Timeline
Silver's eyes narrow at the red and black clad leader before he turns to you. Timeline, if you wouldn't mind teleporting these free people to safety, I'm going to have a word with this snake in the grass. Rest assured, the Guardians will choose an appropriate mentor for the Rising Stars.
Your ID badge lights up with the coordinates of a nearby safe zone where you can drop the civilians. As you watch, the leader of the Crimson Crucible (for that is this villain organizations name) begins to glow with an incandescent yellow glow.
Generic Lieutenant #3: Behold the power of our ancient brotherhood, brought to life by our god's sorcery!
He makes a lunge for Maximum Silver with his Energy Fist...and actually pushes Silver back on his heels.
Silver just smiles at the man. Good. I thought for a second that this might be easy. Silver delivers a devastating right cross to the man's chest knocking him clean through the side of the building and into the next one over. He looks back at you. I've got things handled here, go!
Timeline
As you continue to discuss your views on what path the Rising Stars should take, the battle against the onslaught of red and black motif enemy forces continues on. You continue to blink away bombs and shrapnel while Maximum Silver interposes himself between you and gunfire. Several Dezekestani families are huddled nearby, obviously Silver's objective on this mission. In the brief lulls while the enemy forces reload, Silver rushes at super speeds further and further into the town and surrounding area rescuing civilians and returning to the building. He always returns just in the nick of time to deflect a bullet or missile. You take care of the heavy artillery being arranged against this location, teleporting tanks into the nearby river or reversing the facing of rocket launchers at the last second.
A thrown hand grenade gets past Silver's one-man defense as you tell him about Kinetic. Kinetic was captured!? By whom?
Silver uses his speed to grab the grenade before it hits the ground, faces away from you and the civilians before crushing it between his hands forcing it to explode harmlessly.
The primary focus of their training is to learn to control their gifts and to not be a danger to others. We find that 90% of our "sidekick" recruits quit after they learn that being a hero is not all it's cracked up to be.
Silver turns to you for a moment, eyes boring into your soul. After several heartbeats he nods slightly. You've got a good heart, Emit. If you say they can handle being a true team then I will make it happen. Just so you are aware, Kinetic's training program is for sidekicks-in-training. Once they become actual sidekicks they are normally assigned a mentor that suits their needs and then they learn at their mentor's side for a number of years before they are eligible to graduate to being self-sufficient heroes.
Silver deflects a hail of incoming gunfire. You teleport a strafing helicopter 4 miles north of your current location...upside down.
Creating a super hero team from a group of sidekicks is not unprecedented but it is unusual. Each one of them will need to prove themselves to me, the Guardians, and the world that they can handle that responsibility. Silver takes advantage of the enemy's need to reload to whisk another handful of people to safety.
There is only one issue, I refuse to allow two separate superhero groups to both have jurisdiction over the same city. As your group already has jurisdiction of Maximum City (in the absence of Kinetic or one of the senior members) I will have to relocate the Rising Stars elsewhere.
Timeline
Kinetic takes your card and shoves it in a pocket before sliding a well-worn skateboard out from it's concealed carrying case in his jacket. It shares the same "K" signature as the leather jacket but is strangely lacking wheels. You can tell it's a really old skateboard because it appears to be made entirely of wood.
Yea whatever you say, pops. Me and this city's underbelly got a few scores to settle. See ya.
He gets a short running start before dropping the board just as if he was to ride it. Instead of hitting the ground however, it simply floats a couple inches off the ground a barely visible forcefield repelling the asphalt below. Kinetic hit's the board running and he skates out of the alleyway and into the night.
***A little bit later***
The Rising Stars have a well deserved party with whatever is in the fridge. You excuse yourself as they throw in a movie. You wait several minutes for the communicator to connect. Just as you are convinced it's hopeless, you hear a familiar voice on the end.
Silver: Timeline? Perfect timing! I was just about to- *gunfire* -and I was thinking- *more gunfire* Uhhh here hold on a second. *Something that sounds disturbingly like an I-beam being ripped from a structure* -think we could talk in person? *Startled yells and metal on metal screeching* I'm in Lower Dezekyhstan, that should be within your teleportation limit. *explosion followed by several seconds of ear-screeching static* -port when I give the signal. Three......two......NOW!
In this world, I'm afraid there is no rest for the righteous. We have captured what remains of the Alchemist but he refuses to tell us anything about Sinh's plans.
Silver stops at your confused stares. You've never fought the Alchemist before have you? Right, well he's turned up a couple times before and we aren't really sure what he's done to himself but he is largely immune to death. Bullets, bombs, even ten story free-falls and he's back in action within weeks. We recovered what remains of him (mostly just his head) and sent him down to the Meta-Human lockdown in Maximum City Penitentiary. We didn't find any trace of this ninja you mentioned in your report nor any of the other golems.
Your report matches Sinh's M.O. to a "t". The Sinh that dropped you into Hell was likely the real deal but any contact with him after that fact would have just been his magically disguised lieutenant. It disturbs me that he was able to ambush you four so completely in the middle of the city. I really hate magicians.
I shouldn't have to tell you that the Visskonian government is raising hell over this incident. They have threatened to sue the Guardians for collateral damage. Don't worry, we have a few legal resources we can lean on to make sure this doesn't cost us too much. But with all of the hate they are stirring up I want you guys to stay LOW KEY for awhile. A couple weeks should do it. Now if you'll excuse me I need to go handle some delicate negotiations in Yemen for the UN.
...Oh and welcome to the Guardians. I wish it was under better circumstances. I regret that Risen Fate's induction must be posthumously. Perhaps this can serve as a memorial to your friend. Let us know the time and date of any services you wish to hold for him and I and the Guardians will be there. Silver tosses four official Guardian ID tags to you guys before he heads outside and launches himself into the air. Each one doubles as an access card for the Guardians HQ and as a distress beacon tied to all of the Guardian satellite networks and to each other. Each badge can be flipped open to show a small holo of yourself in costume with your name and base vitals.
Silver looks down at the report, pauses momentarily as if seeing past it's pages at high speed. He quirks an eyebrow. You tangled with demons, ghouls AND The Alchemist? Impressive. That floating citadel of his could have caused some real devastation if left alone. Good Work. A bit sloppy, but you got the job done.
Silver looks grim as he relays the next bit of news. I'm sorry you have to hear it this way but...I don't believe your comrade survived. All we found was a field covered in synthetic fibers and some ash...and of course your communicator. The amount of radiation that the device absorbed was of abnormally lethal levels. Likely caused when the engines of the citadel exploded during re-entry. He must have been standing right next to it when it blew.
Silver gives you a minute to let the news sink in. He has more to say but is keenly aware of how the loss of a comrade is a grave matter.
Thank you. I work out. Silver follows you inside your base.
Silver holds up a badly melted comms device. It appears to be Fate's. I was made aware of an...incident that happened late last night in Visskonia. Involving a floating citadel that was didn't appear on any satellite imagery until it quite literally fell out of the sky and blew itself apart all over a mountain range. But not before very nearly taking out the single largest city in Visskonia.
Silver stops and takes all of you in with a serious expression on his face. Were any of you involved with this...incident?
Petra and Xavier stop stuffing their faces momentarily to look into Silver's eyes and they *gulp* simultaneously.
Timeline ports into the airspace about 4 miles from the base and attempts to predict where the Mach 23 object will be. The very thought of you being able to hit something traveling in excess of 23 times the speed of sound is ridiculous but you're a superhero...and your friends are in danger.
He lines up his shot, see the merest silver glimmer come into his field of vision, shoots...and prays.
You hear, Timeline! Thank good-
***Down in the Canyon***
-ness you are...ok? Maximum Silver skids a little as he brings his momentum gracefully to a stop in front of the base. He looks around, spots the camera E.O.N. has trained on him and crosses his arms. Nice clubhouse. Aren't you going to invite me in?
Just a hint of a smile pulls at the corner of his lip as he stands outside waiting for you guys to react.
E.O.N. switches the camera input to the television screens in the dining area so you can see Silver.
Dinner finished, Silver excuses himself. I would enjoy the thought of having a dedicated party of heroes in maximum City once again, ms. Fire. Say the word and I will set the ball rolling. Please take all the time you need. Now I am afraid I really must return to the peace talks. Beryl, the street if you will.
Beryl projects an icy portal onto the far wall leading into the back alley. Silver steps through and in one mighty leap hurls himself into the sky.
Assume that Silver explained that Global Supers are Class A, national supers are Class B, Regionals are Class C, and City heroes are Class D.
You have as long as you need. As far as I am concerned the offer is an open one. We do try to let members choose what city and responsibilities they are in charge of. Most of our members are self-regulating in that respect. The training and hierarchy are in place just for emergency situations to prevent wasting resources when boundaries overlap. We are hard pressed to keep up with the rise in criminal elements without adding turf wars to the mix.
John's behavior was inexcusable but hardly surprising considering what happened the last time we were faced with an entity capable of altering the very fabric of reality. I am afraid I can speak no more on that subject except to say that we are quite glad you are not in fact HIM. I am glad I was able to intervene when I did with his "acid test" of your abilities but it would seem that he did indeed prove his point. You might be surprised to hear this but I was not the one who stopped the rockets. He produces a damaged miniaturized Homing Rocket. All 16 of them malfunctioned at once. The explosion you saw was actually caused by me impacting them thus crushing the explosive payload together. You would have been in no danger even had I not been there.
You would begin your duties right away as there should not be any drastic shift in what you are already doing, seeing as you have already begun to fight crime...and have a base if my super hearing picked that up correctly? He glances sidelong at Timeline.
I am sure we can fit a training schedule around whatever schedules you already keep. The training shouldn't take more than a a few days this next month. It'll hit the basics of communicator use, battlefield triage, and collateral damage reduction.
@Joe: I am sure I could persuade the General to let you lend a hand whenever possible. In many ways the U.S. military's duties, and by extension many UN membership nation's militaries duties, overlap with the goals of the GoE. I have actually been requesting a military liason for some time now. Someone who can keep us appraised of military involvement and vice versa. You would not be required to divulge state secrets except where those secrets would endanger the lives of innocents. The same would be true in reverse of course. Secret identities of GoE members for instance are none of the military's business.
Maximum Silver leans back in his chair. I'm not going to hide the truth. Crime has been on the rise in Maximum City for awhile now and every attempt to curb it has met with disaster. Kinetic is in charge of the city while I and the A-Classes are away, which is often. We have nearly 80 supers in as many regions across the world supported by as many sidekicks as we can train. We had assumed Maximum City would see fewer problems than the other cities due to the presence of the GoE national HQ here. That has unfortunately not been the case. Kinetic assured me he had everything under control but the recent break-in at the museum has disabused me of that notion. I have tried setting up Kinetic with partners in the past but they all left the GoE shortly thereafter, or in one unfortunate case, died.
In short, I am growing concerned about Kinetic's safety and his ability to keep crime down. I am confident that he is doing everything he can but he simply cannot be in two places at once. While you deliberate your decision I would appreciate it if you would continue your efforts in defending this city.
@Risen Fate: We have recieved special dispensation from the U.S. government that any identites made known to us from full members of the GoE will not be registered in the central Super database in Washington. Sort of like keeping a seperation of church and state, we are registered to our own seperate system that only the Secretary-General of the UN, with a majority vote from the member nations, can view. There is an emergency provision of course but there must be an official declaration of global warfare or the member in question is officially convicted of a felonous act. Lawyer-holes as I like to call them.
As for what we stand for, we are the first, and often last, barrier between this planet and the evils that threaten it to it's very core. Despotism, tyranny, and oppression are our sworn enemies. We are as diverse as the life in this universe and we embrace these differences in strength to become a cohesive whole. We are the GUARDIANS OF EARTH!
All of the patrons in the restraunt look over at your table stunned by Maximum Silver's outburst.
-that lend a much needed helping hand whenever they can. You will recieve pay bi-weekly and we do offer life insurance and a good dental plan. The pay isn't great but that isn't truly what the Guardians is about now is it. Once you complete a training period we can start you off in Maximum City at the city level. I'm sure Kid- err Kinetic would appreciate the backup. If you prove yourselves capable and worthy of it, we can always use more help at the regional, national, and even global levels.
The hours that you would "work" are very flexible as there is no set amount. You are asked to simply to keep crime down and to respond immediately to those in distress. Also be very sure that you obey the law. We are here to aid and assist in the capture of criminals not become them ourselves.
@Joe: We are technically a non-profit organization sanctioned to operate in most of the countries that make up the UN. Our funding comes from the UN directly, but not without a few strings attached. We are allowed a large amount of autonomy but the current Secreteary-General can call us into action at any time. He needs a certain minimum vote from the member nations to keep us deployed for any extended period of time. And despite the wild rumors to the contrary, we are not fitted with any devices that force their will upon ours or kill us if we go rogue. Each nation tends to keep a certain number of superpowered "resources" in reserve in case something like that was to happen.
As for the Australia peace talks, they are going well and are unfortunately the reason for this evening's haste. I will need to head back soon in order to conclude the negotiations. I will likely arrive in time for the opening moments of the morning meeting. The Australian Militia are still reticent about giving up rights to their primary water source so that it can become a central neutral zone for all parties involved.
@Fate: You really weren't aware? He looks sidelong at Beryl who just shrugs. Supers of your power level usually fall into two categories. Dead or evil. Since the World Wake, approximatly 1 in 100,000 humans finds themselves in possession of special abilities. Only 1 in 1,000,000 has any abilities that can be considered truly "super". Only 1 in 10,000,000 could pass a Power level 10 exam.
He lets the numbers sink in a bit before continuing. Out of nearly 7 billion people on this planet, there are only about 700 powerful supers at any given moment. Many don't make it through their first year once their powers manifest due to accidents or risks involved with these powers. Of those that do survive, most turn to lives of crime or self-sastifaction. Only about 100 of those 700 individuals find ways to actively serve the greater good. So forgive me for such an abrupt offer but it is a rare day when not one but four individuals pass the exam and show such exemplary morals.
@Wild Fire: To answer yours and Risen Fate's question, we use a loose tier structure for the organization. The tiers are city, regional, national, and global. Myself, Beryl, Tempest, Battalion and a handleful of others makes up the entirety of the global tier. We also have a very active super support group-
Everyone who becomes part of teh GoE is expected to devote their life to making the world a better place. While you are encouraged to continue you normal lives you will be called to patrol periodically and are placed indefinitely "on call". Madness and mayhem adhere to no schedule. A hero must be prepared at any moment to be called to action.
Silver takes another bite of his meal. Forgive me if that sounds harsh. But a heroe's life is no bed of roses.
Silver finishes ordering and addresses Wild Fire. Of course not, your directness is refreshing especially from one as entrancing as yourself.
He waits for Beryl and Tempest to join you and until everyone orders dinner. Let us get down to the brass tacks shall we? I am offering you a position at the Guardians of Earth. You will go through a trial training period after which you will join the upper ranks of our organizationas as is befitting ones of your talents.
He pauses as the food is being served. Understand though, with entitlement, comes even greater responsibility. Rising in the ranks of the GoE is not the path to fame or glory. People will either fear your power or attempt to abuse it in ever more imaginative ways. What I offer you should not be taken lightly as the burden of it has broken many over the few years we've been running.
John, you know that the Guardians of Earth is a non-profit organization and I hardly think there will be any further attacks from the Baron's automatons now that he is dead. You are arguably the richest man in the nation if not the world so if anyone can afford to replace a priceless stain-glass window of the Virgin Mary then it would be you.
Beryl, I need you to inform General Rencore that Joseph here will be detained a little longer. Allow them free access to his exam results.
Silver thinks for a minute. Let him know this is a formal reward reserved for only the top 1%. They will be returned to the Silver Spire when dinner is concluded.
With your consent, you are led into DaVinci's, a 5-star restaurant on Manhattan Ave. just a stone's throw from Maximum City's towering financial district. Seeing Mr. Johnson, you are immediately led to a private booth in the back reserved for associates of Battalion. Menus are provided and selections of wine are presented. The waiters hardly bat an eye at your various costumes, apparently used to the rather unusual nature of Mr. Johnson's guests.
@ Battalion: Silver shakes his head. That is no reason to fire on an innocent! One of these days you will guess wrong, John, and there will be no going back. Silver's eyes are ablaze...but there is a certain amount of sadness behind them as well.
Looking at Timeline, You are correct. This organization needs improvement if we are ever to become the beacon of hope we all wish it to be. I assure you no more life-threatening actions will be made against your persons while I am here. Although from what I've been told you seem well capable of defending yourselves.
Silver brushes the last of the plaster off his armor and motions to Beryl. Someplace nice for our guests. DaVinci's perhaps?
He turns to the rest of you. I have a proposition for your four if you are willing to hear me out.
Beryl opens a semi-circular portal large enough for four people to enter at once. The other side reveals a fancy restaurant near the center of the town. DaVinci's is normally reservation only.
Battalion glances at the Ice Portal and mutters, I wish I knew how he does that...
Silver strides through the portal before continuing, However, I am sure you are tired and hungry from your earlier ideal and I find my offers are best digested over a fine meal.
@Fate: Yes, probability manipulation is a rare gift, usually with certain...consequences. I myself am only aware of one other entity capable of bending reality in the same way you do.
As the ringing in your ears subsides and the bits of falling plaster start clearing the air, a booming voice sounds from the center of the explosion.
What is going ON here?! A visible trail of destruction leads in a straight line from the outer wall of the Spire and through the hole in this room's wall (which is now much bigger). it would appear this gentleman intercepted the missiles just in the nick of time. You can see the outer wall beginning to patch itself up flowing and merging together like some sort of silver liquid.
A giant of a man steps towards Battalion (who has managed to fall through a weakened section of flooring so that only his torso is visible). He wears ornamented silver armor and looks very confused.
John, I trust you have a very good reason for using that kind of firepower INSIDE the Silver Spire?
Before you stands Maximum Silver himself, in the flesh.
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