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Message: <blockquote data-quote="The Crimster" data-source="post: 47611" data-attributes="member: 2511">Issue #2 - Part 2Issue #2 - Part 2"Friend, Foe, or Something Else?"///Begin Report 04.24.2001 05.13.00 GMTWithout further ado, here is the rest of what happened to Hacker's Heroes.  ******START:: "Errr... Is there a problem?"  Jane asked.  Ego smiled, and wiped at his nose.  "No, no.  Not at all.  Happens sometimes."  He stood.  "Give me but a moment, my dear.  I must ask my brother something."  Ego opened the glass door, entered, and closed it behind him.Meanwhile, the Humvee exploded into action.  Edge jumped out, and began to run towards the back of the house.  The rest of the group stayed inside the vehicle, which accelerated and took off towards the house.  Almost, they decided to crash the Humvee into the front window of the home, but instead parked it at the front and jumped out of the vehicle.  Edge was already at the back however - running so fast he was almost a blur, he arrived to see Jane knocking at the back sliding glass door.  Inside could barely be seen the forms of Ego and Ghost speaking to each other rather animatedly.At that moment, the front bay window of the home exploded in.  Arsenal and Steel Scorpion jumped through, sending shards of glass all over the living room.  Steel Scorpion landed on an ornate wooden table that collapsed under the weight of his suit.  They slowly began to walk towards the back of the house where they could see Ego and Ghost.  Arsenal's gun was readied and pointing at the two.  Energy began to pulse from Steel Scorpion's tail, ready to strike the brothers if they so much as breathed funny.  BioLogic used his suit's stretching capability to reach towards the second story of the home, and then pulled himself up and into a second floor window.  It appeared to be Ego's own bedroom, decorated with the cheesiest in bachelor furniture.  Nothing of any immediate interest or value, except for a nearby computer system that immediately caught the doctor's eye.Meanwhile, Ego and Ghost stood in the living room, next to Ghost's machine.  Ghost held the hand of his brother, and fear was written on his face.  His brother however wore a look of barely restrained anger.  Poltergeist knocked on the sliding glass door once more, and the brothers walked over.  Ghost extended his hand and opened the locked door, his hand apparently corporeal.  Edge and Poltergeist entered, joining Arsenal and Steel Scorpion, who now stood surrounding the two brothers.  Ego looked at the group with a mixture of annoyance and disgust."Oh.  It's you."  He turned to Poltergeist.  "And that must make you the woman who floats.  Hmmm, yes."  Ego turned back to the group, his voice rising.  "What is the meaning of this...?!?"Edge stepped forward and looked at the brothers with a menacing glare.  "Umbra.  Tell us everything.  Now."Ego seemed nonplussed.  He looked at his brother and chuckled, then back to Edge.  "You were responsible for our employer terminating our services and a rather hasty escape from their facility.  Not to mention the difficulty that poor Ghost had in attempting to rescue some of our team-mates."  Ego turned and began to walk towards the front of the house, his brother's hand still on his shoulder."And my window! Do you know how much those cost to replace?!"  Ego looked at the ruins of his front room and scowled. Poltergeist offered to pay for it (she was the only one with a check book), and Steel Scorpion said he would cover the check.  Poltergeist even offered to write up a favorable interview in Fate Magazine if he would cooperate with them, but Ego scoffed at her idea.  Instead, he railed against the heroes destroying his home ("And who knows what's going on upstairs! That other one is up there, no doubt!").  During all this time, BioLogic removed Ego's computer and stashed in the Humvee.  Who knows what it might have on it?  When Steel Scorpion mentioned that money would not be a problem (he was quite wealthy himself), Ego suddenly quieted and became interested."Hmmm... Tell you what."  Ego looked at the heroes and released his hand from his brother's shoulder.  He reached into his robe and lit a cigarette, which he took a deep drag on.  "I will tell you what I know of Umbra.  I know a little, but more than you I think - and I will tell you everything."  He blew out a cloud of smoke at Steel Scorpion.  "For a price."  He smiled.  The team bickered with Ego for quite a bit, who seemed more interested in money than fighting (he also refused a personal check from Poltergeist, evidently miffed at her deception.  The team went down to the local bank and Steel Scorpion got a cashiers' check for $30k).  Once the team returned, Ego already had a company starting to replace his bay window.  He had noticed his stolen computer, and demanded it back.  The heroes agreed, once they checked it out for any information on Umbra.  Ego didn't like this, but he agreed once he saw the cashier's check.  He accepted it with a shark-like grin.True to his word, Ego had little information on Umbra.  They hired him and his brother to serve as a metahuman security team of sorts, as they apparently do at all their locations.  He knew that the leader of The Resources for Umbra is named 'Gabriel' - a seemingly powerful metahuman.  An off hand comment by Gabriel to Ego about another cell in Los Angeles gave the team a real clue - something about it being in a building as tall as this cell was deep.  Ego offered to inform the heroes if he was contacted by Umbra for more money, but they declined.  Having Ego literally on payroll did not seem like a good idea at the time.  As the heroes left, they said their good-byes - but Ego merely stared at the check and licked his lips.The team made their report to Nathan.  Hacker began to examine the computer with Arsenal's assistance.  They found nothing on the hard drive other than a self-aggrandizing book half-written by Ego.  Also, it appeared that Ego had quite a few outstanding debts to various bookies around town.  Then Hacker made a real find - a bug of some kind attached to the hard drive, sending out a weak pulse at intervals.  The team confiscated that and packaged up Ego's computer, and shipped it to him as he requested.Nathan had little to say about the assignment.  He was pleased that it was successful, and the team now had an avenue to pursue.  He seemed more interested in explaining how best to deal with Skull, as their interview with him would be later on that afternoon.  Nathan explained that Skull could be difficult to communicate with - and not just because of his telepathy.  He was almost alien in his thinking and held little regard for the niceties of typical conversation.  But he could be a gold mine of information for the heroes - after all, he searched for Elizabeth for over a year.  Nathan gave them instructions to Skull's home, and the team once more departed.They made their way up into the Santa Monica mountains, giving them a good view of both the Valley and the Los Angeles basin.  As good a view as you can get with the levels of smog that seem to cover the city like a dirty blanket.Skull's home was surprisingly small, and looked like little more than a 2 story log cabin.  The team parked the Humvee and exited the vehicle.  There were no security guards, no dogs, and no cameras in evidence.  The road did have a booth they had to check in at - but that was miles ago, at the base of the mountain.  Scattered about the front of the cabin were dozens of wood carvings.  Many were of animals, and they ranged from rough carvings of eagles to extremely detailed representations of wolves.  A rocking chair sat among them, a pile of wood shavings scattered about it.  Small carved wooden skulls lined the stairs leading to the front door.  This must be the right place.BioLogic rang the front door, and whether it was humor or not from the owner of the house - a funeral dirge sounded.  The team waited a few minutes and rang the door again.  No one answered.  Edge tried the door, and it opened with a creaking sound.  The team looked in.The first floor was apparently but one room.  Near the left wall, stairs ascended to the second floor.  But the first floor contained nothing - no furniture, no windows, no wall hangings.  Nothing, except for Skull himself.  He is much like he appears in the movies or on TV - a skeleton, though the bones that make up his structure are noticeably thicker than a true human skeleton.  He sat in the middle of the floor, Indian style, unmoving.  He faced the door, as if expecting visitors.  The team greeted him and moved inside.Suddenly, Skull stood up.  His eyes flashed with a pale light, and the team heard his voice in their heads.  In the movies, Skull's voice is often dubbed-in by James Earl Jones - and it bears an uncanny resemblance."So... you are to be Nathan's team, and perhaps Elizabeth's finders."  "Y-yes."  It did not seem to be a question, but Poltergeist answered nonetheless.Skull crouched, and his hands suddenly turned into fists.  "I do not think so."  Without warning, he leaped for BioLogic.  It was so unexpected that BioLogic was totally caught off guard.  The impact was horrifying, flinging the doctor back into the walls of the cabin.  He hit with an odd thud - the wooden logs were nothing but a facade.  Steel beams made up Skull's home, for whatever reason.  BioLogic was not seriously hurt, and staggered to his feet.Poltergeist looked to Skull with horror.  "What are you doing...?!?"  Thoughts of Skull being the leader of Umbra flashed through her mind.  Some of the team even screamed into their communicators, asking Hacker and Nathan what was going on.  But they knew nothing - and had no idea why Skull would attack.  Edge sensed combat, and that was all he needed - no matter who it was against.  With a blur, his arm pistoned forward towards Skull's head - but surprisingly Skull moved aside at the last moment.  Edge may be slightly faster, but Skull had years and years of experience to draw on.Most of the team was stunned and unsure of how to proceed.  A few paused to plead with Skull to stop his senseless attack.  BioLogic however reared back and delivered a thunderous punch to Skull's jaw that actually caused him to stagger a bit - no mean feat.  Poltergeist used her telekinetic powers to keep Skull rooted and unable to move.  It was a tactic that worked so well on Livid, but Skull was far stronger.  Though he was slowed, he continued to advance on her teammates one by one.  Meanwhile, Edge peppered Skull with punches and kicks that either failed to hit or apparently had no appreciable effect.  BioLogic stretched his organic suit to the rafters, grabbed a hold of a wooden support beam for the roof, and pulled, hoping to bring the roof down.  But the beam itself was made of steel as well (to his credit, it bent slightly).  For his part, Skull's fist slammed into the nearby chest of Arsenal, sending him flying back into a wall, stunned.  Skull seemed unstoppable.Poltergeist rose into the air, and flung herself full speed at the Skull's back, hoping against hope to do some damage to him.  Just as she was about to impact, Skull turned aside and reached out.  His hand wrapped around her neck and he drew her near.  Poltergeist made a small choking sound, and pulled at Skull's hands ineffectively.  His eyes pulsed, and everyone heard his voice."Cease your attack, or the woman dies."The team hesitated for a moment, unsure of where to proceed.  To fight a metahuman is one thing, but to be attacked by one so powerful and respected? It was almost too much to process.  Poltergeist heard this but continued to struggle.  She used her telekinetic powers to wrap her cloak around Skull's head, hoping to perhaps distract him for a moment.  But with his free hand, he ripped it aside, unfazed.  Edge, taking that as a cue, jumped forward and slammed his fist into Skull's side.  Skull merely turned his head and looked at the hero, and said nothing.  BioLogic moved forward, intent on attacking Skull as well, despite his warning.Skull's hand opened, and Poltergeist dropped to the floor, unhurt.  He looked down at her, and his eyes flashed."You should be dead."  He looked back up at the team."Cease your attacks.  She is not harmed.  It was not my intent to harm."Edge looked at Skull, furious.  "So what was your intent??""To test your mettle, of course.  To see whom it was that would serve Nathan.  To see if you possess the strength to see your task through, to find Elizabeth.  You will not succeed if you are fools or cowards."  His head swiveled to look at all of them.  "At the least, you are not cowards."  Skull walked past the obviously infuriated Edge, and towards the stairs.  "Come, I wish to speak with you more."The team looked to each other, and one by one began to follow the Power Force leader.  All except for Edge.  He merely shook his head and left the cabin.The upstairs were much different.  This looked to be where someone could stay and sleep, and there was even a small kitchen.  Most likely things for guests, as Skull neither required sleep or food.  In one corner of the room stood a trophy case, containing odd bits of things, most unidentifiable.  One item in particular was recognizable however - a battered armored helmet belonging to Blacksmith.  Skull moved forward and sat at a computer system.  His eyes flashed."Sit.  I wish to speak of Elizabeth, what I have found, and what you have found."Skull congratulated them on the recent break in the search for Umbra - something he found nothing of for over a year.  His care for Elizabeth was apparent, as was his respect for Nathan.  He gave them phone numbers and other ways to contact him if they ever needed his help.  Skull also provided the team with a full blood work-up for Elizabeth, taken six months before she disappeared.  It contained nothing unusual - she was no mutant or mutate, much to the dismay of certain members of the team who thought that might be a reason for her kidnapping.  They discussed Umbra more, and Skull agreed that whomever was behind the group must possess a great deal of money.  More money and reach than a normal terrorist organization might have - along the lines of a country or a rare few individuals.  This gave the team pause.Skull gave them all the files he had on Elizabeth and began to walk the team outside.  His eyes flashed."If you think me testing you in this way was wrong, then I am sorry.  But I will not have Nathan served by the Weak.  He deserves only the Strong."  Skull said those two words as if they meant something to him.  "All of you fought well, but..."  He looked outside, almost as if he could see Edge.  "The fighter - Edge.  He cared little for your well-being, Poltergeist.  If I were an enemy, as I appeared to be, I would have been able to snap your neck quite easily.  This worries me."Poltergeist looked up at Skull.  "Well, we thought it might be a test..."  Skull nodded. "Then if it were a test, your tactics should have been to take everything as serious as possible."The group exited the cabin, and walked towards the Humvee.  Skull looked at Edge, who sat on the vehicles bumper, but said nothing.  He did once more reiterate to the group that if he were near and they needed him, he would be there.  He also told them that Power Force 2 would soon be in Europe to cover a World Trade conference, which had received some threats from a metahuman terrorist group.  The team said their good-byes, and left to return to Nathan's home.******END:: And that's it for now, dear reader.  I hear good ol' Colonel Parks is going to tear into the team, and have a few words to say about their tactics.  But then again, I don't think there is a way to please the guy.  ///End Report 04.24.2001 05.13.02 GMT</blockquote>

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