Post by Bergy on Apr 4, 2015 16:46:50 GMT
The Monster
Solo Villain
Global
Reach City
Background
As I look upon the strange amalgamation of body parts I have collected, I can’t help but feel the same trepidation and cautious excitement as my own father. I am creating new life, something greater than myself. But what I do is not in the same search of knowledge.
Today, I make my amends with the world. I make amends for the fear I have caused, for the lives I have taken, The purpose of my child is not to advance scientific knowledge, not to test the boundaries of life. In this new world of meta-humans, those without the power to defend themselves will need a protector. My child will stand in that role, and his deeds will cleanse my soul.
Personality
My blood flows into his veins, bringing the newly put together corpse to life. I find myself thanking modern technology, I need not wait for a lightning storm to bring my child life.
His eyes are opening. They are filled with fear and confusion, not unlike my own when I was conceived. He is under sedation, and even still he struggles against the restraints. He has come into this world the same as I. But unlike my father, who scorned me at my birth, I do not fear my creation. I touch his head gently, soothingly. As a parent should, I calm my child.
He is an extremely curious young man. No sooner had he come to understand English that he began his queries. He asks so many questions. A childlike fascination with the world, I can’t help but see the resemblance he bears to me from so long ago.
The procedures frighten him still. He no longer trembles at the sight of the needle, but his eyes give him away. They become wide and worried. I have explained why I created him, his purpose in the world. He has doubts, but I know he trusts his father.
I will be relying on that trust in the near future.
Body, Superior: The first wave of injections.
“How does that feel?” I ask him, injecting the solution into his arm.
“It has been burning less recently,” he answered. His voice was deep and strong. It was what one might expect from his 7’2, strong frame. He rolls one of his giant shoulders, a grimace on his face. “Have you lowered the dosage?”
“I’ve increased it actually. Your body has responded very well to the treatment.” I looked over my creation. He looks so much more put together. The stitch marks are disappearing, his face is less gaunt, and his eyes are no longer sunk into his skull. He is coming along well, and soon he will be ready for the next phase.
“Father,” my creature has another question for me, “what is my name?”
The question took me back. I had not considered his name at all. Perhaps it was my subconscious attempting to keep him from seeming fully human to me. It will be hard enough to put my child through everything I must. But that is not appropriate. My son, my redemption, deserves at least a name.
“You’re in an interesting position, most people are named well before they can understand the meaning of their title. A name is something quite personal. Under the circumstances, perhaps you can find one for yourself?”
He thought for a few moments. “I am the first handmade meta in this world, my name should reflect that. How does Adam sound father?”
“I see you’ve started the bible. Adam is a fine name.”
Intelligence, Superior: An inquisitive mind.
I should not be surprised that he has started on religious texts. Adam has been through every book I can find for him. In just a few short months he has gone through the works of Nietzsche, Macchiavelli, Asimov, Oppenheimer, Keynes, Aristotle, Wells, Darwin… The list goes on and on. I have never seen someone so intent on learning.
“Why would anyone watch television?” Adam will query while I rest in front of the screen. “It seems so worthless. Ridiculous situations played out for cheap laughs.”
I can only smile back. “Sometimes the mind needs to turn off. Too much thinking will drive a person mad.”
Armor, Supreme: Indestructible
“And what do you expect this to do?” he asks. He is lying down, secured to a table, and covered in tubes and monitors. I understand why he asks me, most people about to be lowered into an acid bath would be curious as to why.
“I expect this to make you unbreakable. This treatment, combined with the meta gene introduced by one of your body donors, should make your skin harder than steel, but still flexible enough to move. It is quite similar to the hard anodization process used on some cookware.” He looks nervous. “Do not fret, I will be putting you under.”
He nodded, and closed his eyes. I began the anesthesia, this process would be much too painful.
I plug his nose and ears, cover his eyes, and put a tube in his mouth for oxygen. He is fully anesthetized, and with a deep breath, I lower him into the bath.
The process is in its second hour, and a little under 5 minutes to completion. The final electric treatment is coming.
There is a problem. His pulse is elevated, he is moving. I increase the anesthesia, begin pumping in painkillers and sedatives, but they are having no effect. The needles are being pushed out of his skin. The anesthetic is out, the painkillers, the sedatives… I have to push the final course of electricity. If he comes out before the procedure is done, he will be too open to infection.
“Adam!” I hope he can hear me. “Try to remain still, you must finish!”
Strength, Supreme: Truly Powerful
The final course of electricity is going in, and the pain is obvious. Adam thrashes violently in the acid.
As the final electric course finishes, his skin seals. But he continues to pull at the restraints. With a sudden thrash, he tears out of the straps, bursting from the acid bath.
He is screaming in pain, clutching his head. His skin has turned an unnatural blue and silver.
“Adam, calm down!” I shout to him, approaching with a mask to give him more anesthetic. But he is too far gone. He swings out at me, connecting with my ribs. I am sent flying, my ribs broken where he struck. My child runs, crashing through a wall. As I lose fight for consciousness, I can hear him ripping through bricks.
I finally collect myself enough to wander out. There is a panic in the street. Cars are strewn across the street, flipped over and destroyed. Adam has escaped into the sewer, not through a manhole or grate, but by breaking through the street itself.
The bystanders had seen where Adam burst free of my home. I must move quickly to destroy the evidence. I am prepared, it takes no time to cover everything with an accelerant. Fire will cover my tracks.
I will retreat to a second home outside the city. After rest and resupply, I will return to save my child.
Fire, Supreme, Ranged: The modern Prometheus
The news this morning tells of a clash in downtown Reach City. Metas, protesting or rallying, the news isn’t clear, refused to disperse when confronted by riot police. The camera captures the event turning violent, so much so that the anchor is calling it “The Battle of 8th Street.”
The violence escalates and escalates, from batons to tear gas, and eventually to gunfire. The metas, either inciting or responding, the anchor isn’t clear, begin to use their powers more lethally.
And now appearing in the crowd is my child. I have a moment of excitement, perhaps he is there to quell the violence, keep further death at bay.
But no. He instead grabs a riot cop in each hand, and crushes their necks. He opens his mouth, as if to roar, and a stream of flames comes rushing out. The police caught in the inferno die immediately, and those nearby can feel their riot gear melting.
Certainly he would have wiped them out, but Aegis was now on the scene, doing their best to end the violence.
“Our footage ends here,” the anchor says. “Our camera were destroyed by the monster. Reports indicate a member of Aegis was killed in the fighting.”
As the report comes to its close, I gather my gear. This will no longer be a mission to bring back my child, but to stop him.
I need not go far to find my creation. He is at the end of the driveway, waiting. I ready the gas canister, filled with VX, a powerful nerve agent.
Power Manipulation, Multi-Attack: He burns
I only need him close enough to spray. My life may go with his, but I cannot allow him to exist as he is now.
“Why?!” I must know. “Why murder them? You were made to protect them! To redeem me!”
His voice is cold gravel, with eyes of insanity and hate. “You cannot choose my fate. These people, these weak humans, are nothing to me. You created me to save them, but I know there is not room for them in this world.” I move close to him, readying the nozzle. “This planet is not for homo-sapien,” he continues, “but for metas. For Homo-Superior.”
“Homo-Superior?” I point it at him. He knows the danger, but doesn’t flinch. I pull the nozzle, the gas shoots towards his face.
“There’s so little division, and you want to kill the humans? I am human, without me you wouldn’t exist!”
I thought this would kill him, but instead heat radiates from his body. The gas burns off, he exhales flames. The VX has no effect.
“Yes, you created me,” he says with anger, snatching the canister and crushing it. The gas escapes, and I can feel the nerve agent’s effects. The pain is excruciating. “And now I am far superior to you. The metas of this world are far superior to the pitiful humans.”
There is no humanity in his eyes. I realize what I have created. This monster will bring an end to everyone in his wake.
As the fire emanates from his throat, I wish I could say one final thing to the world. I am sorry. I have murdered and tortured in my life, but this is my greatest wrong.
I am sorry.
