You slowly open your eyes as you wake up from a long sleep. You'd like to say it was a good night's sleep, but due to your irregular hours, when you sleep and when you wake up are a crapshoot. It feels like your eyelids are pulling themselves down. Through a single unfocused eye, the only one you've managed to get open, you peer at your phone.
5:21 AM
You slowly climb your way out of bed and scroll down your contacts until you get to the number you're looking for, J. Keller. You hit the call button and wait. While you're waiting, you're dimly aware of the agreement you made with the Keller you're now calling. If you don't contact them, it'll be like your previous conversations never happened. But you can't. There's no turning back now.
Keller's been your best friend since middle school, when you first started manifesting your powers. It's not accurate to say they're your only friend, but he's been the most loyal by far. Someone who'd take a bullet for you if you needed it. Hell, the fact that they're agreeing to help you with this is a testament to that. He's risking getting killed by a supervillain. Or worst, at least according to Keller, going to jail for helping a Vigilante.
After a few rings, you hear a click. "Hello?" The voice on the other end says. It sounds groggy, like they're still waking up. Which, if the clock is any indication, they probably are.
"Keller? It's me. You remember that thing we talked about at your place last week?" You asked.
"Sorry, but can I ask who this is?" Keller asks.
You don't know whether to chuckle or rub. You know that Keller'll be dead to the world for the next few seconds.
You put on your best 'serious' voice. "This is the police. We're calling about an incident we understand you to have been involved in. Something about... a rubber chicken and a lighter?"
You hear a weak chuckle from the other end of the line. Probably the most they can muster right now "No, seriously" You say. "It's me..."
[] Name (Write in)
[] Appearance. (Post a picture or write in)
There's another second of silence as Keller takes a second to process the information. "Oh yeaaah. Sorry about that". You could rib them, but you decide against it. Especially because if what you're calling about. "So, what do you nee-" There's second and a half pause as Keller puts the pieces together At the end of it, the only thing they can muster is a single word. "Oh..."
"Right" You say. "I'm doing it"
Keller sighs. "If you change your mind, it's no problem. No one's forcing you to do this"
"I know, Keller." You say. Still, just like they have their reason for helping you, you have your reason for going out there.
[] I had normal parents. I did well in school. I would probably have a normal life if I wanted to. But I choose this life. Not because of some murdered parents, personal vendetta, mission from God, or anything like that. I want to be a hero because I have the capability and it's the fight thing to do.
[] Both of my parents were famous heroes. I have a few cousins, aunts and uncles who were heroes, whether it's superheroes, soldiers, cops, or doctors, or who knows what else. I suppose heroism is in the blood. But while most of my family are "official" heroes, I've chosen a different path.
[] I… used to be a villain. I'm not proud of the things I did. I've hurt people. Even killed people. I never would have dreamed being on this side of the law. But
[] When it was just me, I wouldn't have dreamed of donning a suit and risking my life. But after my first child, something clicked in me. A parent provides. And I'm doing this to help provide a future for my family.
[] When I was just a kid, I used to be a sidekick for a hero, the Solar Shield. He was well known, well liked. But there was… the incident. He didn't make it, and I had to leave the city. But the passion for justice… I couldn't get away from it. So now, in a new city, I'm starting again with a new name, a new identity. And hopefully, none of the old baggage.
[] I've lost a lot in my life. My parents, my home, my childhood. I've suffered. The reason I'm choosing this life is to do my part to make sure that no one else has to go through what I've gone through.
[] The government doesn't care about the people. They make sure that their superheroes focus on crimes that affect the rich. People like me are the only ones who are looking out for people who can't defend themselves.
[] I've lost a lot throughout my life because of criminals. Scum that would hurt, even kill others for a few dollars. My parents, my home, almost my life on several occasions. But somehow, I've managed to survive. I've managed to bring myself here. And now, I'm going to make every would be villain pay.
[] There's money to me made as a superhero, even a vigilante if I manage this right. Even with my powers, that conviction on my record means most legitimate employers won't touch me.
[] Write in
"That's that, isn't it..." Keller said. He seems almost resigned. You hear a heavy sigh from the other end of the line. "Well, I'll get the equipment packed up and ready to go" Keller says, cognizant of the situation. I'll be there 20."
"Got it" You say. You and Keller had agreed that if you had to talk on the phone, the important thing you'd be setting up would be remodeling an abandoned building, just in case there were prying ears. It'd also be a good cover as to where you'd set up your base of operations.
[] An abandoned mall near where the ghettos meet the suburbs. It's been closed since the early 1970's, with several attempted remodels that ended in failure. Each time the would-be investors ran out of money, so it stands as a decrepit monument that no one's paid to have torn down. Still, it's still a place that has a lot of room to set up anything you'd need.
[] An old mansion near the edge of town. It's previous owner was a reclusive, man. A recent recession wiped out the man's fortune, and shortly after that, he disappeared. No one has claimed this mansion, nor has anyone purchased the land it was on, so it was left abandoned. The mansion is surrounded by a 10 foot stone wall, and that's surrounded by high trees. That, plus it's isolated location make it practically invisible to anyone not looking for it.
[] An old warehouse. Nestled deep in the heart of the industrial area of downtown. There's a million like them and you'd be close by if anything major happened downtown. You just have to make sure that no one sees you entering or leaving, but Keller says they have something in mind for that.
[] A small bunker in the woods. It's about as off the grid as you can get. It's nestled in the woods outside of town. It used to belong to one of Keller's cousins until he was arrested. Now, if it was only larger than a college dorm room...
