Red Blaze's Hero Blog

First Entry - So I’m A Superhero, Huh?

 

So my new costume came in.  (Yay!)  It certain does...  I'm wondering if I'm sending the wrong message here.  Don't get me wrong, I certainly like how it "shapes" me (I think the tailor got a little too excited in some places), but is this really the image I want to project to the guys I beat the crap out of?  Eh, I guess it’s all apart of that “assuming a new identity” thing.  Because I certainly DON’T look like this without the suit!  Hmmm, I wonder if can wear the suit under my normal clothes...

 

 

After doing various crime-fighting activities in Galaxy City, Greg Richardson (my contact at MAGI) sent me to see to see this weird old man in Atlas Park, Laurence Mansfield.  He’s a ... what-do-call-'em ... he works on dead people at the hospital.  (“Cadaverteers?”)  His sense of humor's a little strange.  He's got me checking on the Circle of Thorn.  Did I do something wrong?

 

 

It’s Not Like The Comics ... Not That Read Comics

 

Kip Cantorum in Galaxy City, a techy nerd, has me investigating various Vahzilok incidents.  Ewww...  I sear to God, if he sends me into the sewers..!  Already I have to take two showers a night to wash off he smell of burnt street thug.  This superhero thing is a lot more complicated than I thought.

 

 

I’m a little worried about this “abandoned cave” that these Circle of Thorns cultists are supposedly holding up in.  I think I may need help on this...  But, I don’t know how this whole “team up” stuff with other heroes is supposed to work.  I mean, what’s the etiquette?  I don’t want to be all, “you guys looking for a little action tonight?”  I’ve had other heroes approach me, and I still don’t know if they were hitting on me or trying to team up.  Which ever one it was, they were doing a bad job at it!  Sheesh, do any of these muscle-bound heroes know how to talk to a woman?!  Like this one dinkle-bat, the Dark Ghost ... I’ve met middle-school kids with more chutzpah!  Maybe I should talk to Freedom Corps and have them hook me up with someone?  Christ, this is starting to sound like my love life!  (My doomed love life...) And while I’m on the topic of that, Captain Liberty was right.  Never date Europeans!

 

 

Being a Hero

 

I’m starting to realize I really have to put my money where my mouth is regarding the whole superhero thing.  Those of you who know me know that I never wanted to be a superhero.  I never even knew much about the whole superhero “lifestyle”, but there’s a lot of things in life we don’t get a say in.  When I discovered I was “super”, when the Goddess Kologoth chose me to be her champion, I didn’t know what I was in store for.  Sure, I had seen the movies, I knew what a superhero was ... but beyond the appearance of being a “superhero”, I didn’t (and still don’t) know how to be a “hero.”

 

Beating up street punks seems easy enough, but now I’m starting to encounter more ... insidious adversaries.  The Circle of Thorns scare me.  They use magic, as I do, but for the use of power and inflicting pain.  I don’t know if I’m strong enough to face these guys.

 

 

Joining Up

 

So, I decided to join a hero organization, the Freedom Squad.  Oh, it’s such a relief to be among other people who are also “super.”  I’m so lost with what I’m still supposed to do and how to do it, it’s such a relief to have others to turn to now.  I just hopes this turns out okay, or that they don’t expect me to sell stuff.

 

 

Summoned To Meet The Council

 

So I met the Freedom Squad Director’s Circle.  They wanted to meet me to give their final approval of me as a new member.  To be honest, when I first entered the Circle Room where they conveniene, I was pretty intimated.  Each member was an expert in their own superhero field.  The Circle makes important decisions regard the Freedom Squad and also ponder important matters.  After my initial encounter, they turned out to be pretty approachable.  Pegasus was like the nicest.  She was very open and accommodating.  Mr. Nowhere kinda creeps me out, although he didn’t say anything to me.  I haven”t met this Grey Turbine yet ... he’s one of the Directors ... but apparently some the other Directors haven’t met him in person either.  I couldn’t tell if they were joking or not.

 

Capt. Lefty was really friendly too.  Kind a like an enthusiatic camp councilor primed for a sing-along.  He gave me a coupon for his shop down in Skyway, “Leftopia.”  A store that caters to ... you guessed it ... the Left-handed.  I didn’t want to be rude, but I really couldn’t find anything to buy there, and he was staring at me the whole time.  I think he was both trying to pretend he didn’t know me because he was in his secret-identity, and trying to suppress his eagerness at actually having someone in his store.  I’m mean I’m right-handed (not that I care about that), but I don’t know what I would buy if I was left-handed anyway.  I finally got a left-handed calander and some left-handed chewing gum.

 

Actually, the store was a little bare.  I’m mean it had plenty of stuff, but a couple of the shelves were empty.  I tried to give him some constructive criticism, giving him a few suggestions on how he could decorate the store up a bit.  He didn’t get it, and in camp counsilor mode, put his hand on my shoulder and asked, “What’s really bothering you, Red?”  Whatever.  He’s really nice though.  I hope he’s not still living with his mother.

 

 

A Visit To The Hospital

 

I had my first visit to the hospital since starting my new profession.  Thanks to my MedCom patch, I was teleported to safety when I got injured.  It was the Vahzilok (God, I hate them!).   The two women got away, but I didn’t.  It all happened so fast.  Whatever conceit I’ve gained over my recent string of success has promptly been thrown out the proverbially window. 

 

When I ‘appeared’ in Crown Memorial I didn’t know what to say, I was just in total shock.  I think I just silently nodded to the doctor to whatever he saying ... I wasn’t listening at all.  I stayed there for about two and a half hours, just long enough to barely collect my thoughts and take in a day-time soap opera.  I forgot how serious this superhero could get.  Thank you MedCom patch.

 

 

Busted up a fight at this Dance Club called The Portal.  I don’t know what’s with these ravers...  I guess I just don’t get it.  It has come to my attention I don’t like most things.  Not sure what that means yet.  Maybe I should make an effort to try out things I blatantly dislike...   I relistened to some of the old Goth music I used to listen to in highschool ... so embrassing now. 

 

 

Perez Park Chronicles

 

Perez Park is a Hazard Zone.  That means the city has no control over it whatsoever.  They’ve cut their losses and built a wall around it, like in ‘Escape From New York.’  My first visit there was quite an eye opener. 

 

When I first became a hero I gave up a few months in.  It was just all too scary.  I took a few months off, and during that time I found the strength to go back at it again.  I trained a lot, volunteered at MAGI to build up my knowledge of magic lore, and then I took a second crack at my ‘destiny.’  The reason I bring this up now is because one of the factors that caused me to hang up the ‘cape’, as it where, was my first visit to Perez Park.

 

The gangs have open control to the area outside the park and they do whatever they like.  It’s a lawless land where they gather in huge numbers.  Inside the park ... there is evil in those woods that is so dark and strong I dare not venture in.  But I have a duty to do, and currently that duty means going to Perez Park.  I don’t know how this is all going to turn out, so maybe it’s best I don’t dwell on it too much like I usually do.

 

 

Circle of Thorns In My @$$!

 

So there’s this medical Intern at Chiron Hospital in Atlas Park.  Her name is Stacy.  When I show up there, she doesn’t even need to ask, but she does.  “Perez?” she says.  “Yup”, I respond.  Those damn dirty Circle of Thorns jerkholes!  Back to Hogwarts with you!

 

Because I’ve become an “expert” as of late in dealing with the Circle of Thorns, I’ve been asked by my contact to procure some CoT weapons for examination.  Yeah, right.  They’re going up on Ebay tomorrow night, I bet you anything.  He said he’s been hearing about me on the nightly news???  (I wonder if I can get a copy from someone...)  Probably because of all the hospital visits, they must be under the impression that I’m some sort of battle-hardened Perez Park veteran.  Funny, funny. 

 

 

Hmm, apparently the Circle of Thorns don’t want their junk falling into the “wrong hands” ... there must be some spell or ward attached to them.  They vanish when seperated from the Guard’s hands.  Maybe they have strict equipment-rental policies?  ;)  I’ll talk to someone at MAGI, or maybe Zelda at Pandora’s Box, about it.  Looks like Ebay will have to wait.

 

 

Steel Canyon

 

Steel Canyon is an impressive place.  These guys are real superheroes, not the Captain Capes or Idiot-N-Tights I’ve been running into.  Finally meeting some serious superheroes.  The neighborhoods are pretty rough, and since I’m contact is on the other side of town, what I’ve been doing is hovering up to the monorail line and running along it until I get to where I’m going to avoid any villains.  I know it’s cheesy, and it’s just a matter of days before the Paragon Transit Authority catches me, but it works for now.

 

 

Protecting The People

 

Steel Canyon’s native breed of street thugs are the Outcasts.  Most of them are basically jerks with knives, but many of them have fledgling superpowers themselves and use them to bully people.  I spotted three Outcasts mugging a woman...  I was about to intervene, as is what I to do, but this time I paused ... and watched.  I watched the woman’s face, her eyes, her fear ... and I imagined what would happen if I wasn’t there.  If I hadn’t showed up.  Would they have just taken the purse, or would they have hurt her?  I did intervene and stopped them, even though they really put up a hard, hard fight.  But I think now, more than ever, I understand my new responsibility.  I just hope I can keep this up.

 

 

Paying My Dues

 

Paid my first membership dues to Freedom Squad.  The first month was free, but the second is when they charge you.  I was actually quite proud to do it.  I was there with several other new members.  It ... I don’t know how to describe it ... but I think we all felt just really, really proud to be a part of somthing like Freedom Squad.  An organization of people trying to do good in the world. 

 

 

Almost ended up like Sgt. Jetpack ... ran from a Shocker into a group of Outcasts around the corner, into a group of Circle of Thorns.  Got away though.  Whew!

 

Boy, long day today.  Here’s my schedule:  3:00 PM, stop fanatical mutant homeless people from preaching their violent gospel and prevent them recruiting others to their evil cause.  5:00 PM, return videos (already late one night), jam dinner down (probably City of Gyros).  6:00 PM, stop fanatical evil nazis from preaching their violent gospel and prevent them recruiting others to their evil cause. 

 

These 5^th Column people are crazy!  I don’t know who’s more nuts in this town.  I think it’s a ten-way tie for first place, with the heroes coming in at a close second. 

 

 

The Vahzilok Slaughter

 

Got a phone call from my contact, Tristan Caine ... there was an emmergency.  Vahzilok were massacring people an office building.  Hopefully there weren’t many in the building, maybe only a dozen, but still ...  I had to move fast.  I raced over there as fast as I could.  One lady had managed to get away.  The lucky survivor burst out of the building, her head covered in blood, stumbling everywhere.  She was fine ... it wasn’t her blood.  A witness immediately called Tristan, who got a hold of me through my other contact Lawrence Mansfield.

 

I guess the Vahzilok expected to only find the cleaning crew, but a bunch of people were pulling in a late night meeting.  When they discovered how many victims they had, it turned into a killing frenzy.

 

Got to the building.  God, I hope people are still alive.  Please, Kologoth, please.

 

Found no survivors, floor after floor.  Argh!  I really, really hate these guys.  I cut them down, one after another...  No survivors still.

 

Found a body bag.  Inside it was a woman.  Her eyes were wide open.  Luckily I opened the bag at the feet first.  I tried to close her eyes, but they wouldn’t.  This was my first deady body ... my first dead innocent body.  I tried to zip the body bag shut by the @#$% zipper wouldn’t get unstuck, so I left it.

 

When I finally did find a survivor, a man, he told me where he thought others were ... others he could hear while his captives we chosing which tools to take his arms off.  Then the “human” surgeon who was going to remove his arms left him, and he stood prisoner by one of those damn exploding zombies ... luckily when I got there I was able to destroy it before he blew up both me and the man.

 

I had then rescued six survivors, finding two more body bags of people.  The last woman I saved, I helped her wash her face off as I regained my breath, said she was probably the last one ... but I couldn’t take that chance.  No, I could hear something.  I could hear footsteps scrape against the floor ... but where?!?

 

Ugh, I couldn’t find the sound.  I ran and ran until I felt I was going mad.  I checked up and down, I yelled out for them...  Finally, when I was sure they were dead by now, I found her.  I don’t remember any of it ... it was just a blur of fire and pain and acidic odor.  I couldn’t kill them all, but I grab her under my arm and leaped three floors down to the lobby ground with her and hovered before we hit.  I threw her in the elevator and told her to immediately get out of here.  She stopped the elevator and wanted to know if anyone else had made it out.  I didn’t answer, I just pushed her back in.  Pretty hard actually, and sent her down to the ground floor.  Then I finished off the last two Vahzilok. 

 

The last one was a “human” ... the only reason I use that term because the others are more ... inhuman.  They’re frankenstein zombies with no ... no light of consciousness in them.  But I stretch the definition of the word human by applying it to him.  It’s not my hate for him, which was great, but the ... the demonic glint in his eyes.  It was total fanatism, total evil.  Oh, God, the look in his eyes.  I can’t remember anything but my fire reflecting in his wide, bulging eyes.

 

Seven survivors, three dead. 

 

After a walk around the whole building I left.  It was dawn.  I stepped out of the building and called Tristan.  Sat down at the fountains ... tried to meditate but couldn’t.  Just cried and cried.  Same thing when I went home.  In the morning I felt drained.  Dreading this day, being a superhero, more than any other I’ve ever faced.  I don’t know if I have the strength to even walk. 

 

Even though I told HQ I was taking the day off to recover, both physically and spiritually, but the moment I woke up I knew I wasn’t staying in.  There was a gang war going down between the Hellions and the Skulls, and time is a factor, whether I’m up for it or not. 

 

 

Skyway, not my way

 

Me fight Trolls in Skyway.  They green and not so smarts.  Me no like Trolls and Skyway.  Me miss Steel Canyon.  Atleast me not in sewer.  Me stop talking like Troll now.

 

Ugh, Skyway City is nuts!  Ugh, I keep turning the corner into a group of Trolls, or ... the first time I met my contact there, Lorenzo DiCosta, I kept banging my head against raised platforms of the elevated concrete stairways when I was flying away ... real smooth.

 

It’s so odd taking lunch breaks while superheroing.  I was stuck in Skyway, doing the bidding of the Security Chief, and well, a superhero’s gotta eat too like everyone else, so I popped into the Dirty Duck Bar and Grill.  I feel really embarassed going in with me in the suit, almost as if I was leaving a Star Trek convention dressed like Klingon.  I have to make sure I don’t have blood or sewer stink on me.  I get a few odd looks, but not as many as I thought I would.  Either they don’t know me, or they don’t care (probably both) because they’re used to heroes by now.  I have to remember to bring a small wad of cash in my boot.  The last thing I need is to use a bank card and advertise my secret identity ... or worse to endure the embarrasement of my card not working because I fell off a building or melted it something.  It think it feels the weirdest when I’m flagging down the waiter for another refill of ice tea, or when I’m too cheap to get dessert.  Luckily, they don’t seem to expect me to tip like a celebrity, or somethng, which is good.  What a strange life I lead.

 

My suit is fire-proof, I am fire-proof ... my contacts not so much.  They melted day one, and ever since I’ve been a bit near-sighted.  It’s a good thing I’m not a blaster or no one would be safe!

 

 

I Can Fly!

 

Oh, I’ve just had the best day!  Not only did I just get promoted to Security Level 14 (Dental plan!!) but I experienced a surge in my superpowers!  Oh my God, I can fly!  I’m mean I could before, but pedestrians could out pace my at a casual stroll.  But now I can soar!  It’s incredible.  I spent the whole afternoon going everywhere.  I think my feet never touched the ground the entire day, I was even too lazy to land when fighting... It was just great.  When I did land, my legs had that weird feeling you get when you’ve spent all day in a water park in one of the those wave beaches.  Very cool.

 

Then later, after a quick dinner, I headed out to Perez Park ... a place of much of my late-night anxiety.  I flew over it, mastering the sky above it.  Very theraputic. 

 

The downside to the whole experience is I think I accidentally got on a Reality TV show.  I spotted the very rare monster of Perez Park, Kraken.  I kept my distance ... very dangerous.  Well, here’s come this hero and the reality TV drone that follows him around.  He beat the Kraken, and yeah, I definetly got on the show ... Eh, whatever.

 

 

The Streets of Steel Canyon

 

I’ve been having lots of fun flying around Steel Canyon.  I hate to say it, but I truly love taunting those Outcast Shocker jerks into the sky and knocking them down to earth.  Finally fought a “Brick”, that’s Hero Slang for a member of the Outcast gang that uses earth powers.  Pretty tough, but not as tough as some Trolls get.  What a crazy pace, Paragon City.  Found a hot bed of Circle of Thorns on Grimley Ridge.  Glad those bright pajamas of theirs catch fire.

 

These Outcasts have powers but instead of being a hero like all of us Capes, they’re a bunch of punks and use their powers to get what they want.  I try not to go too hard on them, because you know, there’s still a chance with them.  Not like these Fifth Column or Vahzilok nutballs (A little fire’ll teach them em who’s boss!).  I guess it takes a unique kind of person to be a superhero, and I don’t mean that necessarily in the positive sense.  I’ve definitely seen some weird guys running around.  Luckily the other heroes in Freedom Squad seem to have their act together.  A loose-cannon hero is as big a threat as any villain.

 

 

A Visit to Faultline

 

Got a haircuit today.  They cut it too short as usual.  It’ll take a week or two until I get used to it.

 

Talked to the Security Chief of Faultline in Skyway.  He was pretty critical of me of whether or not I could survive in Faultline.  Ha, I’ll show him!

 

Got pretty worked up fighting Vahzilok.  A little success quickly went to my head and the next thing I found was I was teleported to the Hospital.  Thank God for those Medcom patches!