Sep

Absolute Comics: Odyssey [Invite Only]

"I have come in peace, but I will not disarm, and I do not kneel."

Sif stood, her body coiled like a spring. Waiting. The Guardsmen looked at each other as they shuffled about uneasily, trying to plan out their next move. The small weapons still held firm in their hands. Unwavering. Still she stood, palm up. Holding her sword loosely as if goading the guards to try and disarm her, to doubt her conviction. Her resolve. Turning her head, Sif looked back at the woman whom she had spoken to on her arrival. Many who had surrounded her had used the distraction of the guardsmen's carts to flee already; however, this one had not. Perhaps she still thought herself insane.

"Do you know of any wise-people, seers, whom I could ask for aid on my quest?"

The woman looked to the guards, then to Sif.

"There's an old Wicca shop a few blocks over?"

"Picture this place in your mind."

Sif took a couple of steps, ignoring the incessant shouting from the guards. Reaching out with her free hand, the woman offered her her hand. Sif grabbed onto the womans wrist, and she closed her own hand around Sifs wrist in response.

"Through your guidance." Sif raised the sword high in the air.

"PUT IT DOWN NOW, STEP AWAY FROM THE WOMAN!" The shrill voice cut through the air towards them. Sif merely shot a look of disdain as she brought the sword crashing down, a whisper away from her guide's skin. As the sword came down, a crackle of energy flowed through Sif and out through the blade, slicing open space. A rift appeared, its edges flashing and fluttering with all the colours of the rainbow.

Sound near the rift distorted, ruffled and quietened. There was a faint pop, pop, pop behind as Sif stepped through the breach, pulling her guide with her. As they stepped through, they found themselves in a musty old shop. Sif smiled as the aroma of herbs and spices assailed her. This was clearly the home to a seer, or a healer. A woman screamed from within at the sudden appearance of the sword-wielding heroine and her ward, but Sif's attention was pulled back as she heard the soft thunk of flesh crashing down, the grasp on her wrist loosened.

Turning Sif saw her guide on the floor, clutching her stomach that was rapidly becoming redder as blood seeped through her skin and clothes. Without a second of hesitation, Sif crouched down beside her, dropping the sword to the floor and ripping the bottom of the woman's shirt off. Rolling it up into a ball she placed it on the wound and pushed.

The woman on the floor winced. "Trigger happy cops."

Sif smiled softly down at her guide. "Save your breath. You will be well."

The seer had composed herself and had rushed herself forward. "Jackie? Jackie is that you?"

The identified Jackie groaned as she sat herself up. "Oh -ugh- hey Helen. Sorry to drop in on you like this."

The Seer dropped to her knees at the other side of Jackie, looking at the blood. "We need to get you an ambulance, what the hell - where's my phone-?" The woman went to stand when Sif grabbed her shoulder, locking eyes with her.

"Bring me honey, ginger, hazelnuts and yarrow."

Helen looked at Jackie, who merely shrugged and nodded. Helen jumped to her feet, and could be heard frantically searching through her pantry.

"If I am going to die-"

Sif scowled down at this Jackie. "You are not going to die. Mortals may be frail, but you have a strength about you." Sif placed a kind hand on Jackies shoulder, still maintaining pressure ont he site of the wound. "I recognise a warrior's spirit when I see one, even if you do not see it within yourself." She turned her head as she heard feet scuffling back towards her, Helen with the loose ingredients in her hands. Without a pestle and mortar. What kind of wise woman was this?

"Bring me a pestle and mortar Helen. I will need it to combine the ingredients-"

"Oh- right, right. Yeah, ofcourse." She dropped the supplies down beside Sif and retreated once more to her crashing and banging as she looted around for what was the most basic of supplies. Clearly, in todays world, potions weren't in high demand. As Helen returned, Sif looked at her expectantly; however she didn't move to grab the ingredients. Helen gasped as she realised. "Oh, you want me to? I don't know what you are doing."

"You are the seer? The Apothecary? Surely you have dealt with issues such as these before?"

Helen shook her head in shock. "N-no. I just, I deal in essential oils and herbal remedies. People looking for alternatives to medicine. I don't, I can't do-"

Sif rolled her eyes. She was a charlatan. Grabbing the womans hand she put it on the bloody cloth. "Apply pressure here." Helen thankfully did as she was told, while Sif opened the jar. The golden liquid oozed slowly into the mortar. Followed by a handful of nuts. She crumbled the yarrow as much as possible before she grabbed the pestle and started grinding the ingredients together.

She wasn't a seer, she wasn't an apothecary or a sorcerer. Yet she closed her eyes, focusing on what little ability she knew, what little she had. Willing the infusion to have power, willing it to become a healing salve that would save the life of this mortal. Returning her to the picture of health. A green mist swirled lazily at the bottom of the bowl as Sif opened her eyes, hovering above the mud coloured salve. Sif looked down upon Jackie, a soft smile on her face.

"This is going to sting."

---

The Opti-Binoculars focused in on the four men milling outside the facility. A window to the side identified them as Dirk Garthwaite, Henry Camp, Eliot Franklin and Brian Calusky. All listed as Roxxon private security. All have previous criminal records. No doubt Roxxon would claim that they were hired in the name of helping rehabilitate them and reintroduce them to civilian life. Roz wasn't entirely convinced that this was the only reason. Roxxon had a reputation for coming in with the strong arm and forcing things to be their way. The facility had gone up in record time, and the amount of red tape being cut was record-breaking.

That is why Roz was here. Roxxons environmental record was questionable at the best of times, so S.H.I.E.L.D had sent her here to investigate this new 'State of the Art Electrical Generation' facility. Thunder rumbled, and she looked up at the clouds that seemed to always swirl around the facility. A flash shuttered through the sky, and she felt a shiver go up her spine. Putting the binoculars down, she looked back at her tablet that had the public information on the facility. According to the plans, the facility essentially used a combination of wind power and lightning in order to load batteries for cheap and efficient energy. The output, however, didn't make sense. Lightning wasn't a reliable source of energy, and yet the facility had never missed the quota.

There was a chirp in her ear, tapping her earpiece there was a buzz as the line opened. Tapping it twice as the line was full of static. There shouldn't have been static. "Come in Agent Solomon, can you hear me?"

"Copy three-by-five Control."

"Report to town immediately, there reports of a woman that has fallen from the sky."

Roz put the tablet away as she stood up.

"Run that by me, one more time."

Absolute Comics: Odyssey [Invite Only]

@Captain Uni I mean probably

Absolute Comics: Odyssey [Invite Only]

I'm going to fight somebody

Absolute Comics: Odyssey [Invite Only]

I'm still shaking off the flu, but hopefully that reads... legibly.

Absolute Comics: Odyssey [Invite Only]

Sif's hand rested uneasily above the hilt of her sword.

She had snuck away to Midgard before, many moons and many seasons long past. She and Thor together had adventures with Gods and Monsters from before the time of Gods had truly come to an end. This Midgard was not the same one now as it had been. The landscape was more grey, less natural. While Asgard was a great city, the city was designed with colour and character. Each building told a story. Whereas here, everything seemed somewhat drab and miserable. Even in the cool mid-morning sun, the orange glow did little to brighten the environment.

"Thor, like from that TV show? The Viking guy?"

Sif didn't fully understand all that was said, but the urge to roll her eyes was still great. Viking Guy. That was a gross oversimplification of who he was.

"Are you okay? You kind of fell from the sky?"

Sif looked at the crater behind her. "Aye, I am fine. I have fared worse."

"What are you?"

Sif smiled as she walked towards the woman. Ignoring those around her who pointed their strange rectangles in her direction, if they had been weapons, they would have attacked her by now. A loud, piercing wailing could be heard now from around the corner, as people surrounding her started to move away slowly.

"I am Lady Sif of Asgard, and I am here to find Thor and return him home."

"Ooooookaaaay."

"Do you know where he is?"

"Well, he's not-he's not real?"

Sif walked towards her, hand still on the hilt of her sword. The woman went to recoil slightly, as Sif outstretched her free hand and placed it on the woman's shoulder.

"And am I not real?"

^{"Well, I'm not sure..."}

There was a resounding screech. The wailing came around the corner, as two of the loud horseless chariots came racing around the corner. Sif pulled back, and as she spun, her sword was removed from its holster in one fluid motion, brought up into a ready stance. The vehicles came to a stop in a plume of dust and smoke coming from the tyres. A heavy clunk, as the vehicles opened. Two people emerged from each vehicle, cowering behind the doors, small objects in their hands pointed directly at Sif. Directly at her chest, centre mass.

These were weapons.

Her feet moved, almost an imperceptible amount. The one closest was on her left; he would be the first to hit her if he fired his weapon. He would also find himself to be the first one hit by her if he tried anything. A thick caterpillar moustache had nested on his top lip, his eyes hidden behind black reflective circles. His accent was heavy, and his voice boomed with authority that had been given, not earned.

"Ma'am. I need you to put the weapon down. Step away from the crater, then kneel on the ground with your hands behind your back."

The sword spun in her wrist, palm up, blade pointed directly towards the man in charge. The warriors in their khaki clothes recoiled slightly. Their thumbs moved on their weapons, with the faint sound of four clicks piercing the silence.

"I have come in peace, but I will not disarm, and I do not kneel."

---

SOME TIME AGO...

//OFFENSIVE SYSTEMS OVERRUN
//PRIMARY DEFENSES FAILING
//SECONDARY DEFENSES FAILING
//MULTIPLE HULL BREACHES DETECTED
//ACTIVATING B3T4

The Parademons swarmed the hull of the lone vessel, her engines flared and faltered. Gun emplacements were torn free of their housing, tossed into the mess of bodies, shell casings and debris that surrounded the vessel like its own asteroid belt. As one of the Parademons found a crack on the hull, it screamed and they swarmed. Grappling and clawing in a frenzy, as if every moment they were delayed meant another eternity in the pits. They weren't far wrong, for their master tolerated no failure.

The survival of this ship, constituted a monument of their failure. A world converted to ash and debris, the living souls converted and the planet destroyed. One less civilisation to stand up against the might of Apokolips, and yet. In a final act of defiance a singular vessel managed to break passed the blockade and flee, carrying with it the hope of its people. The hope that they would survive, that Apokolips could be delayed and defeated.

A hope that could not survive. A hope that could not be allowed to survive.

The creatures clawed and scrambled, pushing against the rush of air as they broke through the hull of the ship. Fighting their way passed the air as the compartment became depressurised. They rushed in, tearing at themselves and eachother to push in. Body parts and armour cast out into the growing cloud of debris. Red warning lights greeted them on the other side, as they spread out. The low glow of the light casting long shadows, as the faint sound of a far away alarm could be heard reverberating around the ship. They moved in packs, fanning out from their entry point until a group came across a door.

THUNK

The dull noise could be heard even in the vacuum as a large dent appeared on the door.

THUNK

The Parademons looked at eachother, perplexed. Something appeared to beating it's way towards them. Perhaps some of their kin had already breaxhed from the other side?

THUNK

KAWHOOOOOOM

There was a roar of air as the door was broken open, the air from deeper in the ship catapulting the door and turning into a ballistic missile. It collided with demons, some lost body parts whereas others found themselves crushed. One demon remained, pushing itself back to its feet it roared into the newly opened doorway as a lifeform approached.

Absolute Comics: Odyssey [Invite Only]

I got part of my next post done but this sickness bug is kicking my bahookey.

I might get more of it done today... We'll have to wait and see how I feel

No Wraith allowed

"It's been a long time Rex. Welcome, to Abysus."

Rex stood poised. Ready. Supporting leg back, at an angle. Feet shoulder width apart. Your muscles like a coiled spring ready to pop. The training Six gave him running through his head. Watch for the subtle shifts of his opponents, try to spot their move before they made it. Anticipate Rhodeys favourite word running through his head. Rex let his arms fall to his side, coiled into fists. He could feel his nanites, brimming with energy, and beyond that he could feel -

That can't be right.

His expression must have changed as the man before him smiled.

"You feel it don't you? Yes you're right. Everything around you, even the air is brimming with nanites." The man raised a hand and a root curled lazily out of the ground, buds appearing along its spine and turning to flowers. It curled lazily, and almost lovingly over to the mans hand. Running softly over his hands. Curling around his fingers till a large orange flower resided in his palm, and then the plant retreat almost as calmly back down through the floor and out of sight. The man twirled the flower between his thumb and forefinger, casting it into a spin it raised gently into the air and then as he released it. It floated gently, carried away by the breeze. Bobbing up and down in the air as it spun in a magnificent orange and blue.

Rex raised a cautious eyebrow. "Just who are you?" The man chuckled as he clapped his hands together, the sound echoing through the empty halls.

The figure turned around, his coat swishing out behind him and he was about to walk away, before he seemed to change his mind. "Whiplash, Biowulf. Why don't you take our other friend to the Garden? While I see to young Rex here?"

"Hang on now-" Rex started, but the Wolf-Man and Faceless man had already grabbed two of Noahs shoulders and led him down a nearby corridor. "Just who do you think you are?" Rex blustered his way directly upto the man.

The man sighed, and looked directly into his eyes. "You really don't remember me then?" Rex didn't even get a chance to answer before the man sighed, shook his head and then began again. "No matter. My name is Van Kleiss, I am leader of the pack and I have known you for a very long time. Tell me, what do you know of the nanite event?

Rex couldn't help it, in many ways he felt compelled to follow the man, as the two walked away from all the others. Deeper into the heart of the castle.

"Just what I've seen on TV, what Providence have told me-"

The scoff was audible, and full of distaste. "Providence. I wouldn't believe a word they said, if I were you."

"Well you've not really given me much more to go on dude."

An arched eyebrow in retort. "Lets rectify that then-" The man pushed over two heavyset wooden doors, leading them to a large open chamber. Machinery adjorned the walls, seemingly growing out of them. Chairs carved out of wood seemed to sprout from roots, and swayed every so slightly in the breeze that seemed to be a constant companion within the castle. A lone chair sat at the end of the room, on a slightly raised pedestal. A throne?

"What is this place?"

Van Kleiss sat on the chair. A Throne. Raising his arms as if to offer Rex the entire room. "This Rex, is where it all started. This is where the EVO was born!"

---

It was five years ago. All the worlds most brilliant minds were gathered here, in this very room. I was here, alongside them. We had worked for years on the future of humanity. The Nanite, self replicating self repairing machines. So microscopic they could be entered into the bloodstream to affect repairs that no doctor could be able to perform. There were those whose views however, were less altruistic than my own. You see I wanted to fix the world, but in the age of the meta-human, the superhero and the mutant. There were those who wished to control it. Which is why a group of us banded together. We were invited to an organisation that specialised in keeping groundbreaking science out of the hands of the military industrial complex, something Stark would never allow. The test proved itself here, in this room -

As Van Kleiss spoke Rex allowed his eyes to scan around the room. Letting his eyes wander over every little detail. He couldn't ignore the slight nagging, tingling sensation at the back of his head that somehow, some of this was familiar to him. As Van Kleiss rambled on and on about the fixing the world, and how he had been wronged. Which definitely sounded more Super-Villain than Super-Hero. NNone of this infromation was really registering in his brain. Rex walked over to a nearby panel, he didn't allow his nanites to investigate the technology but he allowed his hand to just rest lightly on the keyboard. Basking in the memory of it, the sense of nostalgia tickling at the edge of his memory. Then the revelation hit him like a slap in the face.

"-When your parents used the prototype nanites to save your life.

Absolute Comics: Odyssey [Invite Only]

Man someone from the health board needs to check out whatever facility Marc is in.

Absolute Comics: Odyssey [Invite Only]

How else are we going to get this OOC to 2000+ posts?

@Lord Wraith

We could invite @Roman to start a fight. He is English afterall...

Absolute Comics: Odyssey [Invite Only]

@Lord Wraithit read really well and the chemistry between Clark and Lois felt very natural.