, however, stood seven monstrous stone statues, each with a name corresponding to the seven deadly sins roughly carved into their respective bases. Across from the statues at the other wall stood a small pedestal that held some sort of glowing orb. A loud sound drew her attention towards the end of the hall, where a man in flowing red robes with a lightning bolt emblem on his chest, and a staff in one hand stood. A set of stone staircases led up to the raised platform he stood on, where he was surrounded by a semi-circle of tall stone chairs. Above and behind him stood a wall of carved stone with a lightning bolt icon carved into it, the same icon which was on the man’s torso.

[color=ffd700]”Brooklyn Taylor-Evans…”[/color] The man spoke, causing her to pause at the foot of the stone staircase. The man, who she could now see was fairly old with graying hair, proceeded to meet her the rest of the way while seeming completely oblivious to her hand that was itching to pull out the bottle of pepper spray it squeezed around. The man stopped just a few steps above her, looking down at her with a glint in his eyes. [color=ffd700]”Times are changing child, as I am sure you can tell. With these changes, however, certain… forces must react. That is why I have brought you here. I am old and weary, my place in this world is not long. I need a successor. You shall become that successor, Brooklyn, and all you have to do is touch my staff, say my name, and bear the responsibilities tha-”[/color] The old man was unable to finish his sentence when a sudden scream filled the room. It was only when he felt the burning in his eyes did he realize that the screams were his own.

Brooklyn, whose face was fighting between blanching in disgust and flushing in embarrassment, continued to spray the old man with her pepper spray for a solid ten seconds before relenting, only to close the distance between them and give a strong kick to his magical foci. [color=dd2323]”P-Pervert! Lech! Philanderer! Sleazebag! P-Pedo!!![/color] The brunette screamed as she watched him roll down the rest of the stairs in pain. [color=dd2323]”Not only do you kidnap me, but then you try to solicit me to… Holy fuck, that is disgusting! I’m sixteen and you’re practically six feet under already! What the fuck is wrong with you?! This isn’t some weird fucking LARP sex-ring or human trafficking thing, is it?! Holy shit it is, it totally is, well I’m not gonna be some easy target you freak!”[/color] She yelled out again, face now red with anger as she shrugged off her text-book laden backpack and began to walk towards the old man’s downed form with it in her hand. It didn’t take long for her to reach him, a dangerous gleam in her eyes as she lifted her backpack, intent on pummeling the old man till he is six feet under where he belongs.