[color=gray][INDENT][INDENT][i]
[color=white]|  EIGHT MONTHS EARLIER |[/color]
The truck crawled to a stop in between two identical looking armored vehicles. Roy placed it in park, and turned his gaze to Bucky in the seat next to him. Both the former assassin and the Amazonian had slipped into the drab fatigued and body armor of the S.O.V., though Roy knew their appearances wouldn't hold up to scrutiny. Bucky seemed preoccupied with inspecting a worn AK in the passenger seat. He turned his gaze back towards Artemis in the back seats, whose uniform was clearly a size too small... most obvious in the fact her pant legs only came down to her mid-calf. She was busy coiling up a length of rope that seemed to somehow reflect the last rays of the desert sun as it was cresting the horizon. Roy looked at the rope weirdly, before looking back at Bucky.

[color=ed1c24]"Did you ask her why the only thing she brought is a rope?"[/color]
[color=dace1f]"It is a lasso."[/color]
[color=6ecff6]"Lasso's are made of rope."[/color]
[color=ed1c24]"Not the point. Why is it glowing?"[/color]

Artemis finished coiling her lasso and affixed it to a makeshift holster on her belt. [color=dace1f]"It is a gift from the gods."[/color]

Roy slammed his palm into his forehead, jostling his helmet slightly. [color=ed1c24]"Great. I got hijacked by a magical cowgirl and the Bionic Commando. What are we going to find in there, evil Superman?"[/color]

Bucky finished examining the rifle, pulling back the slide to ensure it was properly loaded. [color=6ecff6]"Unlikely. Last CIA report said we were still about 13 months away from a viable Superman clone."[/color] Roy slowly turned to look at him with a mouth agape. Bucky flicked the safety of his rifle off as he turned back to look at Roy, the corner of his mouth upturned.

Roy shook his head and suppressed a nervous laugh, checking his wrist watch. [color=ed1c24]"Ok... ok, they should be loading up the last flight of the day. If we're doing this, we need to do it now."[/color]

A metal hand produced a small, handheld detonator and wagged it in Roy's direction. [color=6ecff6]"There's no turning back after this. This is your last chance to get out and walk away. If you join us, you're on the run until the house of cards finally falls."[/color]

The red-headed man slowly took the detonator, letting out a long exhale. [color=ed1c24]"Are you sure you're right about all this? Are you sure this isn't a big misunderstanding?"[/color]

James Buchanon Barnes looked back at Artemis. She leaned her head in through the gap between the seats. [color=dace1f]"Your horse symbol is seared in my head. Your arms tore through our children.”[/color] She looked at Roy, a rage burning behind her eyes. [color=dace1f]”There is no mistake."[/color]

Roy squeezed his right hand. A flash of orange briefly illuminated all of their faces.

[/i][/INDENT][/INDENT][CENTER][COLOR=ed1c24][sup]________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sup][/COLOR][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/a74c8157-7c89-441c-b9f6-5afdcf58e281.png[/img] [/CENTER][indent][sub][COLOR=ed1c24][B]Location:[/B][/COLOR] [I]Coast City, California, United States[/I][/sub][sup][right][COLOR=ed1c24][b]The Black Market #1.03:[/b][/COLOR] [color=white][I][b]The Great Die-Off[/b][/I][/color][/right][/sup][/indent][COLOR=ed1c24][SUP][sub]____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sub][/SUP][/COLOR][INDENT][sub][color=ed1c24][B]Interaction(s):[/B][/COLOR] [I]None[/I][/sub][SUP][RIGHT][COLOR=ed1c24][b]Previously:[/b][/COLOR] [color=white][I][url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5610238]I Don't Wanna Be Here Anymore[/url][/I][/color][/right][/SUP]

[INDENT] 
[color=white]|  NOW |[/color]

[color=white]"The Day of Wrecking is almost here! We will storm the moment of subjule... errr... subjucation! We will rip it from its base, and we will show those weak little men that we are the future!"[/color]

Cheers erupted from the handful of people gathered before the hulking form of Lucius O'Neil. He wore only a set of tight black briefs and a comically large belt sporting a letter 'M' in faux gold. The faint sounds of honking horns echoed through the mesh fabric wrapped around the unfinished windows. The space was littered with refuse, and this mid-level of an unfinished skyscraper was little more than the concrete and steel bones.

The small gathering of meta-humans watched their leader waddle towards the floor-to-ceiling window frames and looked out at the well-lit checkpoint in the heart of town. [color=white]"We’re gonna smash them… we’re gonna break them into little pieces. We're gonna burn this whole city to the ground until we are in charge!"[/color]

[color=dace1f]"The woman spoke truth... all brawn, no intellect."[/color]

All eyes in the room shifted towards the back, where Artemis stepped out from the natural shadows. She had left her leather jacket with the boys, sporting her ceremonial red breastplate. A coil of glittering rope dangled from her belt, but her boots and jeans were far-removed from what the Amazons usually wore. The meta-humans looked on with confusion, but the Mangler's eyes flashed with excitement. [color=white]"Hehehe... been looking for a good heel, little girl. My boys have been itching for some real entertainment."[/color]

Artemis cracked her neck, stepping out into the center of the room amidst the six support pillars. [color=dace1f]"Barnes insisted I negotiate your surrender."[/color] She lifted her fists up, sliding her feet until they were equal with her shoulders. [color=dace1f]"I would much prefer we get this over with."[/color]

Mangler: [color=white]"Well you heard her, boys. Give us some space."[/color] The other men spread out into the fringes of the room, a smile spreading across their lips. The Mangler stalked towards the middle of the room, widening his stance and lowering his upper body. Artemis recognized the technique. The Mangler swung first, his meaty hands grasping through the air at his target with surprising speed.

But Artemis was faster. 

She darted right, guiding the man's charge. Just as he was about to reach her, she deftly sidestepped and delivered a kick to his shin. He smashed his hulking form into one of the pillars, ripping through steel and concrete like butter from his sheer momentum. To anyone else, this kind of power would be terrifying. Artemis wasn't particularly impressed.

The game of cat and mouse continued, as the Mangler seemed unable to even lay a finger on the Amazon. She ducked and weaved between punches and attempted grapples, using the pillars for cover to slow him down. Another pillar on the left collapsed, then one on the right, and then another on the left. She just needed a little more time.

A voice crackled through the subtle earpiece in her ear. [color=6ecff6]"Package delivered."[/color]

A wicked grin formed on Artemis' face as she moved a hand up in front of her. Her fingers interlocked with the Mangler's as he made another desperate grab. Her other hand intercepted his free hand, her boots digging into the concrete like sand. She let out a deep, guttural growl that resonated through the room. The Mangler screamed, first in rage, as he put everything he had in trying to push his opponent into the proverbial pavement. His scream shifted up a tone as he felt his fingers crack and bend under the Amazon's grip, his elbows buckling as she got the upper hand. Her growl melted into words. "You should have let them walk away."

Artemis twisted her hips and launched the Mangler into one of the last remaining pillars, hearing the grinding of cement and steel strain under the sudden weight. The Mangler groaned as he scrambled back to his feet. [color=white]"Boys.... get-"[/color] He didn't have time to finish his command before a coil of golden rope wrapped around his chest, pinning his arms together. He looked at Artemis with a slack-jawed expression, and she simply gave a firm yank to pull him towards the middle of the room. Artemis looked behind her, out the mesh window coverings, and gave a thumbs up.

The next moment was a flash of manic action. A flick of the wrist uncoiled the rope and sent it flying back to Artemis. A whistling sound filled the air as something seemed to pierce through the mesh fabric. Artemis sprinted out of the window, tearing through the fabric and plummeting to the ground below. Behind her, a sudden explosion sent debris everywhere. Artemis impacted into the ground, creating a spider-webbed crater in the alley. A cloud of dust and a loud crashing made it clear that the upper floor had come crashing down. Artemis slowly picked herself up from the ground, brushing off the dust and searing pain. The distant sound of sirens made it clear she didn't have much time. She slowly exited the alley, piling into the back of a non-descript passenger van parked nearby.

The driver door opened a moment later, and Roy Harper slid behind the wheel. He tossed a compound bow into the back with Artemis as he turned the key. He peeled off, driving down side-streets and alleys until the sirens and flashing lights had all but disappeared. Roy turned his gaze to the rear view mirror, eyeing Artemis in the back. [color=ed1c24]"Good teamwork, eh?"[/color]

Artemis stared straight ahead, watching the road through what sliver of windshield she could. [color=dace1f]"My sisters would have been able to stand toe to toe alongside me. Your theatrics were unnecessary, Harper. I could have ripped them apart and torn the building down on my own."[/color]

Roy sighed, guiding the van slowly but surely through the winding streets towards the ocean. [color=ed1c24]"Everyone's a critic.”[/color]
[/INDENT][/INDENT][/color]