Post by kardonwire on Mar 26, 2012 20:39:45 GMT -5
Ultimate Shield issue #6 - A broken shield, repaired - part two of three
UNKNOWN POCKET DIMENSION, 2012
Joseph sluggishly opened his eyes, a large yawn escaping his body as he stretched out his arms to their fullest. His eyes half opened he noticed something strange straight away, he was standing but he'd just woke up. Panicked his eyes darted open, his face suddenly full of life, as he could see nothing but sky blue all around him. The walls, the floor it was all sky blue. Looking down he noticed he was wearing some sort of white surgical gown, it was then he remembered Gaza.
That's right. That guy had me when the suit began to burn. He stopped in thought for a second as his body recalled the pain, he swore for a second he could feel that burning sensation again. Wonder where I am? Can't be military.....
"You are in my pocket dimension Joseph. My little home away from home." Answered a very soft spoken voice, almost like a whisper, interrupting Joseph's thoughts.
Joseph flung himself around, now facing the mystery man, his fists clenched, feet ready to move.
"There is no need to be alarmed Joseph, all is well."
Joseph's fists loosened, not at the promised security of the strangers words, but in shock at what he saw. The man in front of him was sickeningly thin and pale, almost inhuman.
"I'm sorry about my appearance but I assure you I'm....I was once just as human as you are right now. My name is.....Antonine and I'm here to help you." Reassured Antonine as he approached Joseph, each step delicate and small.
Reflectively Joseph took a large step back, a look of distrust still evident on his face, till the wall was near his back. Seeing this Antonine decided to stop, an apologetic look taking over from his usual serene expression.
"I'm sorry Joseph, I should have realized that I would frighten you so. Let me explain why we find ourselves in this situation."
Antonine slowly extended his right arm, his blue robes hanging loosely, towards Joseph. Opening his palm a small blue ball of energy could be seen pulsing gently, giving off an almost relaxing purr, before it shot upwards causing Joseph to jump back against the wall with a thud. As the ball of energy hit the roof of the room their surroundings began to change. Piece by piece the sky blue room began to be invaded by a variation of colours. At first Joseph refused to take his eyes off Antonine in fear that this spectacle was nothing more than a distraction. However it wasn't just the colour of the room that was changing it was the size as well. Allowing his eyes to drift from Antonine for a second Joseph noticed that they were no longer in a room, but where in fact standing in the middle of a city, an Asian city judging from the locals walking by and the numerous foreign signposts.
"What the....Where?..." Joseph could hardly form words to express his thoughts, his mind racing to try and comprehend what was happening as he looked around, his eyes wide with bewilderment.
It was then he noticed that even though the street was busy no-one seemed to be paying him any attention, in fact they were walking right through him.
"What the hell's going on?!" Joseph screamed at Antonine, panic beginning to seep through the walls that years of army training had built.
"We are in China, Cheng Du to be specific Joseph. We are currently a millisecond out of sync with this universe. Which is why they can walk through you."
"Right...of course." Sarcastically muttered Joseph, his breathing laboured slightly as he tried to steady himself. "Why are we here?"
"Right now at this current time your teammates, Jay and Laura, are in the middle of their next mission." Joseph's eyebrows lowered for a split second at hearing Antonine mention his friends by name. "Can you see the building over there?" Antonine pointed beyond Joseph.
Turning reluctantly Joseph looked in wonder as he could see the tower like building Antonine had pointed to collapsing towards the ground, but it wasn't, Joseph noticed it was falling vertically as if the bottom of the building had disappeared completely. No dust or debris seem to come from its collision with the ground either, not even a sound was made. While Joseph watched most of the civilians around him were still still going about there business, only a few had noticed the building fall and were doubting what they had saw.
"What....What happened there?" Asked Joseph, his eyes still fixed where the building had stood.
"Keep watching and you will see. This is...was a very important event in your life."
"What do you...." Joseph was cut short as he turned to ask Antonine as a bright blue ball of energy, larger than himself, came between them.
"George! Get eyes on the situation!" Ordered the familiar southern accent of Jay.
As the energy faded Joseph could see Jay and Silver, both in their combat gear, along with various other troops from meta-division. No one seemed hurt, which only made Joseph more concerned. He was about to ask when he remembered that he was invisible to them.
Jay's right hand flung itself up to his ear in an attempt to get into contact with the head of the current operation.
"Command!" Jay anxiously waited on a reply, his eyes blinking furiously, receiving one he continued in a rushed tone. "This is Jay. We've got big problems!"
Nearby civilians attention were spoilt for choice between the the random group who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere and the building that had just vanished. Soon enough though everyone's attention was focused on a new problem, everything around the Yu's buildings former perimeter was beginning to disappear.
"Did the atosive get the door?!" Screamed Jay, rage and sarcasm flooding the receivers ear. "It fuckin' took care of the whole building and it's still not stopped! It's taking everything in the area with it!"
Atosive
Joseph had heard rumours of it's development a few months ago, which usually meant it wan't long till it's deployment in the field. The higher ups had been overly excited about the project and had increased funding due to the potential power the weapon would give to America, not just to foreign political powers but to resident superheroes and villains as well.
"Antonine there has to be something you can do?!" Joseph asked alarmed at the situation.
The passive watching of the civilians had slowly began to turn into fear as a few backed away slowly and others began to run. Some grabbing their families willing to sacrifice themselves for their loved ones others showing the feebleness of their bonds as they ran thinking only of themselves, all trying to escape from the ever growing spheroid of destruction.
"All will be we......"
Antonine was cut off this time as Joseph leapt over to him like a lion on its prey, his hands wrapped around Antonine's scrawny pale neck.
"No it won't! Not unless you do something!" Joseph's eyes began to glow red followed by his skin taking on a slight red tinge.
"Control your anger Joseph." Antonine calmly replied. his voice still it's usual soft self regardless of Joseph's grip upon his throat. "Your friends shall be safe but you must first witness what you need to see to better understand why I've come to you."
Joseph wanted to give into his anger, he could feel it bubbling and boiling from the pit of his stomach. The frustration of not being able to find out what happened to his father, the mystery of project overlord and how powerless he felt now, unable to protect two of the most important people to him. All of it bringing to surface a hidden rage buried deep inside of him.
"Stand down Joseph!" Antonine ordered, his voice still soft but slightly raised. "Or I will make you."
"Sorry...." Joseph backed away from Antonine, rubbing his forehead somewhat perplexed. The glow in his eyes fading and the colour of his skin returning to normal "I'm not usually like that."
"It is understandable Joseph. Now let us watch as this event unfolds."
Jay and Silver had stayed their ground with the rest of their team as the effects of the atosive steadily closed in on them during Antonine and Josephs spat. Jay was still in contact with command, who from what he could tell were more worried with the political fallout of this turn of events if any evidence of the American army being present was found.
"I ain't leaving! We made this mess and we've got to sort it! You wanted us to be superheroes that the average Joe could trust and while they ain't our people there still humans and we ain't leaving! So get those lab boys to work and figure something out!"
Jay lowered his hand from his ear, disconnecting the call. Turning to his team he took a deep breathe before issuing his orders.
"Robinson you take everyone but Silver and get as many people to safety as possible!" As he finished the team yelled out a hearty 'yes sir' before Robinson began separating them into groups and ran off to fulfill their new objective. "Silver you're with me! That magic of yours has got to be able to do something here."
"Yes sir!" Instantly replied Silver following behind Jay who had started to run towards the destruction.
They stopped around a hundred yards from the atosives, ever expanding, area of effect. Both stood in silence trying to figure out some way to halt it.
"Do you think it would be possible to put some sort of barrier around it?" Questioned Jay looking over to Silver.
"It's as good an idea as any." Replied Silver readying herself.
Holding out her hands a blue glow encased them, her eyes focused straight ahead, as an identical coloured outline of a sphere, around two miles in diameter, began to manifest. For a brief moment it seemed to halt the growth of the atosive but the blue outline began to fade as it succumbed to the same fate as everything else in its way.
"What happened?" Asked Jay urgently, knowing the answer but hoping for her to say otherwise.
"It seems my magic isn't immune to its effects." Silver replied, annoyed, biting her bottom lip in frustration.
"Well it held it for a second or two. Just keep on generatin' till you can't do it no more. Might buy the tech team some time."
"Yes sir!"
Silver continued her efforts while Jay quickly re-established contact with H.Q. informing them about this recent development.
"They're gonna make it? Right?" Joseph asked turning to Antonine, his left hand trembling slightly.
Antonine waited before he answered, looking upwards his eyes narrowed as if trying to focus on something in the sky.
"I suppose we have the time." Antonine stated before answering. "Yes and no Joseph. I suppose I should begin to explain why I'm here."
"This universe is about to undergo a dramatic transformation, one which should not be. For reasons I am yet to discover the battle on the moon, by the group known as Shade, happened to somehow generate more energy than was intended. This in turn has allowed Maxwell Lord and his partner John Raymond to move their plans forward, one year ahead of schedule."
Joseph stood in front of Antonine with a questioning look on his face.
"Do you wish for me to continue or should I repeat myself? I realize this makes no sense now, but it will by the end of the hour once you have seen all I need you to see. We still have a few minutes till your friends get their orders from H.Q."
"Uh...sure go ahead." Joseph replied, uncertain.
"You know Maxwell Lord in a way. He was the subject of project Overlord and it was he that killed your father."
The words hit Joseph hard, harder than any punch, bullet or explosion he had ever had the misfortune of experiencing. That newborn anger stirring once again from the pit of his stomach as his eyes glowed red, his face twisting horribly. Antonine could see the rage coursing through Joseph's body, he knew mentioning his father would cause this reaction but the next part of his story he knew would bring great relief.
"But once we have finished here today, that will no longer be the case."
Joseph's brow lifted and his eyes returned to their usual brown hearing Antonine's words.
"What....What do you mean?" Joseph stumbled over his words at first, trying not to get his hopes up.
Can he really bring my father back?
"I know what you are thinking Joseph and yes. Yes I can and will bring your father back to life." Joseph's eye widened with joy, his mouth hung open in shock. Everything around him became nothing more than noise, the thought of his father being by his side once more occupying all of his thoughts.
However it was Antonine's soothful voice that forced him out of his daydream.
"But you must do as I say. Now please pay attention."
"No problem!" Joseph replied trying to keep his excitement in check, tears of joy trickling down his cheeks. His face still like that of a child at Christmas.
"I believe you read the report on project Overlord, you should remember that the aim of the project was to allow the subject to control peoples minds." Joseph nodded in agreement. "It was successful to an extent. While Max could control minds it was only those who he had been in close proximity to at one point or another, not a complete success but a powerful ability none the less, the more he was in close contact with the person the stronger his control after wards."
"Although Max had seemed like a model candidate for such tests, with his excellent track record, his power wasn't one for mere mortals to possess and he quickly turned away from the idea of helping the world achieve peace. Thanks to a man, a friend of his, named John Raymond." Looking over to Silver and Jay, Antonine briefly smiled before taking a deep breathe as if bracing himself. "In a few seconds Jay will get his orders from his superiors. No matter what happens you must remain calm and remember to have faith in my words, that all will be well."
"Okay Antonine." Joseph responded. Right now he would do whatever it took with his fathers life on the line.
UNKNOWN POCKET DIMENSION, 2012
Joseph sluggishly opened his eyes, a large yawn escaping his body as he stretched out his arms to their fullest. His eyes half opened he noticed something strange straight away, he was standing but he'd just woke up. Panicked his eyes darted open, his face suddenly full of life, as he could see nothing but sky blue all around him. The walls, the floor it was all sky blue. Looking down he noticed he was wearing some sort of white surgical gown, it was then he remembered Gaza.
That's right. That guy had me when the suit began to burn. He stopped in thought for a second as his body recalled the pain, he swore for a second he could feel that burning sensation again. Wonder where I am? Can't be military.....
"You are in my pocket dimension Joseph. My little home away from home." Answered a very soft spoken voice, almost like a whisper, interrupting Joseph's thoughts.
Joseph flung himself around, now facing the mystery man, his fists clenched, feet ready to move.
"There is no need to be alarmed Joseph, all is well."
Joseph's fists loosened, not at the promised security of the strangers words, but in shock at what he saw. The man in front of him was sickeningly thin and pale, almost inhuman.
"I'm sorry about my appearance but I assure you I'm....I was once just as human as you are right now. My name is.....Antonine and I'm here to help you." Reassured Antonine as he approached Joseph, each step delicate and small.
Reflectively Joseph took a large step back, a look of distrust still evident on his face, till the wall was near his back. Seeing this Antonine decided to stop, an apologetic look taking over from his usual serene expression.
"I'm sorry Joseph, I should have realized that I would frighten you so. Let me explain why we find ourselves in this situation."
Antonine slowly extended his right arm, his blue robes hanging loosely, towards Joseph. Opening his palm a small blue ball of energy could be seen pulsing gently, giving off an almost relaxing purr, before it shot upwards causing Joseph to jump back against the wall with a thud. As the ball of energy hit the roof of the room their surroundings began to change. Piece by piece the sky blue room began to be invaded by a variation of colours. At first Joseph refused to take his eyes off Antonine in fear that this spectacle was nothing more than a distraction. However it wasn't just the colour of the room that was changing it was the size as well. Allowing his eyes to drift from Antonine for a second Joseph noticed that they were no longer in a room, but where in fact standing in the middle of a city, an Asian city judging from the locals walking by and the numerous foreign signposts.
"What the....Where?..." Joseph could hardly form words to express his thoughts, his mind racing to try and comprehend what was happening as he looked around, his eyes wide with bewilderment.
It was then he noticed that even though the street was busy no-one seemed to be paying him any attention, in fact they were walking right through him.
"What the hell's going on?!" Joseph screamed at Antonine, panic beginning to seep through the walls that years of army training had built.
"We are in China, Cheng Du to be specific Joseph. We are currently a millisecond out of sync with this universe. Which is why they can walk through you."
"Right...of course." Sarcastically muttered Joseph, his breathing laboured slightly as he tried to steady himself. "Why are we here?"
"Right now at this current time your teammates, Jay and Laura, are in the middle of their next mission." Joseph's eyebrows lowered for a split second at hearing Antonine mention his friends by name. "Can you see the building over there?" Antonine pointed beyond Joseph.
Turning reluctantly Joseph looked in wonder as he could see the tower like building Antonine had pointed to collapsing towards the ground, but it wasn't, Joseph noticed it was falling vertically as if the bottom of the building had disappeared completely. No dust or debris seem to come from its collision with the ground either, not even a sound was made. While Joseph watched most of the civilians around him were still still going about there business, only a few had noticed the building fall and were doubting what they had saw.
"What....What happened there?" Asked Joseph, his eyes still fixed where the building had stood.
"Keep watching and you will see. This is...was a very important event in your life."
"What do you...." Joseph was cut short as he turned to ask Antonine as a bright blue ball of energy, larger than himself, came between them.
"George! Get eyes on the situation!" Ordered the familiar southern accent of Jay.
As the energy faded Joseph could see Jay and Silver, both in their combat gear, along with various other troops from meta-division. No one seemed hurt, which only made Joseph more concerned. He was about to ask when he remembered that he was invisible to them.
Jay's right hand flung itself up to his ear in an attempt to get into contact with the head of the current operation.
"Command!" Jay anxiously waited on a reply, his eyes blinking furiously, receiving one he continued in a rushed tone. "This is Jay. We've got big problems!"
Nearby civilians attention were spoilt for choice between the the random group who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere and the building that had just vanished. Soon enough though everyone's attention was focused on a new problem, everything around the Yu's buildings former perimeter was beginning to disappear.
"Did the atosive get the door?!" Screamed Jay, rage and sarcasm flooding the receivers ear. "It fuckin' took care of the whole building and it's still not stopped! It's taking everything in the area with it!"
Atosive
Joseph had heard rumours of it's development a few months ago, which usually meant it wan't long till it's deployment in the field. The higher ups had been overly excited about the project and had increased funding due to the potential power the weapon would give to America, not just to foreign political powers but to resident superheroes and villains as well.
"Antonine there has to be something you can do?!" Joseph asked alarmed at the situation.
The passive watching of the civilians had slowly began to turn into fear as a few backed away slowly and others began to run. Some grabbing their families willing to sacrifice themselves for their loved ones others showing the feebleness of their bonds as they ran thinking only of themselves, all trying to escape from the ever growing spheroid of destruction.
"All will be we......"
Antonine was cut off this time as Joseph leapt over to him like a lion on its prey, his hands wrapped around Antonine's scrawny pale neck.
"No it won't! Not unless you do something!" Joseph's eyes began to glow red followed by his skin taking on a slight red tinge.
"Control your anger Joseph." Antonine calmly replied. his voice still it's usual soft self regardless of Joseph's grip upon his throat. "Your friends shall be safe but you must first witness what you need to see to better understand why I've come to you."
Joseph wanted to give into his anger, he could feel it bubbling and boiling from the pit of his stomach. The frustration of not being able to find out what happened to his father, the mystery of project overlord and how powerless he felt now, unable to protect two of the most important people to him. All of it bringing to surface a hidden rage buried deep inside of him.
"Stand down Joseph!" Antonine ordered, his voice still soft but slightly raised. "Or I will make you."
"Sorry...." Joseph backed away from Antonine, rubbing his forehead somewhat perplexed. The glow in his eyes fading and the colour of his skin returning to normal "I'm not usually like that."
"It is understandable Joseph. Now let us watch as this event unfolds."
Jay and Silver had stayed their ground with the rest of their team as the effects of the atosive steadily closed in on them during Antonine and Josephs spat. Jay was still in contact with command, who from what he could tell were more worried with the political fallout of this turn of events if any evidence of the American army being present was found.
"I ain't leaving! We made this mess and we've got to sort it! You wanted us to be superheroes that the average Joe could trust and while they ain't our people there still humans and we ain't leaving! So get those lab boys to work and figure something out!"
Jay lowered his hand from his ear, disconnecting the call. Turning to his team he took a deep breathe before issuing his orders.
"Robinson you take everyone but Silver and get as many people to safety as possible!" As he finished the team yelled out a hearty 'yes sir' before Robinson began separating them into groups and ran off to fulfill their new objective. "Silver you're with me! That magic of yours has got to be able to do something here."
"Yes sir!" Instantly replied Silver following behind Jay who had started to run towards the destruction.
They stopped around a hundred yards from the atosives, ever expanding, area of effect. Both stood in silence trying to figure out some way to halt it.
"Do you think it would be possible to put some sort of barrier around it?" Questioned Jay looking over to Silver.
"It's as good an idea as any." Replied Silver readying herself.
Holding out her hands a blue glow encased them, her eyes focused straight ahead, as an identical coloured outline of a sphere, around two miles in diameter, began to manifest. For a brief moment it seemed to halt the growth of the atosive but the blue outline began to fade as it succumbed to the same fate as everything else in its way.
"What happened?" Asked Jay urgently, knowing the answer but hoping for her to say otherwise.
"It seems my magic isn't immune to its effects." Silver replied, annoyed, biting her bottom lip in frustration.
"Well it held it for a second or two. Just keep on generatin' till you can't do it no more. Might buy the tech team some time."
"Yes sir!"
Silver continued her efforts while Jay quickly re-established contact with H.Q. informing them about this recent development.
"They're gonna make it? Right?" Joseph asked turning to Antonine, his left hand trembling slightly.
Antonine waited before he answered, looking upwards his eyes narrowed as if trying to focus on something in the sky.
"I suppose we have the time." Antonine stated before answering. "Yes and no Joseph. I suppose I should begin to explain why I'm here."
"This universe is about to undergo a dramatic transformation, one which should not be. For reasons I am yet to discover the battle on the moon, by the group known as Shade, happened to somehow generate more energy than was intended. This in turn has allowed Maxwell Lord and his partner John Raymond to move their plans forward, one year ahead of schedule."
Joseph stood in front of Antonine with a questioning look on his face.
"Do you wish for me to continue or should I repeat myself? I realize this makes no sense now, but it will by the end of the hour once you have seen all I need you to see. We still have a few minutes till your friends get their orders from H.Q."
"Uh...sure go ahead." Joseph replied, uncertain.
"You know Maxwell Lord in a way. He was the subject of project Overlord and it was he that killed your father."
The words hit Joseph hard, harder than any punch, bullet or explosion he had ever had the misfortune of experiencing. That newborn anger stirring once again from the pit of his stomach as his eyes glowed red, his face twisting horribly. Antonine could see the rage coursing through Joseph's body, he knew mentioning his father would cause this reaction but the next part of his story he knew would bring great relief.
"But once we have finished here today, that will no longer be the case."
Joseph's brow lifted and his eyes returned to their usual brown hearing Antonine's words.
"What....What do you mean?" Joseph stumbled over his words at first, trying not to get his hopes up.
Can he really bring my father back?
"I know what you are thinking Joseph and yes. Yes I can and will bring your father back to life." Joseph's eye widened with joy, his mouth hung open in shock. Everything around him became nothing more than noise, the thought of his father being by his side once more occupying all of his thoughts.
However it was Antonine's soothful voice that forced him out of his daydream.
"But you must do as I say. Now please pay attention."
"No problem!" Joseph replied trying to keep his excitement in check, tears of joy trickling down his cheeks. His face still like that of a child at Christmas.
"I believe you read the report on project Overlord, you should remember that the aim of the project was to allow the subject to control peoples minds." Joseph nodded in agreement. "It was successful to an extent. While Max could control minds it was only those who he had been in close proximity to at one point or another, not a complete success but a powerful ability none the less, the more he was in close contact with the person the stronger his control after wards."
"Although Max had seemed like a model candidate for such tests, with his excellent track record, his power wasn't one for mere mortals to possess and he quickly turned away from the idea of helping the world achieve peace. Thanks to a man, a friend of his, named John Raymond." Looking over to Silver and Jay, Antonine briefly smiled before taking a deep breathe as if bracing himself. "In a few seconds Jay will get his orders from his superiors. No matter what happens you must remain calm and remember to have faith in my words, that all will be well."
"Okay Antonine." Joseph responded. Right now he would do whatever it took with his fathers life on the line.