Character Diary: Wild Card

-Diary Entry. May 22-
I can't believe how quickly a life can fall apart... yesterday was much the same as anyday had been for the past five years, nothing was wrong... but then I saw her... she had been so pale, vomiting weakly, and too tired to even note my presence... Without warning, my sister was dying. I wanted, needed, to do something, a thousand reckless, half formed ideas followed me as I walked towards the only meta human in the city, a man, given by fate an ability that could solve this, that could somehow save my sister.
I could not convince him... I couldn't make him understand.
The police may be after me now... but I can't bring myself to care.
I have to admit I don't have the power to deal with this, to save my sister. Even in my desperation I could not bring myself to rob someone, knowing that I may put some innocent man into a position as seemingly hopeless as the one I now face.
I must put my faith elsewhere... Whether it's karma, a miracle, or blind luck no longer matters, I just need a result. All I can do now is seek to deserve it. I can no longer afford to ignore the pain and injustices around me as I seek to solve only my own problems. I need help, for the first time I must realize I cannot do everything alone, and I might just be the help others need in return...
Five years ago this town was dealt a bad hand, today I will change that. Today Hero Heights has been dealt a Wild Card.

Sterling Heroes Adventure Log - May 23, 2010

Leopold Stronghold was representing his corporation at a small fundraiser in the devastated neighborhood of Hero Heights. being a prominent public figurehead, word of his appearance spread and he was approached by many attendees in the hopes of discussing business. Most notable of these were the real estate developer Mr. Rogers and the businesslady Ms. Stacey.
Mr. Rogers goal was to buy the Citadel(The famous headquarters of Stirling's fallen heroes.) from Leopold in an attempt to rebuild it and reestablish the economy of Stirling.
Ms. Stacey was acting as an agent for her company whom were working to build a new supermax prison for metahumans right outside Stirling city limits and were looking for new security technology. After a brief discussion, Leopold agrees to take her to see the testing of the "Aegis" program.
When they arrive, "Aegis", piloted by Walter was deep in a brutal sparring match with Catalyst and the armoured Zoe. Despite the strength of all combatants, neither side could gain much ground against the other. The match finally ended after a lucky shot was able to hurl Catalyst against the wall, leaving her breathless and wounded.
Ms. Stacey, evidently quite impressed, asked to have a pilot of her own choosing placed in an Aegis suit to determine it's viability for her employers. Afterwards Leopold takes the others to his mansion for dinner, during which they see a program on TV about a protest meeting downtown that ended abruptly with one of the protesters firing a pistol multiple times into the air.
Following dinner, Leopold, Walter, Catalyst and Zoe all travel to the Citadel...

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Meanwhile, young Alex North, having just gotten out of class for the day, dons the garb of a hero and ventures out into the slums of hero heights looking to pit himself against the injustices of the city. Before long he sees two armed robbers holding up a gas station. After teleporting to the roof and phasing through it, Alex is able to determine that both of the robbers are new at this and very nervous, he attempts to take them both on, when Jack enters the gas station, having seen the trouble from outside. The robbers, having no luck against Alex turn and fire upon the newcomer, one missing completely and the other seeming to hit him with no effect. In panic, one decides to surrender to these powerful vigilantes. The other surprisingly fires at Alex, who, also distracted by the newcomer was not fast enough to avoid the bullet, taking it full in the chest.
Jack quickly ends the fight by using some mysterious power to slam the two thugs together, before handcuffing them to the counter. He hurries over to Alex, who agrees to go with Jack to a doctor he knows. They make a quick stop at Jack's workplace, a bar named Kirby's to get a bottle of whiskey to use as payment to Doctor Olsen.
Doctor Olsen, accepting the bribe, operates upon Alex who reveals that, due to his age, has been unable to acquire a license for his heroic persona. Jack and Alex begin watching the program about the protest before the channel goes out in static.

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Elsewhere, Justin Silcott's life turned upside down when he found out that his younger sister has contracted radiation poisoning. Rushing her immediately to the hospital, he learns that treatments for this do exist, but they would cost a thousand times what the impoverished Justin would be able to afford.
With no visible solution, Justin heads down to the protest in an attempt to enlst the aid of Phaeton, Stirling's only known metahuman. Justin finds Phaeton defending the mayor from rocks thrown by irate protestors, and fires his pistol several times up into the air to break up the mob. Dropping the gun, Justin uses the shock to present his case to Phaeton, who, unable to help the grief ridden man, attempts to bring him into the custody of the police, but is unable to locate him in the fleeing crowd.

Character Diary: Wild Card

-May 16th-
She's late coming home again... I wish I knew what she was doing, but I don't want to press her, she'll tell me when she's ready. I know it's partly my fault, I'm all that she has and nothing to be proud of. This town is consuming those in it, taking away their options and their hopes until they're only a shadow of who they were, just like the city itself. I don't know what to do, it seems almost impossible to help, people are scared, lying down in defeat or lashing out at anything that comes near. Today a simple robbery turned into a public gunfight, I thought to be a beacon of light in the city, but ended up being the match near the powder keg. The worse part, a simple passer-by got involved and, without hesitation, would have ended another man's life. Only by shear Luck (Thank you, lady) did that man survive. What has stolen all hope from these men and driven them so readily against each other? What can be done to inspire hope once again in the hearts of my neighbors..? What can I do?

Sterling Heroes Adventure Log - May 16, 2010

It’s the five year anniversary of the Stand at Stirling, where thousands died including the nation’s premier super team. Ed Waterson, mayor of Stirling gave a passionless speech about remembering the sacrifice. Many who lost loved ones or simply wish to remember those who fell, including Katrina Winters and Zoe Sawyer, find their way to ground zero.

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Walter Beauregard was celebrating. After months of work and moving halfway across the country, the Aegis Project had finally proven itself a success. The revelry is cut short; good news travels quickly and one of the project’s investors is asking for a demonstration.

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Maxwell Hammer’s relationship with his son is strained. The divorce has been hard on everyone, and the boy obviously still feels some resentment. Max burns dinner and is forced to take his son to a restaurant.

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Justin Silcott is short on cash. Finding most of his gambling buddies reluctant to lose their money to him, he sets off into the sprawl of “Hero Heights”, Stirling’s former Meta-human district. After several minutes, Justin finds a man standing behind a building and looking nervous. He approaches the man, who pulls a pistol out of his jacket.

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Walter is suited up and waiting. Finally, the primary investor, Leopold Bastion, arrives and is treated to a demonstration of what Aegis can do. Impressed, Bastion takes the pilot (Walter) and lead developer on the project to dinner to discuss mass capitalizing off of the suit. Because of the occasion and the purpose of the project, they find a Greek restaurant overlooking where the Stand at Stirling was fought.

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More people show up to the bonfire vigil at Hero Heights. While many stick to themselves and the people who came with them, Zoe and Katrina begin speaking with one another and the son of Firebug about how bad the city has gotten in the past five years and the responsibilities that come with their powers. The somber occasion becomes tense when men arrive demanding that everyone leave.

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The thug and Justin have words, but neither is willing to back down. The gun is pointed toward Justin and fired. Nothing happens. Seeing an opening, Justin grabs his attacker’s arms and they stumble into the street.

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While enjoying their dinner, Walter and Bastion see three black sedans pull up to the abandoned amusement park. People exit two of the vehicles, and the passengers each grab something from the trunks before heading toward the entrance. Expecting trouble, Bastion suggests they go investigate and get an opportunity to “field test” Aegis.

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Max sees to men wrestling across the street from the burger joint where he and his son are eating. Looking closer, he notices the pistol that they are fighting for and that meant that they were in danger if that gun went off. Justin saw the man walking toward them from White Castle, but after a single strike to the thug, this stranger was in possession of the firearm. Undeterred, the thug pulled out a knife and lunged at Justin as two more criminals emerged from the back entrance with stolen goods.

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When Bastion arrives, he tells the armed men that they are in violation of the law, who respond by firing their weapons in the air. The ruins of the amusement park empty as civilians flee in panic. Katrina takes the large wrench from hands of the men’s leader, Walter makes a quick cell phone call, and battle is joined. Bullets from the enemies can’t seem to find Katrina and bounce harmlessly off of Zoe, both of whom respond with decisive blows. A helicopter flies overhead, dropping a large metallic object nearby. Walter runs toward it, hoping that he can get to Aegis before the bullets get to him.

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The thug springs forward and his blade strikes directly at Justin. He’s rewarded for his trouble by a fist to his face. Seeing his friend in trouble, one of the other felons strikes Justin from behind. Maxwell points the pistol at the new attacker and fires. The bullet strikes a DVD player held to his chest, and though he isn’t hurt, he falls to the ground.

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A hail of gunfire opens around Walter. He pulls the chest of the suit up and notices that it will not seal shut. A bullet was caught, inches from Walter’s face. Fixing this, Aegis punches one of the men ineffectually showering him with bullets. There’s one less enemy on the field. Bastion places a hand on Aegis and feels himself grow stronger. Katrina trades blows with the leader while Zoe grabs the arm of a man trying to level a pistol at her.

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The three thugs are in shock. One of them has been shot. He desperately checks himself for holes that weren’t there five minutes ago, but finds none. They turn and run as fast as they can, dropping some of their stolen goods. Max tosses the pistol to the side and, without another word, heads back to his son. Justin pockets the firearm and finds a $10 bill before calling the police.

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Katrina parries aside a punch from her opponent before bringing the large wrench into the side of his head. The man stumbles, but remains on his feet until seconds later when he finds Bastion’s patent leather shoe planted squarely beneath his ribs. Seeing an opening, Bastion punches wildly at the man attacking Zoe. She swings her armored fist upward, catching her opponent in the chest. He falls to his knees, gasping for air. Two more have fallen.

Meanwhile, Aegis is facing the remaining three aggressors. He grabs one of the cars behind him and swings it into his enemy, pinning him into the ground. Instantly, Katrina is beside him and brings the over-sized wrench into the face of one of the others. The last villain standing runs into one of the two remaining cars, and both drive away.

Bastion extends an offer of employment to his two new comrades as they load their unconscious foes into the wrecked vehicle to await the police.