[removed]

“Not sure how long you’ve been waiting, Mr. Banes, if I may?” Mr. Banes nodded stiffly. “So thank you for your patience while I got things sorted on my end. Also, please, help yourself to some coffee. Wasn’t sure how you take it, so I brought a myriad,” Ash explained, putting the coffee and fixings within reach of Mr. Banes’ grasp.

But all Mr. Banes did was stare at the steaming paper cup and sugar and dairy packets. Just as Ash was about to speak up, the man mumbled, “No one was supposed to be down there.”

And Gene thought this man was a cold blooded Super-killer?

“Why don’t you tell me why my colleagues are referring to you as LOTO, or, what did Gene say?” Asher raised his voice so whoever reviewed the audio would know Ash was being a shitheel, per usual. “Why go by the name ‘Lockout’?”

“…my name is Michael,” Mr. Banes said, brow furrowed. To his credit, he was only confused a moment more before he was clearly exasperated with the situation. “LOTO. So you mean, lock out, tag out?” He spoke as if he was talking to a child, carefully and mindfully. His tone didn’t bother Asher none, considering Mr. Banes had likely explained the concept to those outside a dozen times to no avail. “Hey man, that’s just a safety procedure we follow so no one gets hurt,” Mr. Banes continued, but stopped when Asher held up a hand.

“I’m familiar with the human need for workplace regulatory standards, believe-you-me, Mr. Banes,” Asher explained.

If Asher was more like Rapport, he imagined the relief that Mr. Banes was letting roll across his shoulders would have been brightly visible as an aura. “You get it,” he sighed. Then seemed to find a renewed bout of energy that cracked his stoic demeanor. “So why did no one else here get that?”

Asher couldn’t help himself and chuckled darkly. “You expected a group where half the people part of it have ‘industrial accident’ in their tragic backstories to comprehend the severity of not following safety regs?” Nevermind the other half were causing such accidents on a near daily basis. It was nice, Ash realized the cause of his good mood despite the circumstances, that the tables had been turned on Them for once.

“Well… Then yeah, doubly so in fact,” Mr. Banes replied in earnest.

“Yet here we are,” Asher said, more so into his coffee than to Mr. Banes. “So, your super name is not ‘Lockout’ and, as far as you are aware, you possess no superpowers, Mr. Banes?”

“I mean, I make a mean—” Mr. Banes glanced at the wall Asher had suddenly appeared through and swallowed whatever he was about to say. Ash, meanwhile, quite wish he hadn’t. The joke would have humanized the man. Well. At least to the more reasonable crowd who hadn’t lost touch with mankind just yet.

Then again, the more reasonable crowd had already called him in.

“No. I’m just some guy. I work for P&E. Have for over a decade. I pay taxes,” Mr. Banes’ concluded, bringing his stoic nature back in the process.

“Why don’t you go through how the day went, from your perspective, starting from the beginning,” Asher suggested, moving down through a mental checklist of questions and queries he had to get through, for formality’s sake. The banal nature of this being a workplace accident was making Asher feel more at ease with his civilian sector persona.

Mr. Banes took Asher through a perfectly normal and reasonable work day for someone working at a manufacturing plant. The location of which, unfortunately for Michael Banes, had been the most recent target for one of Calamity Jim’s heinous plots to sow calamity. Work on Silo 1—which Asher had stopped to clarify for the record was where hazardous but necessary manufacturing materials were housed for safekeeping before refinement—had been scheduled for over a week, so everyone who was working on-site had been made aware.

Before Mr. Banes descended to inspect and begin work on the silo, it and the compartments beneath had been checked and cleared of all personnel and materials. This, Asher pointed out to the record, was verified by three people: Mr. Banes himself, Mr. Banes’ work partner, and the supervisor overseeing the work on Silo 1.

That was when Mr. Banes had initiated the lockout of the system, so no one else could fire up the silo while he was inside it. And, to the plant’s credit, no one had fired up the system until Mr. Banes—who had been the one to tag it—lifted the lockout himself.

It was at some point between then and Mr. Banes concluding the work by firing the silo back up into operation, Calamity Jim and Sandpoint had dueled their way into the compartments underneath. “So,” Mr. Banes concluded somberly, “I killed them.”

Asher sighed. “Well yes, at least one of them, anyways.” Was it his imagination that the left side of his face was heating up? So touchy if not shown proper reverence.

“…am I going to need a lawyer?” Mr. Banes’ voice wavered slightly.

Thank you

When the Superhero Association’s CAaMD (Civilian Affairs and Management Department) called Asher Smiths on his red lined number, he knew discretion was an expected priority. But, typically, this was due to the situation not hitting the press yet because they wanted to “respect the family’s (victim’s) privacy during these times”. Or because civil rights were casually being ignored in order to stop the wrong person’s face (identity) from being exposed to the wider public.

Or even, less dramatically but even more unpleasant, someone with a human partner was having a relationship tiff, and people with power discrepancies didn’t know how to properly hold an intense, serious conversation.

So when Asher was led to the holding cell and saw a man in what appeared to be cream overalls, tapping the tips of his thumbs together best he could despite them being chained to the table, eyes wildly roaming corner to corner, the first thing he said was, “Gene. You’re kidding, right?”

Gene was having a rough day, so maybe Asher could have used a softer tone. The super’s face melded rapidly between expressions before settling on a neutral, feminine presentation. They adjusted their glasses while focusing on the clipboard in front of them. “They’re calling him Lockout. Few of the boys upstairs coined it. LOTO as a moniker.”

“You’re nervous of him.” Asher could control the smile from reaching his face, but couldn’t quite keep his rising humor from leaking into his voice.

“Easy for you. I saw the photos of Sandpoint,” Gene snapped, and Asher thought he glimpsed fangs erupting from behind their lips. “We have no idea what this guy is capable of. Middle aged, no presentation of powers before in his life, works with government contracts—Do you know what this could mean?”

Asher drifted away from the two-way mirror and chuckled. “I’m beginning to get an idea. Hey, I’m swinging by the lounge again, you want a coffee?”

Gene stood there, mouth slack, before spluttering after him, motioning at the holding cell. “See? Even you don’t to go in, right?”

“Naw. I will. Just going to bring the offer of coffee with me, rather than play it like we’re workin’ on getting’ him a cup, you know? A courtesy thing,” Asher explained, bypassing another perplexed suitman as he rounded the corner.

They were about ten stories underground, but roaming the halls you would think it was just another precinct with the humming fluorescents and abused coffee cart. With the added bonus of every other head swiveling toward the ruckus Gene was raising by said coffee cart, Asher felt right at home back at the 24th floor of Kellman & Helmer law offices. “Courtesy? Two Supers are,” Gene lowered their voice to a dramatic whisper, “Two Supers are dead, Ash.”

Asher took a sip and grimaced through the bitter backwash. At least the coffee back at his office would have been more palatable. He tapped a little more powdered creamer into the mix along with an additional packet of sugar. For their man Lockout, he took up a few packets of both and set off back down to the holding cells. “Easy Gene. You’re free to stand outside and watch me do my thing, same as always.”

“I knew Helm should have called someone else, she mentioned you and I said, not Asher ma’am, because of this. You.” Gene was hot on his heels, and definitely was taking on what some fashion magazines would call ‘a healthy glow’ as their voice raised a whole pitch.

“No way, I came recommended by Helm?” Asher said in a mocking tone, feigning shock and surprise as he neared the cell’s door. “Gene, I said, I got it. Besides, he killed one Super, technically. Sandpoint’ll be back in what, a few weeks?”

“That is not the point,” Gene said, stilted. They had drawn up considerably short to the door.

Ash winked at them with a smirk, flashed his association-issued badge to the keypad, and leaned back as the door let him through with a faint ding.

What their man Lockout would have seen was a blank space on the wall and another man stepping backward through it. A rather easy, non-super illusion trick with mirrors and lighting to make it seem like a blank wall and not a doorway there, but startling for many nonetheless.

And Lockout was indeed startled, the chains rustling as the man jumped a little at Asher’s sudden appearance and a faint, cut-off howl from Gene.

Asher set about placing the coffee and fixings down on the table and made himself at home on the other end, humming faintly to himself. When he finally glanced over the overalled man, he noticed the name tag and nearly choked. The man frowned at him—actually he’d been frowning at Asher by way of greeting since he’d backed himself into the room—but Ash took another sip of coffee and began reviewing the documents Gene had forwarded him.

“Your name is Michael Banes?” Asher asked, nodding at the nametag and cross-referencing it with the man’s government ID and work records. Everything matched up. In fact, it was exactly as Gene had said: nothing was out of the ordinary in Mr. Banes’ files or history.

“Yes,” Mr. Banes replied, emotionless.

Asher gave Mr. Banes a more thorough inspection. Michael Banes was Caucasian, was 37, and looked as if he kept himself well-groomed despite his hard labor. At the moment, however, his hair was a little unkempt and there was a light bruise forming along his left jawline. The left collar of his work uniform was also torn and askew. He was stoic, but Ash had been sitting across enough suspects at this point to feel he had a good read of the man. And the man looked like he was holding it together, but just barely. Ash tsk’d and made note in his filings to look up who had “apprehended” the “suspect”.

Go on son.

Have a bump.

[removed]

Dr. Doom?

I like this, please continue

Nice! Would fit well into The Boys^^

Pt 2

“After that, it was downhill. My life was scrubbed from any database and erased, anyone who knew me had their memories of me erased and forgotten.” said the man, putting down their leg.

“I am so sor-“ says the interrogator before being interrupted

“I don’t care for a ‘I’m sorry’ I wanted justice. So, let me continue.” yells the man before calming down.

“I barley lived and dedicated the rest of my life to finding them and making them pay. I heard a rumor about them fighting in a nearby town and I bought a rifle to take them down.” says the man as he starts to imitate taking aim with a rifle.

“I shot the hero during their good guys always win monologue right in the eye” as the man imitates firing the rifle, “that caused them to free fall into the villain” then imitates the hero falling down with his hands “the villain had their ribs stab into their heart, the hero broke their neck… I won’t deny I did it and laugh if you try to cover this up”.

“We HAVE to now, a hero and villain die together by a rouge gun man. I am really sorry about this and what happened. On top of mass panic, this sadly is a business built off destruction. I am truly sorry, we have to keep this cycle going.” says the interrogator as they aim a extra robotic limb from her backpack at him.

The man laughs as he pulls something out.

BAM

The limb fires a pulse of energy as she sees what the man grabbed… a phone that was set to live stream the whole interrogation.

“What people love more than a good villain, is a martyr.” says the man as he pants heavily. “Hi… mom…” he says as he dies.

The interrogator looks down at the livestream and sees millions of people watching it and threats against heros and villains and one automated comment appears when she closed the stream.

Hac morte fruere et meminere, nam signat istos.

Pt. 1

“You know why I did it, it was for revenge for you cape clad charlatans do.” said the man in a underground interrogation room.

The man was an in their young 20’s, the interrogator couldn’t believe their eyes when they saw the crime they committed. A normal person; no powers, no supertech, not even a basic issue tesla rifle… they managed to kill a Grade S Hero and Villain with a single shot of a rifle.

“Why did you do it?” asked the interrogator, using their multi-arm backpack to put back the file on their case.

The man laughs, worse than any supervillain due to it not being an act. “Debra Colt, Alex Rose, Professor Alexander Jr, and more… have you heard of The School Trip Incident of 1991? From what I’ve heard, it was classified since ‘no one lived’ but I did… I was there.” said the man.

“Picture this; you, your parents, closet friends, mentor and classmates all go on a trip for graduating college. Little did we know, a hero and villain had a fight there scheduled and we were in the cross fire. Instead of postponing the fight, my parents were cut in half by laser eyes and the bus tossed the side of a cliff… then come in the cleaners.”

“Have you ever smelled acid melt down human bodies and metal while hearing their screams… not fun” says the man clenching a fist.

“How did you escape?” asks the interrogator, visibly nervous at the man’s story.

The man lifts his leg up on the table and rolls up his pant leg… revealing a prosthetic. “Sacrificing a limb”

The dog is Much, MUCH older than any dog should be. The dog is the eldritch creature here, the un-sering thing.

[removed]

Having striped the planet of the rare metals needed for deep space crafts, they left for their new home. Because of the needs of their food animals and their feed, they had to limit the passengers on this first round of immigrations. The plan was to establish a base and return for others.

Those of us that remained were to increase and manage supplies for the new base and later trips. Most of us farmers and herders were left behind, only a few were taken to help establish the base.

I watched what was to be last ships to leave our planet, perched on the back of my allosaurus with my herd of hadrosaurid. Little did anyone know the propulsion fields of the departing ships altered the orbits of several asteroids, including a large one that intercepted the orbit of our planet.

First part: big sad

Second part: big happy

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Thank you for your submission; it has scored 12 points!

“General, we believe we have identified a country with significant power and resources we can control.” “Good job Commander, what is it?” “Well sir they call themselves ‘The United States of America,’ it appears to be some sort of republic that is ruled by a group of people who make the laws but only one person decides if these laws actually go in place or not. This is our target Theodore Roosevelt.” The Commander holds up a picture for the general to see. “Good job Commander. Abduct him at once and hold him in interrogation room one for containment and brainwashing.” “At once sir.”

The Commander goes down to where his team is located, right outside interrogation room one. “Ok team we have been given the green light to abduct Theodore Roosevelt. Do this right and we will have control of an entire country and soon the planet.” One of the aliens flicks a switch and a green light appears in interrogation room one “Commander there’s a problem.” “What is it private?” “It appears another life form has been caught in the abduction process, sensors indicate it is known to humans as a ‘Bull-Moose.’” “No matter, just send the other life form into interrogation room two. I will send a team down there to investigate and see if it has potential to be of use or if it will be better off terminated.” “Right away sir.”

The abduction process completes and a guy who does not look that impressive is left in interrogation room one. “All this for one weak human” the commander mutters annoyed. “I am much more worthy then this feeble assignment I just wish the Empress could see the same” the commander mutters to himself. “You all can go down to interrogation room two, I will deal with this human myself.” “Sir yes sir” the staff says in unison as they make their way down the hallway to interrogation room two. The commander types in his code and the door to interrogation room one opens. “Hello. You must be Theodore Roosevelt leader of the United States. I am Commander Algeon of the Galactic Milky Way Empire. Let's make this easy shall we?” Algeon says condescendingly. “Agree to submit to my Empress and our empire will give you all the resources you will need to take over your feeble world. We will even make you a lord of Earth and you will be free to rule unopposed by anyone. What do you say?”

Theodore Roosevelt thinks for a while then says “It’s Teddy.” Algeon, a bit confused, says “What?” Teddy Roosevelt gives a slight smile and says “You will call me Teddy Roosevelt, soon to be President Teddy Roosevelt of the United States of the Milky Way. Submit to me and renounce your Empress and I promise I won’t hurt you.” Enraged Algeon says “How dare you speak to me in that way I shall have y-” Algeon is suddenly cut off by alarms buzzing on the ship. “Those incompetent fools probably couldn’t contain the moose. We will talk later.” As Algeon is turning to leave Teddy Roosevelt suddenly gets up and punches Algeon through the door. More alarms start blaring as Teddy Roosevelt walks out of the broken door and says “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” When Teddy Roosevelt fully clears the door he looks to his left and sees a bunch of aliens trying to stun the bull moose that is throwing them around like rag dolls. Teddy Roosevelt thinks to himself “This will be way too easy.”

He walks over to where the moose is and pushes a few aliens out of the way, one soldier who has a cattle pronged like object says “Hey you shouldn’t be here go back to your cell or I will shoot!” Teddy Roosevelt picks up this alien and easily throws him aside on top of a group of aliens. Teddy Roosevelt picks up what looks to be a sword off the ground and mounts the moose. “There there, no need to be afraid we have aligned interests. Now go that way!” The moose takes off up the stairs and makes his way to the bridge. The general hears all of the commotion and sees Teddy charging up the stairs on top of a moose and holding a Sword.

“What the hell is that? Did that bumbling commander really mess up this bad?” The general picks up his own sword and trips the moose. Teddy Roosevelt goes flying but lands on his feet. The general says “I am the general of this fleet and this ends here. You will either submit to us or die.” Teddy Roosevelt says “I don’t think so. You are to either leave and never come back to earth or I will fight and kill you with my bare fists and take this fleet for the United States.” Teddy Roosevelt throws his sword to the side. The general smirks and says “Attention everyone on this ship. I am going to fight and kill this weak human. If he somehow manages to kill me with nothing but his bare fists you are to obey his every word.” The general then runs at Teddy Roosevelt and violently swings his sword. Teddy Roosevelt ducks under the blade and punches the general in the back of the head. Killing him instantly. Teddy Roosevelt then announces to the ship “Attention everyone. Our first stop is the capital building in Washington DC where I will officially make all of you soldiers of America and you will share your technology with us. After that we will go on a mission and overthrow the Empire which will be reformed into the Galactic Republic!” Roars of applause fill the ship.

[removed]

Ohhhh a Pyro story! Always a treat to see that :D

Thank you for the submission; it has scored 8 points!

Thank you for your submission; it has scored 14 points!

Thank you for your submission; it has scored 14 points!

Thank you for your submission; it has scored 14 points!

In the Afterglow

​

The faintly silver and white rocks scramble over one another as they tumble from the trough of the refurbished yet faulty excavator. The fashion of that brutal wave fits this place. I move my hand to the lever to bring the trough back up - it doesn't respond immediately. Nor does the excavator.

One of the other workers see's my vehicle lagging. Through the gray haze, I see him begin to trudge over. It's odd how quickly anyone can become a brother to you. Fraternal bonds formed from the sprouting seeds of death. Each of us, then all of us, soon none of us.

As he gets closer to the metal cabin of the beast, I see his features differently through the smudged glass. His withered face turns to a rounder, kinder thing. His eyes are green like mine. Like my son. Forgetting is painful. Yet in that moment, remembering is agony.

"I can finish up. Rest now." His voice comes gently as he opens the door. As he moves my hands from the controls, a bit of my skin sticks to the lever.

While my failing eyes watch him work, I see him morph further. Slipping deeper into the image of my love and my loss. We came here to die. Secretly though, we all hope to see our loved ones one last time, born again by the sickly glow.

​

WC: 230

Ooh, nice. Hadn't thought about that comic for a long while.