[color=gray][INDENT][COLOR=SILVER][SUB][SUP][H3][b]UNKNOWN[/b][/H3][/SUP][/SUB][SUB]The Black (Uncharted Space) - Andromeda Galaxy[/SUB] [SUP][i]Two Years Ago[/i][/SUP][/color][INDENT][color=#00ff00] <’KR36’ is a security code that identifies a Kryptonian> [/color][/indent][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/01999ab1-cb01-748d-bd12-afb19d17251c.webp[/img][S][COLOR=SILVER][SUB][SUP][H3][b]EARTH[/b][/H3][/SUP][/SUB][SUB]Sol System - Milky Way Galaxy[/SUB] [SUP][i]Now[/i][/SUP][/color][INDENT]Wind whipped his scarf about roughly in the stillness of the cool, dark night. The subtle hum of the alien hoverbike between his knees was the only thing close to a source of warmth above the rolling waves of the Atlantic as the alien craft skimmed above the white caps towards the large cargo ship. It would have almost been fun, had Kyle Abbot not been on the job. Edge had tipped off Intergang to the location of the [i]Excelsior[/i] hours ago, and with Metropolis’ so-called hero tied up elsewhere, Dame Moxie ordered her agents of the Dark Faith to strike. The [i]Excelsior[/i] lay moored outside the city’s limits, hidden in the shadow of Hell’s Gate. Luthor had practically giftwrapped the vessel for them by having it anchored hidden out behind the crime-ridden borough. Killing the engines, the hoverbikes glided to a stop silently before each member of Intergang activated their climbing gear and effortlessly scaled the hull. No sooner had their feet silently hit the deck then the subtle hum of drawn weapons could be heard amplified by the miles of open water. Lights illuminated the deck, armed crew members raising their conventional weapons and opening fire. But the bullets bounced harmlessly against a rapidly deployed Shi’ar field deployable forcefield. Raising their own weapons, Intergang returned fire, the Kree Distingrators making short work of the Luthorcorp employees, leaving nothing but a couple piles of dust behind. The crew barely had time to realize what had happened before they were gone in a flurry of red energy bolts. Their ashes were quickly swept out to sea by the night breeze. [color=#ffffff]“I’d love to see what these would do to that punk in the hoodie.”[/color] [color=#ffffff]“Shut up and be thankful we have no interruptions tonight.”[/color] Dame Moxie snapped as she surveyed her crew. [color=#ffffff]“A’Daire and Manheim, secure the lower decks, take whomever you need.”[/color] Without a sound, Whisper and Bruno departed, signalling for two others to flank them as they headed forward. [color=#ffffff]“Abbot!”[/color] Moxie roared, [color=#ffffff]“Search the crates, Edge said that AmerTek was transporting a weapon made of a unique alloy. If that weapon is what I think it is, then there’s a far greater prize at stake. Take Donovan, and don’t stop looking until you’ve searched down to every rivet on this vessel.”[/color] Abbot nodded his head, drawing a Ungaran sequencer and began walking the deck. Donovan trailed behind him, a twitchy hand still nervously held over his weapon. [color=#ffffff]“How do we know the kid in the hoodie won’t show up?”[/color] [color=#ffffff]“We don’t, but this isn’t his stomping grounds. Edge insured Luthor kept the Excelsior on this side of the city for a reason.”[/color] [color=#ffffff]“Awful lot of trust in Luthor.”[/color] [color=#ffffff]“I’d be more worried about Edge,”[/color] Abbot replied, [color=#ffffff]“Especially if he realizes we’re not actually after a weapon.”[/color] [color=#ffffff]“Heh,”[/color] chuckled Donovan, [color=#ffffff]“Glory to the First, brother,”[/color] [color=#ffffff]“Glory to the First.” [/color]Abbot replied, walking between another row of crates before suddenly the Ungaran sequencer began to light up. [color=#ffffff]“I've got P.L.O.T. energy signals on this crate. According to the readout there’s a high concentration of chronically charged trans-dimensional radiation.”[/color] He stated, motioning for Donovan to grab the other edge and help him pry it open. [color=#ffffff]“Plot?”[/color] The other man asked with a strained grunt. [color=#ffffff]“Phased Levels of Oscillating Temporal Energy,”[/color] Kyle replied, matter-of-factly, [color=#ffffff]“It’s a signature that denotes objects or beings of anachronistic or extradimensional origin.”[/color] The creaking of nails being dragged out of wood echoed in the night as the lid atop the crate was pulled open. [color=#ffffff]“The variance in oscillation between the phases can determine whether the point of interest is chronologically displaced or dimensionally. Often however, it’s a combination of both.”[/color] He continued to explain, only stopping upon seeing the dumbfounded look on Donovan’s face. The lid slid off with one last push between the two men, clattering onto the deck before they peered inside. Inside the crate was a long handled weapon forged of a material that Kyle didn’t recognize. The strange metal pulsed a primordial energy, forged eons before life began on Earth. The handle ended in a curve and was topped with a two sided head. One side was adorned with a decorated axe blade, large and curved while the other side was bulbous and ridged, shaped like a maul. Runes not unlike Elder Futhark ran down the head of the weapon spelling out the name ‘Járnbjörn’. [color=#ffffff]“Quite the weapon, but I think I’d rather stick to firearms.”[/color] Donovan snickered as Kyle shook his head. [color=#ffffff]“You wouldn’t be able to wield it anyways,”[/color] Abbot smiled smugly, [color=#ffffff]“That weapon would find you unworthy. It’s not a blunt instrument that can be wielded by anyone. In those unworthy, it curses them and drives the wielder to insatiable blood lust.”[/color] Kyle hovered a hand above it, the temptation to grab the handle and swing the axe nearly overwhelming. Whispers seemed to crawl into his ears, urging him to give him. Words of strength, triumph, wealth and desire threatened to lull him to submission. He closed his hand, pulling it back quickly, his head silencing again. [color=#ffffff]“This is the weapon of the Immortal.”[/color] Abbot muttered, [color=#ffffff]“Only he should wield it.”[/color] [color=#ffffff]“Then why are we looking at it?”[/color] [color=#ffffff]“Because, it is what’s beneath the axe we’re after.”[/color] Kyle explained, carefully pulling away the packing beneath the axe to reveal a book shaped object encased in a stone cover. [color=#ffffff]“Fellow brother of the Dark Faith, I present to you, the First’s copy of the Crime Bible.”[/color] [color=#ffffff]“Why would AmerTek have any of this?”[/color] [color=#ffffff]“They didn’t know what they had,”[/color] Abbot smiled, pulling the book from the packaging and holding it in his hands. He traced the cover, his middle finger gingerly touching a slit in the center of the book. It was heavy in his hands, nearly weighing thirty pounds by Kyle’s estimate. [color=#ffffff]“Dame Moxie, we have the High Madame’s Binding and the axe.”[/color] Abbot reported, tapping the communicator fixed behind his ear. [color=#ffffff]“Then we’re one step closer,”[/color] Moxie replied, [color=#ffffff]“Load the rest of the crates and scuttle the ship.”[/color] [color=#ffffff]“How are we only one step closer?”[/color] Donovan asked as he helped Abbot replace the lid on the crate. Abbot looked at him with a smile, his reply sending a chill down Donovan’s spine. [color=#ffffff]“Until we can unlock the cover of stone and complete the five lessons of blood, only then will The First be freed.”[/color][/indent][/S][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/01999ab1-cb01-748d-bd12-afb19d17251c.webp[/img][COLOR=SILVER][SUB][SUP][H3][b]KNOWHERE[/b][/H3][/SUP][/SUB][SUB]Edge of Galactic Rim - Andromeda Galaxy[/SUB] [SUP][i]Two Years Ago[/i][/SUP][/color][INDENT][color=#ffffff]“A Kryptonian?”[/color] The speaker sat atop a throne, while the Nova Corps member delivered his report of the strange man at the gate. It wasn’t an alien name that Tanaleer Tivan was familiar with, and that made him want the stranger all the more. [color=#ffffff]“Hmm, yes, I must have him. You were right to bring him to me,”[/color] Tanaleer stated excitedly,[color=#ffffff] “Put a bounty out. All channels, I want him alive, preferably in perfect condition.”[/color] [color=#ffffff]“What if the Main Man brings the Bastiche back, say mostly alive?”[/color] A large figure asked, stepping out of the shadows. A cigar hung loosely between a pair of black lips surrounded by a beard still matted with dried blood. Tanaleer cocked his head to the side thoughtfully before responding mirthfully. [color=#ffffff]“We can make due with mostly being alive.”[/color][/INDENT][/INDENT][/COLOR]