UWT X

It was dark and down pouring as usual in Rat City-which was the alleyway that Spawn and the homeless people he watched over and shared the alleyway with called home. Most gangsters knew better than to stray into this place after hearing about the gruesome killings that happened there. But others refused to heed said warnings and did their business in Rat City. Three gangbangers looking for a fun time made their way into the alley and spotting a homeless woman that they found particularly attractive, the leader of the three licked his lips as he approached the woman who batted at him with her balled up fists. "Leave me alone!" The man frowned and gripped the woman's wrist tighter causing her to cry out in pain. "Bitch! Who the fuck do you think you're taking swings at? I'm Biggie G and no bitch puts their hands on him unless it's to get fucked. Now I'm liking that body. How's about we see more of it.." Unknown to Biggie G however, him and his accomplices were being watched and as Biggie G tore at the woman's shirt, she cried out. "Just you wait and see! He'll get you! He'll make you bastards pay!" Biggie sneered. "Yeah and just who is he, huh baby? Ain't no imaginary friends gonna save you. Now just shut your mouth."

Spawn had taken on the title of 'guardian' by the people who inhabited these alleyways. He didn't ask for the title and he didn't particularly like any of these humans but he did reside here and he wasn't about to let some punks do as they wish in his domain and so as his eyes narrowed and glowed bright green, his shroud moved along the walls of the alleyway, becoming one with the shadows as he came up behind Biggie G's two partners and before they could react, chains snaked their  way down and around their necks and their gurgled screams filled the air but only briefly as their necks/backs were broken and limbs were torn off. Biggie G was in the middle of tying to rip off the woman's bra only to slowly turn and take notice of the noise. It wasn't an overstatement to say he damn near pissed his jeans when he gazed upon the being standing before him. "Wh-Who the hell are you?!" He cried as Spawn's eyes glowed bright green as he glared down at the gangbanger.

 "Who am I? I'm the one whose going to send you down to Hell. "  But Biggie G wasn't gonna go down like no bitch and reaching for his pistol, he'd aim it at Spawn and opened fire. The bullets collided with Spawn spraying necroplasm along the walls. But just as Biggie G's face formed a grin, it quickly returned to a horrified grimace as the bullets fell to the floor and the holes closed up as Spawn's eyes flared again. "That wasn't a healthy idea.." With that Spawn was upon him, as chains wrapped around his arms and snapped them back, causing the bone to erupt from them while Spawn took a hold of Biggie G's noggin and with a sickening twist, the gangbanger's life was ended and as Spawn moved back, his body collapsed to the ground with the head twisted backwards. The woman who was in tears by this point looked at Spawn and smiled. "Thank you..Thank you Guardian!" Once she had left, Spawn glanced at the church in the distance. "None of these fools understand anything about me. I'm far from a guardian. I'm Spawn.." 

Standing upon the rooftop however watching Spawn's progress was another demon by the name of The Violator who sneered and laughed at the carnage Spawn had created. "Ooh! That's real nice, Spawny! Yeah! Real good..You didn't let those assholes give you shit no sir! You're on the right path and I couldn't be-gurrrrk!" The Violator was silenced as a chain ran through his mouth and out the back of his head. "I killed them because they didn't give me my space and I ain't gonna let your fat ass pat me on the back for it." Spawn growled as he strode off. Ripping the chain from his mouth, The Violator poked a finger through the new hole in the back of his head now. "That's funny, Spawn! The whole thinking you can just walk away from your deal that is! It's hi-fucking-larious! Malbogeia has plans for you and like it or not! You're his bitch, Spawny! You're his bitch-" Violator had a sharp metal rod hurled at him knocking him off the roof. "Smh. Everyone's a critic." As the Violator  was left behind, Spawn kicked in the doors to the church as he gazed up at the blood red glass.

"He is right you know. You will continue to be tormented until you prove that there is some good in that heart of yours, hellspawn." A voice rang out through the church to which Spawn growled and chains swung wildily smashing the pews and sending debris flying. "I don't want to hear any of your bullshit, old man. Just leave me be." The 'old man' raised an eyebrow before stepping forward. "So, this is how you react? You throw a temper tantrum like a mere child! Your problems will never end if you continue to behave in such a way! Do you understand me Hell Spawn!?" The man who in one age was known as...Merlin chided.

Spawn threw up his arms in a fit of rage. "I'VE HAD ENOUGH! ENOUGH OF ALL THIS, OLD MAN! I DON'T CARE! I JUST WANT...I JUST WANT.." Merlin motioned for Spawn to continue. "What is that you truly want?" Spawn glanced at the wreckage of the pews as his eyes flared and a flashback occurred. It was when him and Wanda were getting married and he had just said he'd do. "I want..WANDA!" Spawn roared as he ripped off his mask as maggots fell to the floor from his head as did some worms. The old man before Spawn simply shook his head and turned to walk off. "You'll never have her, hellspawn. Your time to have her died when you did.." Spawn didn't look at the old man but the tone in his voice showed off his intent well enough. "Leave. Me. Alone." Once the old man had left, Spawn glanced up at the ceiling with his arms spread outwards as he cried out at the same time a lightning bolt struck down nearby illuminating Spawn briefly. 

"WANDA!!!"

Waiting at the foot of the stairs, Cole tried to calm his heartbeat, knowing that the bounty hunters would be there any moment, and that this might well be the end of him.

Hearing the faint noise of leaves being disturbed, he sprung into action. A ball of energy in one hand and an athame in the other, he strode out into the opening, confronting the two bounty hunters who had managed to track him down.

Utilizing their momentary confusion at his bold move, rather than continuing to flee as he had done previously, he managed to strike one of them with the energy ball, however the second hunter quickly regained his composure and started firing his own attacks, forcing Cole to jump into cover.

After a few moments, the hunter rushed forward believing that he had managed to deal a killing blow, however upon turning Cole over, he was greeted with an athame and a vicious grin.

As he slipped into darkness the last thing he heard was a muttered phrase.

"You won't take me down that easily"

One of the potential saviors of the universe was carefully planning out her next move. Which pretty much amounts to figuring out a tough question on the quiz she knew she should have studied instead of watching a TV marathon. And was massively regretting the decision. And try as she might, not even her powers could save her from finding out which President signed the Louisiana Purchase. Yup, she was screwed.

It wasn't so complicated. Sure she had trouble studying in the past, but that was before her body started to change around here. And it took a surprising amount of work to hone in her skills so that she could at least get a better grasp of them. So far she looked like a shapeshifter. Maybe someday she could even become a superhero and hang out with Wolverine and the others around the world.

But currently, she still had to figure out how to explain her latest screwup to her parents. >.>

Republic of Liberia, West Africa. 1978.

In a dark room somewhere of the coast of West Africa,a loyal operative for MSF(Military Sans Frontieres) was being interrogated by men clad in black and wanting nothing more than the destruction of his leader, Big Boss. The MSF soldier was tied to a steel chair and two black clad men approached him with a toolbox.

"I'm not talking..." he groans, already having been softened up with a few beatings prior to this. Silently the men ignore his brave act and begin prepping their 'interrogation'...at least until they were interrupted by voices coming from outside the room. 

"We're we expecting visitors?" one of the men asks. The other slowly shakes his head no, prompting them to draw their sidearms. There is a loud gunshot outside, and in response both men aim for the door. As it begins to open, one men begins to radio for backup, but seeing a man in the doorway makes them pause. The MSF soldier was blinded by the incoming of light and only hears a "Major Oc-" before two more gunshots erupt. When his sight returns, the two interrogator's are dead and inside walks a man bathed by the light. He was twirling an old fashioned Colt Revolver as he strides in with a bout of confidence seldom seen by the captive. The soldier could tell he was dressed in Russian uniform, a Major from Spetsnaz if his Badges were telling the truth. He inspects the interrogators, once their deaths were confirmed he gives a slight grin before facing the man tied to the chair. He waltzes over, only stopping his gun twirling once he overlooked the man's patch, which held the MSF's flag. He gives a respectful nod before speaking.

"Greetings comrade, today's your lucky day" he says, twirling his revolver once more before holstering it. "Word is you know where Big Boss was hidden after his base was destryoed...tell me where and we get to rescue him together. Call me Ocelot" he says with a delighted grin on his face. The MSF soldier had other ideas however.

"Mother Base was attacked, destroyed. We were all scattered...do you really think a low level soldier like me knows? Or that I'd tell a Soviet?" he growls. Ocelot's grin goes away, though he didn't show malice just yet. He gives a glance over his uniform before shrugging.

"Well, I would have dressed more casually, but the wardrobe was necessary to get this far. I'm sure you'll appreciate the necessity in hindsight. We don't have long and I brought only so many bullets. Whoever planned the attack ALSO captured you, with very nasty intent I might add. I know who they are and I only want to hit them back" he says. The MSF soldier was silent, which irked Ocelot. "You're really not going to tell me anything, are you?"

"Fat chance of that, comrade" he replies in a mocking Russian accent. Ocelot gives a light chuckle, he respected the man's loyalty but he didn't have time gain the man's trust. Not when he just needed the information. A glance around the room 'inspires' Ocelot to go for plan B.

"These men, they planned to rip off your fingers until you told them what they wanted to know...too messy for me. No, I prefer the screams of a man after 10,000 volts have passed through his body. You really know a man after something like that...however-" he says before dropping a sack he had brought with him. After shutting the door, he brings out a car battery. "...in a place like this, one must improvise". He attaches a set of jumper cables to the battery before placing the other grounding wire on the chair leg. "Last chance" Ocelot threatens, but the MSF soldier shakes his head. He planned to die before telling Ocelot, unfortunately Ocelot was good at not killing his subjects. "Very well, let it not be said I didn't try this the easy way. Now we play a little game, it ends when you tell me where Big Boss is hidden" he says before wondering where to place the red clamp...

“So where do you stand on the two of them?”

Nightwing pitches three black and blue batarangs Kaldur’s way. Kaldur slams his arms together and bends his watery blades into an oblong shield. It catches the projectiles and they explode with a gurgle and not a boom as the water absorbs the blast.

Kaldur charges, his shield raised like a battering ram. Nightwing sidesteps and brings the baton in his other hand forward. Kaldur parries with a re-shaped water blade.

“Batgirl has shown tremendous skill,” Kaldur replies as he counter-strikes, “but,”

The pair trade attacks, the escrima batons clashing with the water blades at every meeting in the flurry. Nightwing smirks.

“But?”

The shove off each other and gain some distance across the arena. The training room is lighted in a clean sterile white, but is an otherwise featureless dais in the room. The two begin to walk around, seemingly relaxed, but with their guards still up and their weapons drawn.

“But nothing. I’m sorry, it was not my place.”

“Kaldur, it is your place. You are still the leader of this team. If you don’t think Batgirl is ready,”

Nightwing makes a tentative lunge and Kaldur retreats back a step or two. They continue to test eachother out.

“My concern is not with her,” Kaldur says.

“So…what, you mean with Jason? You’re concerned about him?”

Nightwing picks a small black pellet from his belt and discreetly smashes it on the floor behind him. Smoke rushes out in an expanding cloud, quickly blotting out the clear white lights. Kaldur watches calmly as Nightwing is enveloped by the haze.

“He’s got more combat experience then I did at his age,” Nightwing says, “He might even be better then I was, though don’t tell him I said that.”

He stops talking and finally disappears fully into the smoke. Kaldur retracts his water blades entirely, and remains tranquil as the obfuscating cloud begins to drift over the arena.

“He has talent,” Kaldur says, seemingly to the smoke, “but that is not the same as experience.”

The whoosh of a projectile pierces the black. Kaldur instantly reforms his left-hand blade into a shield, the batarang hits it and is neutralized as before, and Kaldur swiftly blasts the exact opposite direction with an amorphous cudgel of water. The weapon connects with Nightwing’s chest and throws him a yard or two back. He lands gracefully, but it is clear that a point has been scored.

The smoke gradually clears and the combatants drop their guards simultaneously, tacitly agreeing the end of the spar.

“I understand that he is your friend,” Kaldur continues, “ And perhaps you know something about him that I do not. I do not wish to pry into your business.”

“That’s fair… And yes, Jason’s headstrong, and perhaps a little less disciplined then I’d like, but I think he is ready.”

“Let us hope so my friend.”

A storm brewed outside the castle. Fires raged providing light inside the throne room. Kain sat upon his throne with a golden chalice in his hand. He slowly sipped on the blood within. The glint of his sword resting at his side, the Soul Reaver. A sword that with one strike could rip the soul out of Kain's enemies. Leaning back in his chair he thought to himself that it had been so long since he could truly enjoy himself. Kain thrived on the thrill of battle and no worthy adversary or challenge had presented itself for a long time.

As Kain arose to turn in for the night before the sun rose, the fires in the chamber went out. Calmly setting down his chalice, Kain hefted the Soul Reaver from the side of his throne. He heard a quick shift to his left. Then another door creaking from his right. Suddenly glass shattered, metal clashed, and the sound of stone shatttering filled the chamber. As suddenly as the sounds had started, they stopped. The fires reignited and Kain was standing in the center of the room with the Soul Reaver on his back and his hands raised. As he lowered his hands the fires returned to a slow burn. Two bodies lay at his feet motionless. Others had tried before to kill him and claim his kingdom and these two met the same fate as all the others. With a motion of his hand, he ripped the blood from the corpses and consumed it. Looking out where the shattered window was, he could see the soft glow of where the sun was about to rise. Walking to his throne, Kain hit a hidden switch that allowed him to enter his inner chamber and return to his resting place.