Project Prometheus (Original Setting Superhero Quest)

[SolarGemX]

Authors note: I'm pretty sure this is considered a s**t post. You have been warned.

…Are we horrible people?
By Solar Gem X​

It was a beautiful day in Horizon, the birds were singing, the flowers were blooming… and several key districts were probably on fire. Honestly, nothing new, let us turn the channel from this proverbial dumpster fire and show something more… calm? I Don't know if calm is the right word here…Distraction? Pass time? And Then X3? The mad ramblings of an individual that should not have been given so much power/ liberty to write stuff in the proverbial 4th​ wall? Hopefully, it loses its passport…ANYWAY!

Lets go take a detour several miles to the right as we see an individual who Is about to make a very, very, very dumb idea. (Did I mention this is bad?) Anyway, here we have an individual 18 something male adolescent, he is pretty much average, all things considered. Normal grades in his online courses, a splash of friends here and there, an interest in game design believe it or not, and an internet channel by the name Stardust TCG, a videogame and superhero speculation channel where the titular STCG plays games, talks about heroes, Power Interactions and all that jazz. He has a somewhat niche audience in the proverbial sea of hero channels in the world, and he is ok with that, so let's see what's he doing.

Stardust: Ok… mic check, camera check, images check. Ok we are all clear! 3, 2, 1 aaaaaand… Welcome back Starbrights, my name is Stardust TCG, and I welcome you back to a somewhat different episode to my usual content. You see dear viewers, Remember how I said I was going to show you some Tech picks for the Apiary Deck in Omega Heroes? Well… about that…I got banned from the game.

*Say Whaaaat*​

Don't worry! It's only temporary, Ill have my account back by next week and everything should go back to normal. Now you may be asking yourself, Stardust why did you get banned? And that dear viewer… well I basically got caught in the crossfire of some Admin bans when spectating an Omega Heroes match. The two players Earth Lord and Best Ant, who I'm pretty sure were Earthen Owl (Powers) and Bullant (Entomon's) were having a serious back and fort in the game, and from what I managed to piece together from their comments? This was like the third game they were playing in a series of video game rounds including the popular game Meta Chasers, among others. As the game continued, we were joined by Red Light and Star Rose Crusader, who began commenting the play by play, you know like those sport commentors we see in the TV sometimes. A couple of turns in they both began making jokes and taken some subtle potshots at the players, who took pot shots in return and at each other. After 30 minutes of potshots, innuendos (RL and SRC), yo mama jokes and the weirdest game of would you ever (Why did they but the timer to unlimited?) I Think Earth Lord figure out who Best Ant was? And proceeded to site copyright infringement or something among those lines, with Best Ant basically going no you back at him, this continued like for an additional 20 minutes as they completely forgot of the 3 spectators, and then an admin came in, took one look at the Circus going on and basically gave everyone a 1-week ban, no questions asked. Sooooo yeah that was my weekend, so as I scrambled to make a new video idea, I got contacted by Red Light and they gave me an idea.

Welcome to Cards against Humanity- Hero Edition!
If you an innocent civilian, run while you still can. If not?
Welcome To HELL!
*Danger*​

Stardust: …Well isn't that just comforting… so yeah CaH video. I will be drawing a set cards, lets say 10? Yes, 10 cards This cards will have a prompt with a [BLANK] in it and we need to fill that blank with words or sentences from a different deck, lets say 4 for every prompt, so 40 in total. I will show you the cards and the prompt and will leave a poll down in the description below where you, yes YOU will fill in the answer, afterwards I will try my best to make a skit about the answers. Got all that? Great! Let's begin with…


1. I've done it! I have discovered Scarlet Maturity's weakness, it's [BLANK].

A. Fabulous Men in tight shorts.
B. Grandpa's Ashes
C. An Overpowered Anime Protagonist
D. Totally Not Godzilla

Stardust: Oh Leviathans Blood, why….?

2. Oh No, Valiant Silver has been Arrested! Her crime was [BLANK].
A. Stealing the entirety of Uiara's secret Money vault!
B. Uploading 10 Terabytes of "Peak Fiction" on government Servers
C. A Blown-Up University
D. Tax Evasion

Stardust: …I think the first two count as foreplay in some circles… if anything I have read of the hero is true anyway… all of these are like really appropriate. Ok Next!

3. Lady Leizi is the most famously known hero for [BLANK].
A. Gang Murder
B. BDSM
C. Bad Life Decisions
D. Ranking among the top 10 " Nicest people in Horizon".

STCG: Well…some of these are a thing…

4. In the popular Written series " My Mom is the Demon Lord, and my Dad is a Lawyer," the secret Finale twist is [BLANK].
A. Everything was a Dream…
B. Two midgets reading "Silver Water" fic's in a Box
C. A windmill filled with singing goats.
D. A mime having a Stroke.

STCG: Ehh… *shrugs*

5. Horizon, 'tis of the sweet land of [Blank].
A. Obesity
B. Eldritch Horrors
C. Soft, wet Muppets doing the Cha Cha.
D. Plot

STCG: Why do 2 of these feel strangely targeted?

6. With enough Time and Pressure, Even [BLANK] can be made [BLANK].
A. An Egg
B. Rainbow Bright GAAAAAAAYYY! *YAY*
C. Technicolor Ponies
D. The Fear of naked Mole Rats
E. An Angry Woman
F. An Erotic Writer

STCG: Something, something, Rainbows.

7. Earthen Owl stands before you, You defend yourself with [Blank].
A. A mechanical Super Fighting Bettle
B. A Shonen Harem Protagonist
C. Apiary Playing "Ride of the Valkyries"
D. Crab Rave

STCG: The Irony is palpable.

8. Uiara is planning on investing! You convince her to invest in [Blank].
A. A bad Education System.
B. A Hockey Ring.
C. A Lesbian Powered Death Ray.
D. The Ball Crusher 8000! TM, now in Gold and Silver colors!

STCG: ~2 of these are not like the others~

9. A Named Behemoth Stands between you and a Cookie Jar, you use [BLANK] the Greatest of Weapons!
A. Radiant Silver Girl
B. So-So RNG (Added this one mid rolls)
C. Dr. Iblis' Mad Science!
D. Crippling Debt

STCG: This one was kind of weak ngl…

10. Oh? You're comparing yourself to me, [BLANK]? HA! Your not even worthy to be my [BLANK]!
A. Alcoholism
B. God
C. White Hawk Privilege.
D. Power Point Presentation
E. My Worthless Son
F. Secret Pleasure

STCG: And that should be it. Make sure to leave your votes in the poll, below and I will see you guys again next Time. Stardust out!


Authors Note 2: I have no idea what I am doing. Also wrote this as Bitterman finished the voting period sooo, oh boy *Sees two omake points heading into the field of battle alongside two other allies*

O7 Lightspeed you wonderful bastards…
Edit: Man... those rolls were a thing huh?

 

[spiderhellian]

In Which a Prayer is Answered

All those years, Xavier swore he could still hear It singing. But you weren't sure you believed him.

You still stuck by him, of course. This was Wonderland. No place to be by yourself, and not even safe as part of a larger group. The Supplicants were more loyal to each other than most -- a product of having One to be loyal to, who loomed above all else -- and you weren't going to risk your place with a little doubt.

But there were nights where the World did feel very far away. Where it was as if you had fallen down a rabbithole, and into some strange underworld. Where no matter how much you prayed, that infinitely powerful God you worshipped felt infinitely far away.

Then your prayers were answered, and you realized in an instant It was not far away at all.

---

It was a moment of shock. And confusion. And pain, that ever-present accompaniment to life in Wonderland.

Even as the sudden impact of being returned to the world faded, your bewilderment grew and grew.

You knew not what had happened. You knew not what would come next. All you knew was that you had been saved, and all you could do was pray.

Eventually, you rose, to help your comrades with what had to be done. You weren't going to be left behind now. The world was messier than when you left it, the deeds a little darker, but for all that every breath seemed easier. It was a real air you were breathing, and you could still feel the Looming God's touch each time you did.

Until word came that what happened was The Movement, and your breath was stolen, and you fell to your knees once more.

---

Days passed. And then weeks. Months.

You wondered, sometimes, if this was what Ọsanyìn felt like. Many compared themself to that first and foremost of heroes, but usually to brag about their power, or intelligence, or wealth. You felt a different connection to him now. Had he once reached out, seeking something more? How had he felt when he grasped it, and embraced it? And been embraced by it in turn?

Not that the Looming God had embraced you yet. Alas. But you now knew, incontrovertibly, that the hallowed form beyond you, beyond your city, beyond your Planet... it could. And it would.

Oh, you had always believed. But now you knew.

The world felt firmer for it. The work was easier, and the days blurred by. You felt yourself settling into a new routine, strange as it was. A routine that consisted of patrols, and tasks, and the occasional afternoon propped up on a couch watching the television.

(Television! A wonder so many took for granted. But you never would again.)

You flipped the channel, and paused at a stream of Ọsanyìn's Christmas festivities. You didn't really want to watch it, but it was decent enough to have on in the background as you checked your phone, and responded to Xavier's latest message.

Some of those blind fools' more elaborate theatrics caught your attention. Valiant Red, White, and Blue? Looming God take us all, did they have any taste? Which meant when the performance continued to a crescendo, you were fully gripped.

"The Movement was her doing."

And the world dropped out beneath you again.

---

Now you found yourself looking at the Apiary. It took a few favours and a few lies to find the time and the security to get here. But you needed to. You needed to.

This place was her doing, as well. If not the structure, at least what it meant.

You remembered hating her, for a time. For quite a long time, actually. But that felt so far distant now. The part of your brain that had burned with that fire felt cleansed, much as your God had and would cleanse the world. Fitting.

Now, you weren't sure how you felt. Was it envy, that for all your supplications only hers had been answered? Delight, that your foe had seen the truth? Sorrow, that you might never know what made a prayer work?

It was that confusion that suffused you, and paused your approach to the Apiary. Now you stood, and looked at it, as tears leaked from your eyes.

Until a strong arm patted you on the shoulder, and a rough voice spoke in a kindly manner. "Sir, are you okay? Are you looking for a ref-- a resident?"

You opened your mouth to respond, but your words were choked with a sob.

The man at your side seemed to smile -- as best as you could make out with your vision blurred -- and gestured to the building as he said, "Do you want to come inside?"

You took a deep, shuddering breath, before you replied, "No. I just-- I just wanted to say thank you. For giving me hope."

---

You weren't sure why Rhys was whistling a jaunty tune as he took his seat in the afternoon meeting, but he was actually pretty good. Not that you'd encourage him by saying that.

He stopped it as he sat -- thankfully -- but he was still beaming. Looking at you, he exclaimed, "Y'know, I think we're really making a difference here! Bringing back people's faith! I just had the most inspiring conversation..."

Spoiler

"Our message got through to her, in the end!!"

Click to shrink...

I love this idea.

 

[Barondoctor]

Tiny Tales 0.01

It was a lovely morning in Horizon.

You were a horrible goose.

Spoiler: MECHANICS

TO DO:
- Steal a funnel cake from Scarlet Maturity
- Photobomb Stockpile
- Destroy Justice Unlimited's budget

You may have been a horrible goose, but it was still a memorial to the fallen. To disrupt the speakers wouldn't just be horrible, it would probably be the thing that got you cooked. An individual aware of your doings was one thing, but so far your ability to influence others to treat you like a regular goose was limited to one individual aware of your shenanigans at a time.

You began walking through the Apiary and noticed Scarlet Maturity, all thirteen feet of him, arms laden with stuffed animals and a funnel cake in one hand. He would periodically go to play a game, put down his toys, and then go between the cake and the games.

Spoiler: Stat Check

DC 10.
Stat Check: ESPIONAGE 6. Horrible Goose has ESPIONAGE 4
You rolled: 8.
8 - 1 + 5 (Just A Goose) = 13 Success!

Scarlet Maturity didn't just want to be the best, he wanted everybody to know it. The proof, as they say, was in the plushies. You dragged the bag behind the counter out of his sight and at the end of the game he started looking for them and you grabbed the funnel cake!

Scarlet Maturity didn't understand why his funnel cake was gone, but then realized he could just get another funnel cake.

Spoiler: Horrible Goose

Age: HONK
Keywords: Only A Goose, Flight, Mental Manipulation
Stats: Hit 1, Espionage 4, Reputation 2, Operations 8
Chaucer's Notes: We initially believed a stray goose had gotten into the Apiary during the Memorial, but further review of the security footage revealed a cunning intellect and an appetite for mischief.
Lady Leizi's Notes: I've heard of this creature. I'd believed she preferred the English countryside, but if she's here...

A/N: Yes. That goose.

 

[spiderhellian]

Candidate "Adherent"
Name: Peace Jackson
Age: 20
Stats:
HIT 2 (Got in a few too many fights as a kid...)
ESPIONAGE 4 (It took months for people to realize she'd been in a cult.)
REPUTATION 1 (...And then they were pretty worried about her.)
OPERATIONS 2 (Had to grow up sooner than most. )
Tolerance: 8 (No clue how to math this one out, let me know if it should be changed)
Chaucer's Notes: Peace was taller and quieter than most of the residents who came to the Apiary after the Movement, but other than that was fairly unremarkable. She was one of the most frequent attendees of the interfaith group that sprung up a few weeks in, but it wasn't until the group grew to the point that others actually heard what prayers she was intoning that she came to our attention.
The other members of the group were quite alarmed -- she was praying to the Leviathan. I had thought that cult disappeared after Justice Unlimited defeated the Supplicants!
Lady Leizi: When your Mom was raised in the aftermath of the Blooming and your very name is a prayer, I imagine it's hard to escape. But the Movement -- and the wreckage it left of her home and life -- seems to have made a considerable impact on her. To the point she wants to act, and not merely wait for the Looming God to "cleanse the evil of this world". I do know what it's like to think you understand the world and your place in it, and then see it upended in a single day. We should not reject her out of turn.
Dr. Ibis: Bah, you're both missing the most important part: her Ambrosia tolerance is remarkably high! Think about what this could mean -- If prayer to the Leviathan can grant one a better tolerance to Goldnine, we must have all our candidates convert at once!

Spoiler: AN

I love characters who have a genuine faith, especially when their religion is one some would find peculiar. I also wanted to play more with some of the ideas from my earlier Apocrypha. Hope this works as a candidate, and happy to adjust potency to fit.

It's also made me quite curious what religion looks like in Horizon/the world in general, really...

 

[ScorpioSting]

Princess's Diary, an Omake by ScorpioSting​

Entry #51

Today was a very big day! I snuck into Mom's throne room out of curiosity and got swept up in her big plan to make a showing at this monument. She had to scramble at the last minute to hide me and give me a flag.

Still, I tried to keep my cool as things went on. Mom gave her speech, and this girl in gold armor talked to her until things went chaotic. She was kind of cool but also kind of mean.

Uncle Warp, Herc, Miss Marie, and Mr. Rain had to fight a bunch of guys, while I stayed close to mom in case something went bad. There was this big silver guy who looked like he was made of clay who Uncle Herc grappled with, and the gold girl, that Palisade lady that Marie had fought before.

And that Valiant Justice guy was there, too. He sounds so… angry. Like he thinks Mom is everything evil in the world at once. I don't like him.

But I like the guy who grabbed me and tried to fly away even less. Valiant Justice is mad. But White Hawk…

A book that Mr. Dollman got for me a bit back that I keep rereading stuck with me. Danny, The Champion of the World. It's apparently almost a hundred years old. There's a bit when it's talking about Danny's father, and how he never smiles with his mouth, but with his eyes, and how that's warmer.

Hawk's smile never reaches his eyes. It's all mouth. It's scary. It's like he was grown in some lab and given instructions on feelings written by a robot. He was trying to be reassuring and polite but… it's hollow.

But, the best part is, I got to meet BLACK SWAN! She's so cool and nice! She even saved me and gave me back to mom! I wish I had some paper so I could get her autograph…

I saw that Scarlet Maturity guy too. He was so tall and scary, but… he vouched for me? Kind of?

It was weird.

When we got back to our spot, Mom told me to go visit Mr. Dollman's lab while she worked some things out.

I think I heard Herc yelling at her as I left.

At least Mr. Dollman was nice. He values my 'aesthetic contributions'.

Had to look that up in a dictionary. It means I'm good with colors and art.

I stayed in my corner, and read some more books. I don't want a repeat of the Rubiks-Cube-Bomb scenario, so I only touch things with Mr. Dollman's permission.

(I still don't like that idea. A bomb disguised as a puzzle, that explodes when solved, that was going to be left in some remote park to cause chaos?)

I'll probably get scolded a little later. But right now, I'm just glad to be alive.

I love Mom. I know she loves me.

-Princess

 

[ThaTrueRealmWalk]

Project Pandora: Tome #0.0, Pandora

{ Soundtrack: Ode to Heroes - Metaphor: ReFantizo }​

Horizon, City of Leviathan's Rest – Location Unknown – September 8, 2067

Upon a single bed did an oldened soul slumber, their body shifting as awareness returned to them shard by little shard.

Stirring out of the sleeping realm, Dr. Mammoth Ibis was pleased to see he still lived.

Many a morning- or whatever time it was in this unknown place- such a worry would never cross the doctor's mind. His days followed a schedule he rarely strayed from: upon waking, he would hurriedly sterilize himself, scarf down a nutrient bar, and see how his latest children fared within their growth chambers. It was a clam life, one in which the fair doctor found solace within. Just himself, the incubators' humming song, and endless pursuit for something new.

Ah, but he was attempting to avoid the subject at hand, the reason behind the break in his mundane.

The demonic god was stirring, escaping the slumber it had slept within for so long. How callous we humans were, to build this glorious capital near such a being. From its flesh spawned beings seeking to spread the monster's corruption, marching from the QZ. A cry was sounded into the air for all to hear- and if it were not for the young Uiara, doubtless any would have answered. Yet it was that soul, so to arms every mage within the city charged, to protect their homeland from the Leviathan. The doctor saw when the spellweaver Steadfast melted by the abhorrent god's blood, regardless of the strength of his barriers, only to become more of the foul substance.

What had caused the awakening? It had sat unmoving for fifty years, right beside Horizon, without even a twitch. Yet now even his children could hear the impossible calls within their minds. Four voices. One grand, of a beast of impossible size, one who could without fail crush them all into nothing. Another, voice as if it was a fairy, tainted in sickly rage. A third, dreaming and scheming, calling for what was hidden revealed. A fourth, disoriented and pained and trying to put a mirror back together the way you would with building blocks.

Ah, and a fifth, rising to meet the four. The psi-craft mirrored of someone opening their window to scream for their neighbors to quiet. Valiant Silver, endless arrogance seeping from her, even in the most trying of times.

The disharmonized orchestra sang and crashed and yelled and then- Mammoth Ibis knew silence.

Rising to his feet, mind shaken, Ibis knew this was unlike him. To dwell on the past, a thing not even a brilliant mind such as he could change. He was a champion of discovery, a beacon of light against the storms of the unknown, a soul who knew only to gaze at the future. However, also of this size within the world. Ibis felt melancholia wrap itself around his heart for the first time in years.

Ah, that. His serotonin implant was damaged. Well, at least he knew the cause! A simple fix and the back to his laboratory- incubator #3348 looked quite promising!

"Excuse me, doctor, but it is upsetting to see how quickly your face changed just now."

"It can't be helped!" Ibis responded, his gaze focusing upon the figure who had just entered the room, "Early on, I realized that I could work more if I was always in a good mood! I've trained myself to not get too caught up with sentiment."

"I see." The man replied, his tone for a moment carrying disappointment, "Well, may I impose upon you to hold onto your feelings until after we have had a chance to speak?"

"Of course not!" the doctor snapped, " Much too much to do! I've wasted enough time today playing the hero as is."

Ibis attempted to bypass the man, but the spherical lad practically danced his way into barring the doctor's path. With a frown, Ibis attempted to use strength to charge through, but his opponent carried hidden strength. With a small scuffle later, the doctor was forced to concede that he might have to actually further delay getting back to work. Annoying.

With a grand sigh, Dr. Ibis let himself spend time to actually focus on where he stood.

The room he was in appeared to be some kind of infirmary. There was a Gatch bed behind him and some basic equipment used to monitor vitals. Aside from that, the room was bare. In fact, it was unusually small for a recovery ward- a medical professional would be tripping over themselves just trying to observe the patient. Also, the air had an odd, stale quality to it. It was clearly being fed through carbon scrubbers, which would indicate-.

"Aha! I see that I am within the Construct. I appreciate the medical attention, but I insist you book me a shuttle to the surface immediately."

Ibis allowed a droplet of satisfaction. The Construct, of course! The large tower was equipped with state of the art magi-tech facilities, including a medbay, and was located near the Leviathan's Rest. A perfectly logical place to treat the injured.

But despite Dr. Mammoth Ibis's command, the man refused to part from blocking his way. Instead, the man refused with a strong shake of his head.

"I'm afraid that's not possible at the moment, doctor."

Ibis strengthened his stare and grimaced his teeth. Distractions! Must he spend time to chart this face in his mind's eye? Fine, if it must be so!

Thankfully, the man was immediately recognizable. Joelle Chaucer, also known as the mage titled "The Famine Slayer".

Joelle's title was ironic in nature, for the man has not been active in over several decades. The mage before Ibis first appeared, part of the court "SLAYERS", first given the title of "Thunder Slayer". The man had barely any ability with his magic, only able to cast spells like creating sparks with his hands. Seemingly doomed to fall into the shadows, until upon retirement he ventured into the realm of business. Now, he was one of Horizon's most beloved philanthropists. His title of "The Famine Slayer" was more marketing than any achievement or skill, but it didn't stop him from wandering into other people's affairs.

Ibis sneered at the man with the kindly face and nice suit. How dare he take up space in Ibis' brain with such triviality!

The target for Ibis's scorn remained grave, "You are correct, doctor. We are within the Construct. Somehow, Lady Leizi secured her court an entire base within the structure and kept it secret. You're in their medical ward."

"Playing messenger then? Valiant Silver or Uiara were too busy, hmm?"

Chaucer gave no reply. Instead, he commanded a viewscreen upon a nearby wall to awaken, placed as if it were a window. It displayed a view of Horizon from above, the lights of the megapolis built within the grand cavern like an ocean of stars. It was a glorious view. The doctor could even make out the patch of icy wasteland in the middle of the city that marked The Frozen Throne.

But most intriguing, directly across the large tower the doctor stood within, surrounded by the fence of the Quarantine Zone and forever patrolled by the R-Train, was the Leviathan's body. Its ossified corpse towered over the city like a mountain, dwarfed only by the Construct itself.

It was several meters closer to the city than it had been the dawn before. Its "head" was tilted slightly skyward. Ibis hated how the sight made him shiver.

Chaucer sat upon the only chair in the room, as if a great weight pressed him down. Ibis considered attempting an escape but he had already spent minutes upon this, so he may as well hear Chaucer's point.

However, the Famine Slayer didn't speak. He seemed content to sit within silence for minutes, burning more of Ibis's time. His eyes carried a darkness, his face lost of color. Had Ibis cared enough to have an opinion, he would have thought the mage looked horrid.

At the moment before patience snapped within Ibis, Chaucer spoke again. He didn't even grant Ibis his gaze; his eyes only focused on the city below.

"She . . . had a contingency plan. I supposed she always did."

"Who?" Ibis asked, "Valiant Silver?"

"Yes," Chaucer answered. "If she were to die or become indefinitely incapacitated, all of Justice Unlimited's assets and resources would automatically pass to Uiara. If Uiara were similarly indisposed, it would go to Adamant, then Lady Leizi, and then every other member in order of seniority."

Ibis was tapping his foot. "Yes, yes, she's always been so brilliant. As if inventing a toaster you can control with your mind makes you some sort of genius. What of it?"

Chaucer finally moved his sight towards Ibis. "If every member of Justice Unlimited were to die, then control of their assets were to pass to me."

Ah.

"Unfortunate."

Ibis spoke from the heart. While the court's actions of heroism were baffling at best, sanctimonious at worst, Justice Unlimited's skill at keeping the more chaotic elements of the city restrained.

"Wait, even Radiant Silvergirl? Shame. I actually liked her."

The glare Chaucer gave Ibis was a well wanted change from his previous haunted gaze.

"Oh, stop that. I'm certain Novalight will be thrilled to fill in the gap with New Dawn. She's just been aching to move back into the spotlight."

Chaucer glace hardened, and Ibis felt something within his spine tingle.

"Oh. New Dawn as well? All of them? All of them? My word."

"Every hero who could fight was there, doctor. Even you."

"Do not lump in with the rest of those infants play-acting psychodramas with superpowers! I am a man of science."

"And yet," Chaucer said, unfolding, "You were there."

Ibis grew annoyed, his timetables were scrap at this point.

"Well, I suppose Global Justice will rule the city now!" he sneered, "All hail our lord and master, Justiciar! The Americans will be thrilled, I'm certain."

"Justiciar is dead. The Base of the Construct is in chaos."

Ibis glazed back at the digital screen. Thinking upon it, a few of those looked like fire instead of the electric illumination other parts of the city had. Hmm.

"The Four Seasons?"

"Little Automne is gone. I don't know about the rest."

"SLAYERS?"

"Gone." Chaucer's eyes somehow grew even more darkened. "Abigail just got engaged, did you know? She even asked me to be in her wedding party, man or no. . ."

Ibis hid the way his eyes rolled, having little care for the now-defunct, personal life of The Giant Slayer.

"Powers?"

Awareness returned to Chaucer, bearing a grimace, "Scarlet Maturity is still alive, but . . ."

"It would probably be better if he was dead. Of course that brute would outlive us all. And King has disappeared as usual?"

Chaucer sighed. "Yes, just when we need him most."

No wonder the man looked like he wished to leap from the Construct. The situation was as black as the night. Still, this had few ties to Dr. Mammoth Ibis himself.

"Well, I appreciate your warning. It was almost worth the delay. Now, my shuttle . . . ?"

Chaucer only granted Ibis a fractured look before swiftly exiting the room. Did. . . did he assume that Ibis would follow his footsteps? The arrogance and disrespect! That he was right was besides the point!

As Ibis quickened to match The Famine Slayer's marching steps, the burdened man began to speak.

"Doctor, you don't understand. Everyone came to stop the Leviathan from waking up. Every heroic mage. The more dark inclined did not," he said, "Now they rampage across the city! If it were not for The R-Train still patrolling the QZ, there would be total anarchy."

"So those were fires . . . Perhaps I'll let the more martial of my children stretch their legs when I return home."

"I'll thank you very much to not pour accelerant all over the city, doctor!" Chaucer barked, "The reason you must stay up here is that with Cisma and Steelheart both dead, Wonderland has failed. The prisoners inside have escaped. Including—"

"Le Petit Prince." A cold flame ignited within Ibis's chest, invigorating his mind. Maybe he had been overusing his implant. "You're mistaken, Famine Slayer. Now, I must return more than ever. I have unfinished business with that twisted lilliputian."

"Not when you're vulnerable to him! And not when you're the only person who can help solve this mess!" Chaucer pleaded. With a thunderous movement, he placed a hand on a panel and opened a door in a previously featureless wall. With a strengthened pull, he tore Ibis within and pulled him to a contraption in the middle of the room. It was there that Ibis could see a golden liquid suspended in several layers of glass, floating in a magnetic field.

Ibis' jaw dropped. Leviathan's Blood. Goldnine. One of the most dangerous substances in existence. An ounce of it could destroy a continent. This much could end the planet.

". . . I'm listening."

- - - - -​

Glorious! Amazing! Mystical, even! Ibis was so joyous that he was making playful exclamations! This dawn had seemed like it had been squandered, but this… this alone proved that naught but lies.

He had never been this close to raw goldnine before. It was one of the few laws that were sacrosanct in Horizon: do not deal in the Leviathan's Blood. And that name was literal! Goldnine was an amber liquid that constantly seeped from the body of the Leviathan. It was the strange matter of biological material- any organic compound that made contact with goldnine would instantly be converted into more of it. When the Leviathan first manifested, its blood had eaten past a kilometer into the earth's crust. It was only dumb luck and swift action that prevented it from skinning any deeper.

That was the true purpose of the QZ. Most people assumed it was to protect the city from the demons that occasionally emerged near the Leviathan, but it was truly to prevent any smuggling of a substance that could end the world. How Ibis despised his failure to ever analyze the substance.

Imagine! Real biological matter from a demonic being! He drooled at the things one could learn from the substance. Rightly feared, a certainly a wonderful idea to keep it from lesser minds, but from him? It was only sinful!

"—Adamant's metallic body protected him from contamination long enough to get you and a sample of goldnine out of the QZ. His last act was to send a message to me—"

Oh for stars sake, is the Famine Slayer still speaking?

"Yes, yes, yes Chaucer. I'm certain Adamant was appropriately heroic. Heroic enough to risk transporting Levithan's Blood through the city."

Chaucer's gaze pointed at Ibis like knives, "He saved your life."

"I haven't the faintest idea why. I hardly knew the man. Good on him, I suppose."

The Famine Slayer rubbed a hand across his face, massaging his temple. He looked like sleep had evaded him for several nights.

"I see rumors of your . . . disposition were true. Very well, doctor, I will get to the point. In front of you is one of the only samples of goldnine in the world. One of the greatest heroes in the city brought it here at the cost of his life for one simple reason: it is the key ingredient in this."

Chaucer pulled out a glowing slate, biting his thumb and granting the object his blood. Its glow brightened as it began to fade away, Chaucer quickly dropping the now revealed notebook within Ibis' hands.

The doctor parted his longing gaze to look down at the worn book.

Physical media? Ibis frowned. He hadn't seen something like this in years. As he began to read its contents, eyes wide and mouth open, he immediately realized why:

This was an early formula to waken a mage.

Ibis's heart filled with angelic admiration and devilish jealousy. It was crass and primitive, requiring countless hours to refine into something workable, but the theory was sound. Valiant Silver had begun to discover something that had eluded mages across the world for over five decades- how to seed magic into a normal soul.

Whether you were a mage was determined upon your birth, when the Glyph upon your heart formed. The ability to draw upon its power many times did not come until childhood, with only rare cases of young ones able to use magic in their diapers rising now and again. Depending on the strength of their rune, or perhaps even its element, one could even go their entire life without learning of their gifts.

It was no aid that a heart bearing a Glyph seemed random. Two mages having a child had no greater luck in their offspring inheriting their magic then a magicless couple had in birthing an aspiring mage. Millions had been spent by every corporation within Horizon to tease out the secret that determined who was born a mage…

And in Ibis's hand now sat the beginning of that desired truth.

"Valiant Silver was holding out on us! 'Mystic fields' . . . 'backstage' . . . 'sympathetic links' . . . goldnine was the key! I knew it!" Ibis roared.

"Then you can finish it?" Chaucer leaned forward, a ravenous desire lurking in his eyes.

"Can I finish it? Can I finish it? I can finish anything that upstart power-armor jockey started! She wishes she had an ounce of the brilliance that I have in one pinky finger!"

Chaucer began pacing, his eyes filled with an agonizing kind of hope.

"Then . . . then we can rebuild! This was their final contingency. The plan if all hope was lost." Chaucer captured Ibis' arm in a firm grasp. "Doctor. I will provide you with resources, a safe haven, goldnine, anything. Anything if you can complete this formula."

"I'll need test subjects . . ." Ibis said, realizing he should have tempered his reactions, "And equipment from my home lab. Non-negotiable."

"Of course." Chaucer bobbed his head. "And I know people. Good people who would volunteer if it meant saving this city—no. Saving this world."

Ibis greedily rubbed his hands together. "I'll give you an army to lead, Famine Slayer. Just give me what I need."

"Me? No." Chaucer shook his head. "I am no leader. It will not be I who is in charge of Justice Unlimited." Chaucer beckoned with one hand for Ibis to follow him, which he reluctantly did. Again.

They walked back down the hall to the medical wing. They stopped in front of a room labeled "ICU", but did not enter. Instead, Chaucer activated a pane of polarized glass that let them view the room inside. On the other side of the glass, nearly totally hidden by all of the machines keeping them alive, was someone Ibis recognized.

"Oh. Oh. I see."

"Yes, doctor," Chaucer said, "There was one other survivor."

- - - - -​

At first, all you are aware of is the ache of your body and the hum of machines. Your head feels like someone tried to kick their way out of it from the inside. You need to use the bathroom, but you don't know where it is and if you also still have legs. You spend a moment annoyed and in pain. That moment is bliss, because, in the next, you remember that your team is dead.

And yet, you persist. That is what a hero does after all. For good or ill, you are…

Lei Zixuan,
Bearer of the Title "Lady Leizi"
A blackened soul, one who would have been lost in the darkness if not for a fated encounter.

You who know of secrets laid undiscovered, whose ear stretched to encompass the entirety of Horizon, the lady who let no whisper wander past her notice.

You who upon your heart is inscribed Lightning. Where the power of godly judgment obeys your command.

You who sat within the shadows, who now must face being brought under the light.

Awaken, and face thy destiny.

For you shall be the one to open Pandora's Box.

- - - - -

PROJECT PANDORA
A reflection in the Mirror, an AU of Project Prometheus.​

Realm's Note: This idea has been sitting in my mind for a bit, and now it's done! A fantasy spin on this quest, where instead of superheroes, we have Mages and those who wield the magic arts.

If you have questions, feel free to ask! I've been thinking up stuff for this AU for a while, and I'd be happy to answer!

I tried my best to both keep the spirit of Issue 0.0 while also keeping much of the text, except for the dialogue, unique compared to the original. It striked me that a good AU would no doubt start similarly to its source, and only change more as time moved onward. I hope that's okay with you Bitter.

Thank you for reading, and have a wonderful day!

 

[Parabola]

Omake: Virtual Shockwave

Welcome to the Heroes for Hire Boards
■​

♦Topic: Justice Unlimited Team Interviews (Edit: ft. Crusade Fuckery)
In: Boards ► Horizon Groups

►Hyperbola (Original Poster)
Posted on January 16, 2068:

In case anyone is not aware, Justice Unlimited got itself a series of interviews in Takanashi Chihiro's show in Ọsanyìn Centralized News; they're slated to be interviewed the day after tomorrow (the day after the memorial). Frankly, it's about time. I guess they've been very busy, but knowing what the current team is like would reassure people that Justice Unlimited is back.

Edit: It appears the interviews are still on at the same time as they were scheduled, despite Monarch interrupting the memorial; thankfully there were no casualties.

Edit 2: Holy shit.

Edit 3: For newcomers to the thread: The full video of the interviews and Crusade's appearance can be found [here] (with a mirror [here] in case that first video gets taken down).

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►King Suzaku
Posted on January 18, 2068:
Bro what the hell is with these questions? The Printemps one seemed to make Chatelet upset, and the Valiant Silver one got a rise out of Doctor Silver, but seeing Menagerie Witch shutting down like that made my heart fall a bit. That's just… No. Awful.

►Legf202
Posted on January 18, 2068:
Awful is the right word to describe what happened to Menagerie Witch. No wonder she was saying she'd be coming after Le Petit Prince. And yikes, Black Swan really popped off. I guess anyone would be angry at that being said to their friend.

►ReiOfSunshine
Posted on January 18, 2068:
That definitely wasn't the usual Mona. I've never seen her so angry before…

►REALEarthenOwl (Powers) (Verified User)
Posted on January 18, 2068:
I have mixed feelings about Black Swan, but that angry outburst definitely felt weird. She was very restrained and peppy when we dueled.

►An Apple
Posted on January 18, 2068:
Mixed feelings? Didn't her kicking SM in the balls lead to the suspension of the Powers-Faust contracts? Don't you technically owe her your freedom?

►REALEarthenOwl (Powers) (Verified User)
Posted on January 18, 2068:
Well, yes, but I could have been the one to die from her doing that in the first place!

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►Hyperbola (Original Poster)
Posted on January 18, 2068:
yo what the fuck

►ReiOfSunshine
Posted on January 18, 2068:
Is that fucking Seraph from Crusade???

►An Apple
Posted on January 18, 2068:
Crusade is here?!?

►Legf202
Bruh is Valiant Gold right? Did Seraph seriously mind-whammy Justice Unlimited in the middle of their interviews???

►Centientpede
Posted on January 18, 2068:
Wait, White Hawk and Stockpile and Joules are there too???

►Sweetwoman
Posted on January 18, 2068:
Anyone else notice how Valiant Gold immediately jumped to get angry on Black Swan's behalf even though presumably the entire team got a bit whammied? Is anyone else seeing something here?

►Hyperbola (Original Poster)
Posted on January 18, 2068:
This is not the moment, but yes!

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►MsPiggy
Posted on January 18, 2068:
…did they seriously try to sneak Crusade into Chihiro's own segment without her knowing? That's fucked up from the Osanyin execs.

►WaRpStAr
Posted on January 18, 2068:
ThAt JuAn BoNfIm SuCkS aSs. My OsHi DoEs NoT dEsErVe ThIs TrEaTmEnT.

►MsPiggy
Posted on January 18, 2068:
…Are you the actual Warpstar or just someone pretending to be him?

►WaRpStAr
Posted on January 18, 2068:
OnE oF tHoSe, FoR sUrE.

►MsPiggy
Posted on January 18, 2068:
My head is starting to hurt from all these revelations.

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►King Suzaku
Posted on January 18, 2068:
Jesus fuck, LightningRod was real.

►Sweetwoman
Posted on January 18, 2068:
I KNEW IT HOLY SHIT

►TSIU_Buy
Posted on January 19, 2068:
I AM DRAWING AS I TYPE THIS

►LL_Fanclub
Posted on January 18, 2068:
NOOOOO IT WAS TRUEEEEE

THE SHIP SUNK BEFORE IT REACHED ITS DESTINATION

►SanityMeasurer
Posted on January 18, 2068:
Between what Chihiro said about Justiciar and what LL said about Steadfast, I really wouldn't wanna be in Stockpile's position.

►MsPiggy
Posted on January 18, 2068:
Yeah, it's gonna get overshadowed by the LightningRod reveal but goddamn Stockpile got verbally destroyed.

►Centientpede
Posted on January 18, 2068:
I'm jealous, I wanna be verbally destroyed like that too by Lady Leizi.

►Narrowheaded
Posted on January 18, 2068:
Let's move right along, shall we?

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►SanityMeasurer
Posted on January 18, 2068:
Goddamn. That was one hell of an exit. She's totally right, too. It's a joke to think that the megacorps care about the little people. Why should anyone trust Crusade after this awful display?

►ReiOfSunshine
Posted on January 18, 2068:
God, she's so elegant and dignified.

►LL_Fanclub
Posted on January 18, 2068:
She's SO hot.

►Centientpede
Posted on January 18, 2068:
I'm jealous. I wish she'd slap me like that.

►Narrowheaded
Posted on January 18, 2068:
Can you guys stop for like ten seconds?

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►What? (Moderator)
Posted on January 19, 2068:
For the record, his name is Valiant Red, White, and Blue.

►LunarCrystalY
Posted on January 19, 2068:
No it is not.

►TaurusKiss
Posted on January 19, 2068:
No it isn't.

►Sweetwoman
Posted on January 19, 2068:
It really isn't.

►AmbiguousHinderance
Posted on January 19, 2068:
You can't force me to call him that.

►MsPiggy
Posted on January 19, 2068:
Or me.

►WaRpStAr
Posted on January 19, 2068:
He DiDnT eVeN sEeM tO lIkE bEiNg CaLleD tHaT, tBh.

►TSIU_Buy
Posted on January 19, 2068:
I've not been given a single fanart commission for him in his armor yet, honestly.

►Hyperbola (Original Poster)
Posted on January 19, 2068:
If a name does not stick to you, that is simply not your name.

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►BChain
Posted on January 19, 2068:
Look, I'm just saying, if Stockpile hadn't confirmed it, it would probably have become another run-of-the-mill he-said she-said sort of awful situation where people just can't make enough of a judgment call based on evidence and it becomes a contest of who the public likes more. He did the bare minimum, at least.

►Hyperbola (Original Poster)
Posted on January 19, 2068:
The bare minimum shouldn't be celebrated, though. Why should we have to settle for just that?

►EffaciousAnteater
Posted on January 19, 2068:
Holy shit. I go to bed early for one day because worked overtime and this happens. Wow. Maybe someone's made an in-depth analysis video by now, maybe? Woof. I'm gonna be thinking about this all week.

►DrFartDFA
Posted on January 19, 2068:
cursade is still in the right, it's just Serph that fuced up. White Hawk did literally nothing wrong!!

►TaurusKiss
Posted on January 19, 2068:
I keep watching the part where Valiant Gold says you'd need something stupidly big to have a working psychic siphon. I keep feeling like there's something there but I don't know what. Something obvious. But what?

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Spoiler: Author's notes

I was working on this omake before the update dropped, which is how I got it out so quickly. It's not as good as I was hoping it'd come out, but I feel like it touches upon the important bits. Forum-style interludes are hard to do, though - I don't think I'll put out another.

 

[SolarGemX]

Behind the Hero Special: Justice Unlimited
By SolarGemX​

Horizon, what can be said about Horizon? Some people see it as one of the metahuman capitals of the world, easily having a staggering amount of Metahuman in comparison to many other locations on the planet. Others probably consider it a hotbed for both Heroic groups like New Dawn, more money aligned teams like the Powers, newcomers like Crusade (interesting team name…) or other less "favorable" teams like The Demon Flamez. Finally, many more would call Horizon, in their own words "The city that's near two eldritch monstrosities and is still somehow standing." Here in Behind the Hero, we talk a lot about different heroic teams, their stories, their victories, and defeats, and of course; any controversy that may have surrounded them. Some may consider it easy money, talking about incidents or the bones in many a team's closet. But that's what many of us reporters and interviewers (At least the respectable ones) do. We seek the truth; we seek to share our love of heroes to the masses, and we hope to see them act better as a result. You may be asking where I'm going with this. Well today's team is one of the most famous teams in Horizon, who VERY recently has entered into quite the controversy. Yes, today we speak about Justice Unlimited, a team with a long history of heroics and who I can easily assume is being hounded for answers to their secrets ever since the faithful event in Praça do Orixá on December 25, 2067.

For those that somehow have avoided all forms of media in the last few weeks, let me catch you all up on the events. On December 25, a new joint-venture between Dominion Security Concerns and Ọsanyìn Conglomerated Industries was announced to the world, among the various speakers like the current CEO of Allied Global Logistics; General Oliver Bringham, a new hero movement was announced: Crusade. This team was formed using members of several factions including Global Justice, Powers, and members of the elite hero team of Elysium Station, The Horae Guard. This new team was led by an armored figure, eerily familiar to another hero, Valiant Red. The hero named Valiant Red, White, and Blue then proceeds to reveal the "Truth" of the Leviathan movement that had taken the lives of countless heroes in the QZ, Justice Unlimited. He announced the supposed cause of the Movement being the result of Valiant Silver's Armor being a psionic siphon, using the Leviathan itself as a source of power. Some members of the audience including New Dawn Member Dreamcatcher, spoke in Valiant Silver's defense, denoting that the Leviathan eventually ended its movement, After the heroine joined the fray. But they were immediately brought to silence after Valiant Justice (People thought the name was a mouthful, I don't blame them) brought video evidence of Uiara mentioning that Valiant Silver was experimenting on the Leviathan, further damning was the fact that some heroes in the audience found no tampering in the video, even calling out the Hero Wolong out on it.

The debut probably would have led to a massive discussion if not for the timely and loud arrival of perhaps the most famous known living member of JU, Mona Merola-Morales, or Black Swan. A Hero that fought and defeated one the most powerful heroes in Horizon, Scarlet Maturity. She declared that she didn't believe anything shown, and outright told Valiant Justice that the armor he wore did not belong to him, which cause a rapid deterioration to his composure, outright snarling at the heroine, who remained calm and collected throughout the entire conversation, before flying off.

That's the long and short of it. Crusade has outright stated that Justice Unlimited has caused what can be better described as a natural disaster and have taken a vow to unearth every secret they have, including an apparently secret project, only known as Prometheus. I know most hero teams can have bitter rivalries and even spies among their workers, but if you allow me to give my own opinion, as someone who is probably VERY unaware about everything involved with information networks, I have to wonder how Crusade even got access to said information. I'm no Super Spy, but its easy to assume if a team like Justice Unlimited had secret projects like probably any hero team, and had LADY LEIZI aka Miss "If you as much as Breath I will Know about it", they would keep this information under lock, key, and several mounted turrets. To find any information on a supposed "Secret Project" is probably the thing of Spy Thrillers everywhere.

So, it makes you wonder how that information was leaked… I suppose we wont ever get a straight answer for a long while, if ever. I wont lie and say that I'm not curious, its human nature after all, but I assume all heroes have their own secrets, and here on BtH we try to not let ourselves be swallowed by the tide of "Needing to know everything," and this is not because a lot of us here are JU fans, me included. In the advent of such events, we need to take a calmer approach and see all possible angles. Also, we can't forget that this is a HERO team, one that has done visible good in Horizon and like many have pointed out, have lost members to the movement just like everyone else, even the so call "perpetrator" of the incident died, stopping the Leviathan, not only that, even if she were guilty of everything, it doesn't mean ALL members were aware of it. Almost all heroes that went to the QZ died protecting those they hold dear, and that needs to be respected. Here's hoping things get cleared up soon, especially with many more things occurring in the city.

Hmm… Kinda heavy huh? But it needed to be said, but for now; let's talk about some of the members of Justice Unlimited, both old and New. Lets us start with the known fallen members of the organization, then we will take a look at the new leader of the team, some of the accomplishments they have under their belt and finally the newest members.

Starting out as a satellite team to the hero team New Dawn under the codename NuGen (Insert old Statement by the hero Steelheart) the original JU started out with three members to its name: including Uiara, Lady Leizi and Valiant Silver herself. Following this debut, following members to join where the Metallic hero Adamant, The Red Huntress, Radiant Silvergirl, The AI Moon River and Apiary, a potent mix of brawn, brains, and publicity all in one. Of the 7 members plus AI, that were around Pre- Movement, only the Lightning Martial Artist Lady Leizi remains, making her the oldest member of the team (seniority wise) and its current leader. Lets us make a brief introduction of each member and what we know of them:

The first of the Pre- Movement metahumans is the incredible and reputable Uiara. Many would consider this metahuman as the "face" of Justice Unlimited, known not only for her incredible hydrokinetic ability, Uiara was a well-beloved figure in the Horizon Landscape and from what we could tell was one of the first heroes that marched towards the Leviathan in an effort to stop its "awakening" saving the city and quite possibly the world.

Next, we have the armor bound super heroine, Valiant Silver, or Nora Kim. Before the incident with the Leviathan, Ms. Kim became a public figure when she outed herself as a metahuman in order to save her university and classmates from a villain attack, an act that would eventually lead to her being one of the founding members of Justice Unlimited. An incredible inventor and Leader of JU, Valiant Silver, and her "legally distinct enough" armor paved the way to many heroics. Another fun fact is that she was a known writer of …well "Peak Fiction" on her free time or when she was with her apparent paramour Uiara. However, recent events have painted the hero in a negative light, putting the fallen hero's reputation in an all-time low, with nobody being sure who is right or wrong. But we already talked enough of that in the previous section, so let us move on. Another thing of note was the AI she created Moon River, but its more than likely that the piece of technology was destroyed alongside its master during The Movement.

Another face that was quite known by the public was The Red Huntress, a "Jack of all trades master of none" and stout ally of Uiara and Valiant Silver. A smiling face alongside her fellow heroes, The Red Huntress from what people have managed to figure out had a variety of powers centered around the concept of "predation," making her the "hunter" as it were of the team, even though her powers were far lesser than that of her compatriots.

Next in our heroic gallery of Pre movement JU was the Metal Bound Hero Adamant. Mr. Adamant was known as the day-to-day commander of the team and work tirelessly in order to maintain order in his team and to help Horizon. From what we know, Adamant used his abilities with great precision, and in order to protect his teammates. From witness testimonies, when they saw the hero enter the field, he was seen as stoic and slightly unapproachable, but still did his due in order to save the day. Some less… "favorable" rumors surrounding the hero was the fact that many people like to call Justice Unlimited as "Adamant's Harem," due to the fact that he was the only male in the group. You know, ignoring the fact some of the other members where in an open relationship, and gay, or probably had paramours outside of work hours, or just didn't care for relationships, or… I was going somewhere with this… OH RIGHT! *Ahem* sorry about that, the internet Am I Right?

Latest Update: Was Apparently engaged with Lady Leizi!? Lightning Rod is Real? There's going to be so much fanfiction…​

Anyway, next are the two dysmorphic members of the team, Radiant Silver Girl, and Apiary. RSG joined after the death of Apiary was best described as living Black/White hole and was probably one of, if not, the most powerful metahuman in Horizon. Her skin taking a coloration akin to silver glass, Radiant Silver Girl cut an astonishing look, although sadly from what we can figure from some witness testimonies who managed to speak with the girl, she was seen as rather "blunt" and not really a "people person." A shame since I can admit she was really pretty to look at. Apiary on the other hand had a far more Serious Dysmorphic appearance and she resembled a large, four-armed, bipedal insect, not unlike a honeybee. She had vestigial wings and a full insectoid abdomen. One of the Strongest Pre- Movement members, back when they were known as NuGen, and she perished at the conclusion of what is now known as the "The Defiance Unit saga," dying at the hands of Scarlet Maturity. From many accounts, the Heroine was really beloved by her team and from a quick search you can see that, considering the multiple memorials in her honor and the fact their main base of operations was named after her.

Finally, we have the last living member of the Pre movement team and one of the better-known members, Lady Leizi. A Chinese woman and one of the lesser-known members of Justice Unlimited, till recent events have put her in more in the limelight. Voted one of the top metahumans people want to be stepped on by… why is this in here? Really? C'mon people, I mean yes, she's hot, and I say that knowing full well my fiancée agrees, but there's a time and place! *Ahem* Anyway, known as a martial arts prodigy, from what footage we have scrounged up, Lady Leizi uses her martial mastery alongside her ability to control electricity in order to land devastating blows. Not only that its pretty much an open secret that she has a rather potent information ring, its pretty much a given that, if you do something in Horizon, Lady Leizi will know. The metahuman leader of the Current JU has not come out and talked much about the organization until recent events, but some of the confirmed accomplishments her team has performed include: Slaying a few behemoths including a gold rank and a Named Behemoth, known as Floating Venom Morpheme. Although some of her more noteworthy actions were her incredible speech during the Memorial for those that fell during the Movement, and her verbal "spar" with the Members of Crusade, including Valiant Justice and White Hawk, who almost seemed to try his best to find out anything about Justice Unlimited secrets. To no avail. Heck, they even revealed some of their own theories about what Justice Unlimited is "hiding," although the Heroine and her allies easily countered anything the trough out and even began questioning where Crusade even got the idea that they had a "Secret Project" which they gave an "excuse" as to "protect" their sources. Lady Leizi is quickly becoming one of the pillars of Justice Unlimited, and it shows.

With that out of the way next on the list are the newest members of Justice Unlimited or the Post- Movement JU as it were. Mona- Merola Morales, otherwise known as Black Swan, Menagerie Witch, Handy Man, Chatelet, Doctor Silver and Valiant Gold. These members made their debut during the Memorial service for those that lost their lives during the movement, which was interrupted by the Supervillain Monarch and her Crew (Including the fact that there's a little girl among them, with some even saying she is Monarch's Daughter? What the hell…) or during a rather intense interview section during a section of "Hero Talk" at the Ọ̀sanyìn Central Network with Takanashi Chihiro, an ace reporter of great esteem, and who may have just quit her job after punching Juan Bonfim (You go Girl!) in his face, if the rumors are to believed. So let us start with…


Mona Merola Morales, or the JU media Darling, Black Swan! Perhaps the most well-known member of the Newest Justice Unlimited, Black Swan was a trainee recruited into the JU fold several years ago in order to train her incredible power, sadly before she could officially join the roster the Movement happened, leaving her as quite possibly the only living member of Justice Unlimited after Lady Leizi. But the Super Heroine apparently did not falter against such odds, and has taken the Hero Scene by storm! With some confirmed sightings ranging from a mention from Earthen Owl of the Powers, Hunting of a Named Behemoth (Most likely contributed a lot towards its defeat), a joint operation with New Dawn Members against Monarch's forces, her appearance during Crusade's Debut, her appearance during the memorial AND her Interview. Black Swan's name is almost synonymous with Justice Unlimited, now we just need an Action Figure, and she will truly be a full-blown hero.

Our next Hero that joined the new roster, considering the series of events, was Menagerie Witch. A young heroine with the ability to make shadowy clones of animals, if the shadowy cat that appeared during her interview is any inclination, also may have a flair for the dramatic, if the apparently back and forth with Black Swan is any indication. Menagerie Witch's story is not kind, as it was revealed during her interview after a rather un-called for question by an individual that goes by "Bodyinabag," The Petit Prince had caused the death of all of Menageries Witch's family, including her mother, and almost all other individuals that lives inside of an apartment complex called Third North Tower. The villain wanted to recruit the heroine into his "Court" and attempted to take control of her. She ended up holding out, alone, for weeks, with nothing but her animal companions and her power. In which part involved the creation of hundreds of clones of those animals—who promptly went berserk in an attempt to protect her life. This action, unknown to her, let to the injuries of several individuals and 3 confirmed deaths, whose knowledge continue to torment the heroine till the present day. *Sigh* Its events like these that just show that Hero work is a Dangerous business. I feel for the young Hero, and truly hope she can continue working in order to reach her goals, be it to save lives in the future, or kill Le' Petit Prince.

Our next member Justice Unlimited, who apparently joined after the Movement is Handyman. An individual best described as a "Strangely muscular and attractive Clay man."

…ok. Who apparently worked as one of Lady Leizi's agents, before joining the superhero scene. Sources mention that his most likely official appearance occurred during the Memorial, where some witnesses mention that he apparently fought against a member of Monarch's team, knowns as Heracles, and later during his interview. We even got to witness some of his abilities during his interview with Valiant Gold, showing him as a type of jokester when among friends, although that interview immediately went south in short order. More in the Valiant gold Segment.

Next on the block is the Newest member who has made quite the re-brand. Opale Houdin-Reyes, formerly known as Hiver of Les Quatre Saison's, now known as the superheroine Châtelet, and I must say I love her new looks, good for her. A potent heroine in her own right, Châtelet ability to create barriers and manipulate gravity to a degree, makes for a potent member of the new JU, although apparently, she may be also in charge of their finances if what she mentioned during her interview with Doctor Silver is anything to go by, an act we silently salute her for… nobody wants to deal with paperwork…nobody. Additionally, she seemed to have been engaged to a member of The Slayers, Abigail, otherwise known as The Giant Slayer.

Not only that apparently she was nearly killed by her cousin and husband!? I'm with Chihiro with this one what the fuck? There's an ENTIRE story behind that statement, and I'm not sure I want know…

Moving on… Next on the block is the rather toned, Doctor Silver.

…I guess were mentioning the attractive attributes of all the adults huh…

*Ahem* Anyway, Doctor Silver is a new face among the JU scene, an apparent long-time researcher of Justice Unlimited, The good Doctor has joined the Hero life thanks to the use of Technology, even while not being a Metahuman! All thanks to a set of next generation shield generators designed by Valiant Silver, whom he later finished himself. Rathe potent shield generators, but extremely expensive, if Châtelet's "inner Darkness" is anything to go by.

Finally, we reach quite possibly the most interesting member of the new JU roster, Valiant Gold. A member who made her first appearance during the Memorial service where she confronted Monarchs Forces, alongside other members of Justice Unlimited and Valiant Justice of Crusade. Frankly, that entire sequence of events could be best described as a fustercluck, the superheroine alongside her fellow heroes made a stand against Monarch, there would have probably been a mayor confrontation if not for the intervention of Scarlet Maturity, who witnesses say he may have confronted Crusade? What is even going on anymore? This all came to a boil, when Valiant Gold discovered that Seraph, a member of Crusade, was using their powers against the members of Justic Unlimited, which frankly and quite justifiably, infuriated her. This discovery led to Lady Leizi and White Hawk pretty much having a verbal spar on live television, which was, "extremely tense, as if one wrong move would end up in a fight," if my coworkers are to be believed. Thankfully, it did not come to blows and both parties, left the scene after their discussion, with Justice Unlimited looking better for ware.

And that's it. Justice Unlimited, an extremely famous hero group that has miraculously been reborn like a phoenix, from the flames of tragedy. This new generation of heroes now hold the reins of the organizations future, the safety of the masses and much, much more. We have seen the previous generation, we have spoken of the good and the bad, and we have seen the potential future. Its not often we get to talk about established hero organizations with so much history behind them, and hopefully all those that have watched todays episode, will be able to understand it as well. This has been Behind the Hero, and please, take care.

Spoiler: Authors note

Author's Note: FINALLY!!! HAHAHAHA!!! I've done it! Leviathans blood, this has been in the back burner for ages! For context I made a promise to make a 12-episode set of BTH "Episodes" after Bitterman mentioned it in the story, so I went and made them. Justice Unlimited was meant to be the Season finale, but as more chapters were made and new characters were added, plus the fact that not everyone was known by the public yet, it cause me to delay the omake. "Episode" 11 the Healing Hands was on October 6, since we had a confirmation, we were going to have a public debut of the team later, I caved and other omakes and eventually made the Board Breakers for Episode 12. But thanks to finishing the memorial and the interview, I finally finished the JU episode, labeled BtH Special. Hopefully, it looks good. And with that the wait to see what the hell is happening with the Yara mission begins. That's for making such a great quest Bitterman.

 

[daedalus725]

Omake: Toy Wars

Welcome to the Heroes for Hire Boards
■​

♦Topic: Heroic Merch & Memorabilia (Edit: Please don't get to heated over bidding wars)
In: Boards ► Extra

Page 200
►icarus527 (Original Poster)
Posted on January 17, 2068:
Man unlimited Justice is leaving money on table not merchandising any of the new members. Because as it stands I am thinking of grabbing up those Lawfulness Neverending figures because it's cheaper to try and kitbash them to almost being the new heroes.

►Takanashi_Chihiro (Official)
Posted on January 17, 2068:
God those are so bad why not try and pick up some of the 3rd edition of the fourth Anniversary figures they are plentiful enough and that way JU gets the money instead of the people making rip offs. Especially with how great they were at the speeches today

►icarus527 (Original Poster)
Posted on January 17, 2068:
Well besides the fact I was able to grab a set of 3rd Anniversary figures and they are close enough I can't justify buying em because I ordered the Rerun of the Iron man vs Red Valiant statue, the Wonder Woman & Uiara figure from fusion series Daedalus Toys are doing after they bought out MacFarlane last year. Also the bishoujo Scarlet Maturity party because I lost a bet against @fakeearthowls

►blackbirdmmm
Posted on January 17, 2068:
@Goldskull#1fan you can't do this to me again you fudge I neeeeeeeeed that First Edition of Sliver Valiant Fourth Anniversary Commemorative Figure with the wrong-colored scarf. You can't keep scoping me like this

►Goldskull#1fan
Posted on January 17, 2068:
Mis disculpas mirlo but I need it for my cabinet of curiosities, she looks fantastic between the dinosaur skull and Aztec jade mask pics later. Now I just need the blonde Lady Leizi from that same set and I am golden til they finally make merchandise of the menagerie of the pequeña bruja

►blackbirdmmm
Posted on January 17, 2068:
If your dog chews it up I am going to GET YOU.

►Goldskull#1fan
Posted on January 17, 2068:
mijo Cucuí don't chew like that no more he's a big boy

 

[spiderhellian]

Places Even P13 Heroes Fear to Tread

It was past midnight in the Apiary. The halls were quiet. The air was still. Most of its many denizens were asleep, but one sentient black hole was not.

Mona sat on a comfy chair in a darkened alcove, her laptop on her thighs. Her body's light was a little dimmer than usual, her teeth were worrying her lip, and every so often she peeked up above the screen to see if anyone was walking the empty corridors.

She wasn't doing anything wrong! She wasn't! In fact, she was almost certain that one of the Apiary's previous residents had indulged this guilty pleasure tons of times before! Way more than she ever did!

It wouldn't be a guilty pleasure if you didn't feel guilty about it. But it was fine.
Her fingers fluttered over the keys, and pulled up Archive of Osanyin.

---

The bright white Home Screen lit up Mona's and the wall behind her, and she quickly dimmed her screen. She could read the replies to her latest string of reviews. She could continue that amazing Valiant Silver/Uiara coffeeshop AU she had stumbled on the other day.

She knew she wasn't actually going to do any of that.

She moved her cursor to her most-visited tab — and then froze in her tracks.

Everyone in the Apiary was asleep. But what about the Apiary itself? Was it watching her? Would it know what she was doing?

Her eyes widened, and she held her breath for a second, before she released it in a huff.

What would it do if it was? Demote her to provisional provisional member? It couldn't bring her any lower.

Plus, plus, what she was doing wasn't even wrong! It was good, actually! What was Mr. Rhys always saying, about "Always pay attention" and "You never know what information will pay off down the road"? She was — uh, how would Lady Leizi put it — she was doing reconnaissance on an information channel other sources wouldn't even consider tapping into!

So there. With her earlier guilt replaced by pride that she was going to do her part in ensuring Justice Unlimited was fully aware of how people perceived it — and another guilty peek over her computer screen — she clicked the RPF - Metahumans - Justice Unlimited category.

---

Wow. People were really going wild with that engagement reveal. You'd… you'd have to be very careful about that. When you delivered your report. As you were going to do, as part of the espionage mission you're taking on right now.

That doesn't stop you from opening a half-dozen stories in tabs to read later.

You continue scrolling, and then freeze at the next story you see. Oh no.

You swallow against the sudden butterflies in your stomach, and you click the pairing it involved. Just to see how many of these there were!

Oh NO.

Ellie was going to kill you. She was going to kill you! She'd probably pop dynamite for the first time to do it!

First you totally make an absolute fool of yourself in the interview — and what was that, you were supposed to be JU's star, and a good-for-nothing "hero" who just came from Elysium messed you up almost as much as Scarlet Maturity? — and then you're so messed up she has to literally carry you home when you know she likes to end each day re-reading manuals…

If she ever finds out that because you were so weak and she had to be so strong, now people are writing these stories about you two…

She already hates you, she's going to super-duper-double-plus-hate you! You'll know why, at least, but that's not going to help!

She cannot be in the room when you deliver your report. Preferably not in the building. Ideally she'll be out of the city.

Even then you'd still be scared.

You read the summary in front of you. You do not like how it makes you feel. The butterflies in your stomach are so intense they must be Scarlet Maturity-empowered at this point.

Seeking any way away from this, this — this incriminating evidence, you click the first other tag you see.

And your eyes go wide.

---

Eyes Like Arrows

By: Sweetwoman

"Now, tell us what powers your armor."

The biting words are already on his tongue. He needs to say them. He's the leader. He doesn't have any other choice.

So he lets them loose, and hopes they can drown out the truth he wishes he could have said.

The same thing that's powering my heart. You.

---

Silvio is on a new team. He has a new set of power armor. He's being Valiant.

After so much tragedy, things are finally going right.

And then she comes onto the scene. She's part of a newly rebirthed team. She's got an even more impressive set of power armor. She's being Valiant.

He should hate her. He doesn't even know her!

So why can't he get the sight of her dark brown eyes out of his head?

Tags: Valiant Gold/Valiant Justice, Enemies to Lovers, Enemies to Lovers to Enemies to Lovers, Slow burn, I mean slooooow burn, comments are not a place for arguing

Click to shrink...

The World Moves, By a Half-foot or So

By: Sourboy

The Leviathan is moving, and a woman named Caroline is running home in a panic before Justiciar's edict takes hold.

She has no powers. She can't do anything to help. Her life is going to change irrevocably.

One of those sentences is true.

Things go from bad to worse when she collides face first with a hero — a hero — running the other way.

Then she sees that he's been knocked unconscious from the blow, and it's clear the universe really has it out for her.

But if things can't get worse from here… Maybe they can only get better?

Tags: Valiant Gold and Valiant Justice, Valiant Gold/Valiant Justice, Alternate Universe, For Want of a Nail, NOT Crusade!VG, Things are going to be very different, I promise, When the Armour Comes Off, This isn't doxxing, Idk why I chose Caroline, Who cares

Click to shrink...

Valiant Silver's Last Laugh

By: Umamigirl

Why did Valiant Silver commission so much NSFW fanart of Uiara, and write so much of the same?

Some people think it's because she was horny. Some think she was just obsessed with her girlfriend. Some think she was simply the world's greatest poet, and compelled to share her masterpieces.

They're all right, and they're all wrong.

Valiant Silver could power her creations with psychic energy. What she didn't say was that they needed a particular kind of psychic energy.

This night in Horizon, two heroes are about to find that out first-hand.

Tags: Valiant Gold/Valiant Justice, Enemies AND Lovers, PWP, Doing it in power armour, Doing it out of power armour, Doing it partially in and partially out of power armour

Click to shrink...

The last one is enough to make you slam your laptop screen shut. Ew. Ewwwwwww. That is so gross. Screw Lady Leizi's network, you are not telling anyone about this. You don't even want to think of Ellie like that.

Right?

Spoiler: AN

Arg, what be of the Silver X Stockpile shippers? Have they begun to emerge on their armored ferries? We mustn't lose caution lest they take our fair vessel by surprise!

Click to shrink...

As promised.

I apologize for nothing! Nothing!

Poor Mona.