[color=gray][INDENT][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][color=#8e7cc3]“Lex!”[/color] The doors to the command center flew open, as Lionel Luthor barged in, his own security detail flanking behind him, before moving to secure the room as the elder Luthor charged towards his firstborn. [color=#8e7cc3]“What the hell just happened out there?”[/color] Lionel roared,[color=#8e7cc3] “You’ve made us look like fools and nearly exposed Hope for what she really is.”[/color] He continued, pointing towards the nearby screen showing full diagnostics alongside Hope’s schematics. [color=#8e7cc3]“If the media, no-”[/color] He paused, waggling a pointed finger in front of Lex’s face, [color=#8e7cc3]“-If the people of this great city become wise to the fact their appointed hero was built in a lab, we will lose their trust and then their faith.”[/color] He spun around on the several thousand dollar leather shoes on his feet, motioning for his assistant. [color=#8e7cc3]“As we own the Planet now, order Grant to block any story that spins Hope in a negative light, anything that says it should have been another hero facing off against the alien. Lets own the return of the Blur instead, we’ll say he’s a Luthorcorp asset, registered with the city.”[/color] [color=#6aa84f]“No one knows-”[/color] [color=#8e7cc3]“Exactly,”[/color] Lionel practically purred, [color=#8e7cc3]“Find me someone who can be this ‘Blur’, he’s already claimed Metropolis under his protection once, look at how quickly he re-appeared to confront that alien. That way if any other super comes calling, perhaps we can gamble the Blur will return again.”[/color] [color=#6aa84f]“Dad, I think you’re mistaking correlation for causation,”[/color] [color=#8e7cc3]“Nonsense, Lex, I’m simply fixing a bad situation once again created by your carelessness.”[/color] Lionel retorted, [color=#8e7cc3]“I don’t tolerate carelessness, I’ve already disposed of the reporter who ran the piece about the boy in New York.”[/color] [color=#6aa84f]“Might I remind you that Project Hope was under your orders, had you listened to me, we would have pushed ahead instead with Galatea.” [/color]Lex retorted, removing the neural link from his head. He winced as the flesh beneath the band was still tender, a large lock of his crimson mane falling to the ground as he pulled the device from his head. [color=#8e7cc3]“You find a suitable donor for Galatea, and we can discuss it again, as of now, we don’t have access to any samples that could yield the desired outcome.”[/color] [color=#6aa84f]“What about the Blur?” [/color]Lex retorted as Lionel looked back at him with an amused expression. [color=#8e7cc3]“Son, did you see the Blur? You do understand how he was given his moniker, we can’t even be sure he’s human, let alone that we have a genetic sample. If we knew the full extent of what we’re trying to replicate, then perhaps, but until such a time we’re left with the eclectic collection that assembled in New York. None of which are Galatea material.”[/color] Lionel argued before glancing at Lex’s fallen hair and the sparking neural transmitter. [color=#8e7cc3]“Clean yourself up, son,”[/color] Lionel ordered, his tone leaving no further room for argument, [color=#8e7cc3]“You have a story to sell.”[/color] He added, turning to leave. [color=#8e7cc3]“Get Hope inside for repairs and load up a new body for a press conference, we need the city to believe in Hope after all.”[/color] [color=#6aa84f]“Yes,”[/color] Lex deadpanned, [color=#6aa84f]“We wouldn’t want them to lose Hope.”[/color] [color=#8e7cc3]“That’s the spirit, Lex”[/color] Lionel waved from the door, [color=#8e7cc3]“Knock them dead, son, I’d say, but I’m needed in New York.”[/color][/indent] [img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/01999ab1-cb01-748d-bd12-afb19d17251c.webp[/img] [INDENT]Ryan laid spread across the bed, his chest glistening in sweat, rapidly rising and falling as he scrambled to check his breath. From the nearby en suite, the sound of the shower running echoed into the room as he laid there, completely satisfied. Or so he thought. A hurricane of emotions suddenly started bubbling up beneath the surface. This wasn’t his bed, it wasn’t Lana’s bed. He was a disgusting pig of a man, he sat up, wiping at himself. Suddenly burdened with a filth he couldn’t wash off. What was he doing? He was supposed to be getting married. [color=#d9d2e9]“Oh, Ryan!” [/color]a singsong voice called from the bathroom.[color=#d9d2e9] “I’ve got a spot I just can’t seem to reach…”[/color] The invitation fell on deaf ears as Ryan continued to gather up his things. Outside sirens echoed in the streets, black SUVs surrounding. The muted television across the room was playing the news from the day’s events. ‘The Blur returns to Metropolis’ scrolling across the bottom of the screen brought Ryan’s attention back to his phone. He suddenly remembered the call from Chloe, her words before he hung up on her. Was she right? Was Clark actually back? [color=#d9d2e9]“Ryan, there’s a blister pack in my side table drawer if you need a little blue friend. The water feels great, but I’ve got something else that will feel even better.”[/color] Tess called again. Was Clark actually back? The question raced through his mind a second time. His attention completely fixed on the television screen as he watched the footage repeat showing the alien attacker in the middle of Planet Square one second and then gone the next. Even going frame by frame there wasn’t a clear picture of the blur that had saved Hope at the last second. Was Clark actually back? His hand hovered over the phone. He could call Chloe back, no doubt Clark had gone home first. But he would have found the farm empty, seized by the bank. Abandoned and dying, just like Clark had left his father to do. Anger suddenly chewed at the back of Ryan’s mind, his hand squeezing the device within it. Clark could have saved Dad. Clark could have gotten Dad to the hospital on time. Clark had no right to abandon Dad, no right to abandon all of them. He was only supposed to be gone a year, if he had been back, then Dad would still be with them. No, Clark wasn’t actually back. Just someone who looked like the man Ryan was told to treat as a brother. Reaching into Tess’ side table, Ryan felt around until his fingers felt paper and plastic. Popping the blue pill into his mouth, he swallowed it dry before walking to the bathroom. A hot shower was just what he needed.[/indent] [img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/01999ab1-cb01-748d-bd12-afb19d17251c.webp[/img] [INDENT][color=#ffffff]“Why is our sponsor so obsessed with this thing anyways?”[/color] The strange axe sat in its crate. It gave off a strange energy, almost as though it had been corrupted and possessed by forces from beyond. Kyle Abbot could have sworn he heard whispers coming from the weapon. Voices from an ancient time, chanting followed by the horns of war. Were he to linger too long, he was drawn to it and almost found himself touching the foreign object despite numerous warnings not to. [color=#ffffff]“Abbot!”[/color] Boss Moxie yelled, [color=#ffffff]“Enough about the axe, Edge was very clear no one was to touch it.”[/color] [color=#ffffff]“I don’t really see what the big deal would be,”[/color] Abbot turned his head towards the speaker, resisting the urge to roll his eyes at none other than Jack Lucas. A relatively new member of Intergang, Jack hadn’t exactly gotten on board with the program yet and was still trying to cut his teeth. [color=#ffffff]“Lucas, knock it off before I knock you off,”[/color] Whisper called out, from the other side of the room. [color=#ffffff]“Yeesh, scary,”[/color] Lucas responded mockingly, standing up as he walked over to the weapon. [color=#ffffff]“You going to shoot me?”[/color] [color=#ffffff]“Not another step, Jackie,”[/color] Whisper’s weapon suddenly hummed to life, out of the corner of her eye, she looked towards Moxie for approval. The subtle exchange between the two women confirmed she had permission to take the shot. [color=#ffffff]“C’mon, you’d really kill a guy over-”[/color] The hum and scream of the alien weapon echoed throughout the cavernous hideout. Jack fell to the ground, the weapon burning away at his flesh as he cried out in agony. [color=#ffffff]“So that’s what that one does.”[/color] Whisper remarked, smiling as laughter erupted from the other Intergang members. Gritting his teeth, Jack managed to raise his head, locking eyes with the woman who shot him, reaching out and taking a hold of the weapon while his body continued to disintegrate beneath him. A flash erupted from the crate, as a horrific wail echoed through the room, the smell of burning flesh filling the nostrils of those nearby before the light cleared, revealing something new in Jack’s place. A towering figure draped clad in spiked armour, a skull-like mask atop his face while inside was the corrupt shell of what was left of Jackie Lucas. [color=#ffffff]"Uxas demands the head of the Kryptonian.”[/color] The armoured figure bellowed. [color=#ffffff]“And Járnbjörn demands [b]blood[/b].”[/color][/INDENT][/INDENT][/COLOR]