The police took the criminals into custody, but a business card found on one of the suspects was from a building that had closed sometime ago, a Vanguard warehouse. The three paranormals asked for permission to investigate. It was given. At the warehouse, signs of current use were apparent. The three decided to break in and surprise any people inside.
Crocodile smashed the door, but the workers inside responded quickly. The three were pinned down just inside the warehouse, and the battle dragged on. By the time they reached the heart of the building, the door had been barricaded. Again a door was smashed and the final battle begun. The head man here, a Vincent Scarletti, was shouting into the phone for reinforcements to hold off 'the superheroes'. The fight ended quickly. Doctor Desist used redial to call up the unknown leader, but his Scarletti impersonation was insufficient. The paranormals were warned against further interference.
With a notebook of planned criminal activities, the team planned an ambush at a jewelry store. The owner agreed to cooperate and the plan was implemented. Entropy shopped and disappeared, staying in the store after closing. Crocodile waited nearby in the team van. Doctor Desist waited until after closing, then took a watching post from the roof.
The burgulars were totally surprised. Entropy met them at the door, keeping them away from damaging the store. Desist blasted from above. Crocodile executed a perfect flanking move, letting none escape.
The team decided not to interfere with the next plan, a bank job. They planned instead to follow the thieves after the job. What the team did not think of, but perhaps should have, was that their foes would also plan ahead. Desist stayed in the bank, opening an account. Crocodile and Entropy waited nearby, to follow whoever robbed the bank.
Instead of robbers, what arrived was the Midnight Men. They demanded that 'those who interfered' show up and fight, or civilians would suffer. After a brief debate, Crocodile and Entropy faced the Midnight Men. Entropy tried to convince Apollo, their leader, to accept a battle of Champions, but found the going rough. Their conversation was interrupted by Detonator, who preferred fighting to diplomacy.
Crocodile and Entropy initially had success using the larger numbers of the Midnight Men against them. Detonator took several shots from Apollo. The furious Detonator then retaliated with a radius attack. However, the team was doomed when Desist came out of the bank and attempted mind control, only to be immediately knocked out.
Crocodile fell after taking multiple hits. Entropy attempted a hit and run policy. His failed policy was cut short by Stormstress capturing Desist. Entropy then fought the entire team straight up, falling quickly. Apollo gave a cryptic riddle to Entropy as he was being fried by Black Empress. The Midnight Men then departed, leaving the fallen team.
The Guardians were able to establish a beachhead but the goons were too numerous to bypass. The fight continued as the hall became littered with bodies from both sides. Finally the Guardians cleared out the immediate area. There was no time to celebrate, however, as Entropy surveyed the defense monitors. Fresh troops and the Midnight Men were coming fast!
The Midnight Men proved willing to negotiate, as they only desired the Guardians to leave. Desist and Apollo traded insults as a place for a final confrontation was chosen. Zap and Detonator got into the insult game and the two faced off in a nearby room, officiated by the Midnight Men, with Apollo's guarantee of safe conduct. Zap humiliated Detonator, destroying his power device and armor. Zap left, accompanied by Apollo's threats.
The Guardians prepared hard for their first superpowered battle. Entropy's evaluation gave no opportunity for overconfidence. The Guardians decided on a deceptively simple plan. The Guardians then arrived early and deployed their forces.
The Midnight Men arrived and attacked. The Guardians split according to their plan. Entropy faced off with Apollo, Croc butted heads with Noose, Banshee distracted Black Empress, and Zap once again destroyed Detonator. Most importantly, Flaming Star joined Desist in attacking Stormstress. She fell quickly, giving the Guardians control of the air.
Black Empress caught Banshee and downed her, but it was too late. Noose fell, followed quickly by Detonator. Apollo was buried by a hail of fire. Black Empress teleported all she could, but Noose and Stormstress were dragged clear and captured. The way to the villain base was clear.
The Guardians swept away all resistance in the Organizer's base. His troops fought hard, but were no match for the revitalized Guardians. The door booby trap only infuriated the team further. Finally the levels were cleared and all resistance gone. Zap then carefully searched for secret areas, finding one on a lower level. Investigating, the team faced the Organizer. Despite his apparent tactical genius, this paranormal wannabe inspired no fear. He looked stupid. After a brief speech, the Organizer used his escape route, followed closely by Zap.
The Organizer used a small sub to escape his base. Zap disabled the electrical system, but the sub cruised on. The other Guardians arrived too late to help. The Guardians followed the trail for days, breaking up a gang fight arranged by the Organizer. The Guardians realized that they too were hunted by a vengeful Apollo.
It was Apollo who first succeeded in the hunt. Using a planted tipster in a bar, he lured the Guardians to an abandoned pier. The Guardians, after a fun bar fight, followed the trail to the ambush. There, however, Croc and Zap defeated Apollo, with Croc revealing the leader of the Midnight Men to be a robot. Desist and Entropy arrived then, blasting Apollo into the water. The Guardians chose mercy over vengeance and responded to Apollo's cry for help. In return, Apollo gave the Guardians another riddle before being teleported away.
Conclusions & Followup:
The team found a notebook that detailed future robbery plans. The team decided to prepare an ambush for the next raid. They also continued with a barrage of crank calls using redial until their unknown foe used call blocking. For awhile, we had fun.
Guardian File #1192DC4b
Codename: From the jaws of defeat
Guardians: Crocodile, Doctor Desist, Entropy
Antagonists: Jewelry thieves, the Midnight Men
Contacts: Future Guardians Banshee and Zap
Conclusions: The Midnight Men would pay for smashing the team so easily. Chess sent agents to the battle site. Banshee and Zap joined the team, and the Guardians were formed.
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Guardian File #1192DC4c
Codename: The dragon sails
Guardians: Banshee, Crocodile, Doctor Desist, Entropy, Zap
Antagonists: Many many criminals
Working with two new teammates and Apollo's riddle, the Guardians, worked out that a boat, the Sea Dragon, heading to Staten Island was important. They followed the boat as it sailed into a unused harbor near an automated lighthouse. A secret cave warehouse was revealed, and so the Guardians attacked. The battle was massive, long, and costly. The battle spread through the warehouse and all along the shore. Finally the Guardians triumphed. A search started for the remaining thug missing in the warehouse. He appeared suddenly and ran out, screaming about a radiation leak. The Guardians cleared out all bodies and notified Chess.
Follow-up and Conclusions:
The team chose the name suggested by Crocodile during this time, the Guardians. Doctor Desist was chosen as the team leader. Soon after the team was formed it prepared for its first true Superpowered duel.
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Guardian File #1192DC4d
Codename: First Blood
Antagonists: The Midnight Men:
Follow-up and Conclusions:
Our first big victory. It showed our potential strengths, including the high intelligence of our team. The elaborate plans of the Guardians became legendary. Often intense planning replaced smart fighting in the Guardian scheme of things. Most important of all, the this fight allowed the Guardians to jell as a team.
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Guardian File #1192DC4e
Codename: Predator and Prey
Antagonists: Apollo, goons, and..
The Organizer: The man who dresses like a colorful chicken
Follow-up and Conclusions:
Ultimately, the Guardians owe much to the Organizer. He gave the team a early focus. He also gave the team Guardian base, which was never penetrated. The new Crimelord forged a sword that threatens him still.
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Created by James and Tim Thorne
last revised 1Oct99
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