Aliens

Aliens

The Harvesters - An alien species that lives in between the universes.  They hunt down and feed upon beings that possess the Star Force.  They are on the verge of extinction with the last of the species now trapped in the Super U’niverse.  They found the universe after Arien Blackwood breached the Cascade and landed on Earth, his minor Star Force signature was enough for “The Erroneous Bleed” to track him down.  At the time they were being guided by Genesis, another being of immense power trapped in the space between universes.

They were defeated and imprisoned on Earth in The Column and the SPIRaL ARC facilities, after their leader Genesis fled the battle and abandoned his troops.

The Entity - Is a cosmic being that feeds upon the chaos that is sowed by his Scions.  One of the last beings of his kind in the universe after his people fought in each other to the death in the War of Sorrows.  His true name is unpronounceable in the human tongue; Spectacular once built a universal translator that took a few days to finally spit out ‘Ted’.

The Scions - Are beings that were once normal until the God Seed filled them and turned them into the Entity’s ‘sons’.  They go about the universe and cause destruction and the energy of the chaos caused by them feeds their master.

The Catalogers - Are a species that are virtually unknown to the whole of the universe.  They chronicle everything that happens, and are able to pass between the fabric between the worlds.  Everything they collect is stored in The Knowledge, a massive hunk of extra terrestrial quartz, which is found in the center of the complex in which they live.  The Chief Archivist oversees all of the activities of the Catalogers and is able to navigate The Knowledge with ease, plucking information from it and allowing others to relive the data.

The Star Force Centurions - Fueled by an alien Star Force that had been bound into the Harvester Ship “The Erroneous Bleed”.  Freed during the formation of the WMD and IED when the Harvesters assaulted the Star Force imbued beings of Earth, it picked another Star Force that had been bound in the rock of Central Park in New York City and chose it to spread the word and find hosts to divide its power and police the universe.

The Antianeira - More commonly called Amazons, The Antianeira are high borne noble-women warriors that were exiled to Earth millennia ago.  The Amazon myths came from them.  Originally led by Penthesilea until her death, currently those who remain after the Purge are led by Daphne the daughter of Penthesilea who is better known to the world as Amazona.

Saturday Super Stories - Religion 108 Part 1

My name is Mercedes Whitman and I'm a hero on a foreign world. I am the daughter of two heroes, and was trapped on this Earth during an Event that sealed the way back home forever. They call me Black Sapphire when I’m out patrolling, and these are my Blogs.

The phone rang over and over again pulling Sapphire from her nightmares.  She rolled and slapped it out of the cradle and let it strike the phone, clattering off her bedroom floor tiles.  She stabbed at the speaker button and asked, “Hello?”

“Where the hell have you been?”  Walters voice came through the speaker.

“I’m working on something.”  She muttered in return.

“Are you still working that Scion thing?”  He retorted. 

She nodded before speaking, “Yes, I am still working on that Scion thing.  I’m going to cure him and try and regain a little of my past if that’s okay with you.”

“It’s not.  I need you back on the job.  There’s something big brewing in the city and I need as many eyes on the ground to try and get ahead of this thing.”  Walters growled back at her.

“I’ll be there as soon I get done with this, I have to go to Sham’bala next and I don’t have a choice.”  She pulled herself free of the sheets and sat on the edge of the bed looking the living area and Wynn’s unconscious body on the couch.  “My next lead showed up on my doorstep last night and it’s in Sham’bala on the full moon in two days time.”

The phone was silent for a moment.  “I expect you back here by week’s end or your fired.”

“Deal.”  The phone went silent, and she sighed.

Religion 108 - Part 1 “The Book of Genesis”

‘I am the Nameless and I bring you a tale of evolution and destruction.  Our story begins on a world long forgotten in the current era, where a young man has been deposited by his fearsome masters for gaining sentience and losing the subservience that had been bred into the minions that they grew as their cannon fodder.  He is the Coming Darkness.’

They had left him abandoned and alone on a desolate world, one used in ages past for training and warfare.  Everything around him had been designed to kill or test an individual and he found it irritating.  This was in its own way curious in the manner that he had never before had thoughts such as these. So he wandered the world, his ‘new’ home, in the hopes of finding some way off of it so that he might take his revenge on his former masters.

Much time passes…

The locals have taken to calling him the coming darkness.  As he wanders the world destroying whatever comes his way the planet evolves to meet his challenge.  He grows in might and strength, gaining everyday as the world tests him.

But soon the world is not enough for Project Genesis and he escapes into the atmosphere as he is now capable of flight, but in space he finds his next obstacle, one that keeps him busy for quite a while. 

In space no one can hear you scream, until you evolve to a point in your genetic potentiality that the vacuum of space cannot hold you back, and he is released into the universe un-tethered by the war world.

More time passes…

The Coming Darkness moves through the universe and destroys system after system; no survivors are left in his wake.  Eventually the rest of intelligent species still living band together and put together an army to combat the Darkness and imprison the galactic threat once and for all.  The battle lasted one full day and ended with the structure of one galaxy in flux and a violent gash in space time, but the threat was gone once and for all.

Just Before the End…

He seethes in the void that had seized him and held him captive.  He loses track of time as the monotony of this life drags on and on into infinity.  Then one day the atmosphere changes and he feels an opening to another place and he heads there. 

“Once again into the breach,” he speaks to himself and passes through the Cascade.  He finds the parasitic race of Harvesters soon after and they in turn wait with him until the moment is once again right, there power source waning with just enough energy to jump to their next meal.

They do not wait long before the Cascade produces their salvation.

They call it Earth.

TBC in Religion 108 Part 2

Team-Building 104 - Part 4L

Team-Building 104: Part 4L - "The Voyage Home: The Harvest"

7 Days Ago – The armor touched down safely on the rooftop of one of the tallest buildings in Megalopolis and immediately started to klaxon loudly. It didn’t take long for the resident superheroes to arrive on the scene to investigate.

“What are you doing here?” SuperDude asked it.

“Looking for you, actually,” It responded. “I have been sent by the government of the United States in an attempt to recruit you to be a part of a team of like-minded individuals.”

“That work at the beck and call of the bureaucrats?”

“Not entirely. I work with a business man that will be able to provide funding should we need it. But the government is starting to grow scared of the amount of heroes/vigilantes that are popping up these days and does, in a way, want to police them. That’s why they are forming the WMD, the Weapons of Mass Destruction. If I am able to gather enough people, there are plans for a small satellite group called the IED.”

“It seems like a solid idea. Let me think about it Mr…?”

“Warmonger. I am called Warmonger.”

6 Days Ago – “What in blazes?” His fingers stabbed at the keyboard and pulled up the satellite imagery. A small craft was entering the Earth’s atmosphere and heading towards North America. He started to get readings and suddenly it vanished. He growled under his breath and set another program to estimate where it was headed based of the telemetry.

Several hours passed and he had a guess. New York City. Suddenly another computer pinged as strange readings appeared in Megalopolis. The Dark Avenger stood and pulled on his cowl.  It was time to meet the man called SuperDude by the press.

5 Days Ago – The Dark Avenger watched the one called SuperDude from the shadows on top of a building nearby. The readings had led him to an alien being attacking the hero of Megalopolis. He watched as they talked; a guttural growling noise that ended in a question. He dropped down and spoke up. "Not everyone likes you."

* * *
Thomas walked through the streets of downtown Detroit searching for the local hero he had heard rumors of, a young black youth who called himself Jive. Apparently he was a sound-manipulator of some kind.

He rounded the corner as two thugs peeled away from the shadows of an alley to follow him. They were quickly joined by another two and then a fifth. He smiled and continued to walk until they totaled seven strong. He stopped in the middle of the street and turned to acknowledge them.

“Evening, gents. I don’t suppose you’re the welcoming committee?” They snickered and two pulled out knives.

“That’s funny. Rich guy like you gots to have a wad of cash on you as thick as my…” A roar ripped through the street and he was blasted right out of his shoes and into the wall next to a parked car.

“JIVE!”

“Damn right!”

4 Days Ago – SuperDude frowned at the position of leadership, but everyone seemed to listen  to him. Amazona had taken off to find her ‘god’ and they were headed to a Veterans Hospital outside of New York City on the insistence of ‘Jack Rabbit’. He secretly wished that this Dark Avenger fellow would step forward and flat out say he wanted to lead but he could feel him nudging him in the right direction. Within a day and a half they already had five people, and possibly by days end two more. How many powered people were out there in the world?

3 Days Ago – Finding the Mystic City of Sham’bala had been difficult and the recruitment of one of its most powerful sorceresses had been surprisingly easy. She had been bored and eager to escape the confines of her ‘prison’ to go out and visit the real world beyond the mountains and fogs that hid the city from the world. She had mentioned another student of the magickal arts who may be useful; a master who could use literary works to summon assistance.

* * *

She was called the Wolf and she was tracking poachers through the wilds of Africa. They had been killing elephants and harvesting their ivory for weeks.  She had begun to track them down and eliminate them one by one.

Night had slowly crept in and she was nearing the final camp deep in wilds. She had lost the scent hours ago but she knew deep in her soul that she was close. Suddenly the night was lit up by a flare and she turned in the direction of it, moving slowly.

Sounds of fighting came in with the wind. She moved faster and witnessed a heavily armored warrior fighting against the remaining poachers. Their guns fired uselessly against the metal hide and she thought she could hear it laughing at their attempt.

She paused and pulled the hood around her and shifted into her wolfen form, growing in size and strength. Calling on the gifts of her ancestors filled her with awe and calm, knowing that she was carrying on the heritage of her people.

Leaping into the fray against the poachers caused immediate panic among them, and gave the armored warrior pause for a moment.

“Wolf?” It asked in a male metallic voice. She growled in response and began her attack. “Oh, she’s gonna be a complicated one…”

2 Days Ago – They watched from the shadows as William Tell ran around his city using whatever technique he could to go from place to place quickly. His accuracy was deadly when needed but also passive. In a matter of several hours he had caught several looters, robbers and he was tracking a rapist.

“He is going to kill that man.” SuperDude spoke up from the long quiet.
The Dark Avengers eye’s narrowed. “You’re right. We have to step in.”

1 Day Ago – “I know of a ship that can get us to the depths where we think this city is.” Jack said when they were flying towards England.

“Really?” The Dark Avenger said over his shoulder.

“I wasn’t always a hero. For a while I was a pretty damn good explorer of the unknown. That’s how I stumbled on to Amazona and her people. We have a ship that I modeled after the Nautilus from that book.” Jack seemed proud as he reflected.

“That’s better than the submarine I would have stolen, I suppose.” The Dark Avenger smirked.

* * *

Warmonger had recruited his last two heroes in Brazil and Antartica; a plasma-wielder protecting his village from slavers and the Columbian Mob attempting to find a beachhead to move their businesses forward. The other was a creature made of energy, hiding in the icy wastes to avoid killing anyone because of its nature.

Thomas had convinced them easily to come to America and attempt a new life there. So he had picked up the others from one of his bases and started to track the attacks on the other heroes, some of which had hit the news. ALIENS ATTACK EARTH, the headlines blared.

Now…

::MANY OF OUR BROTHERS HAVE BEEN KILLED BY THIS WORLD!!::
::THOUGH WHEN WE CAME HERE WE WERE ONLY THIRTY FIVE HIGH-BLOOD STRONG, WE NOW HAVE A HUNDRED LOW-BLOODS!::
::WE SIT UPON THE PRECIPICE OF AN ANCIENT STAR FORCE THAT POWERS THE HIVE MACHINE AND BOLSTERS OUR NUMBERS!!::
::THE PRIME ARRIVES SOON, AND WITH HIM WE CAN TAKE THIS WORLD... AND THEN THE UNIVERSE!!::

The Harvesters roared in agreement.

********

SuperDude spoke to the Harvesters as they exited their ship. “We do not wish to fight you. Get back in your ship and leave the Earth and we will allow you to do so as long as you promise to never return to this place.”

“Do you really think that will work, buffoon?” Amazona called up to him. SuperDude shrugged.

::YOU WILL FEED US FOR CENTURIES ALONE, FLYING ONE!! WE WILL TAKE THE PRIME AND ALL OF THE OTHER SUB-FORCES AROUND US. THEN WE WILL DIG AND TAKE FROM THE SOIL!!::

Conjuressa gasps quietly.

SuperDude looks down at her. “You understood that?”

She nodded.

“We all understood that.” The Dark Avenger said. “She magicked us, I think.”

She nodded again. “Understand, but not speak it. Our throats won’t make those sounds. I have no idea how SuperDude is able to,” she frowned.

::SILENCE!! YOU ALL STAND IN THE WAY OF THE HARVEST, AND WILL DIE OR BE CONSUMED!!::

The Harvesters all leapt forward and began the attack on the WMD and the IED.

* * *

A pair of Harvesters circled below SuperDude as he hovered above them. They glowered up at him and punched a few buttons on their harnesses and twisted a dial. He felt energy drain from him. He glared back at them and plasma lanced from eyes and slammed into them, superheating the metal and burning their skin.

“They still seem to want to eat me.”

“No shit?” Conjuressa said. Fire blasted from her hands and froze three smaller Harvesters in place. “HAH HAH FUCKERS!! Didn’t see that coming did ya, bitches?!”

* * *

The Dark Avenger took two quick steps forward and drew a large knife from the small of his back. Spinning around as he drove the blade into the elbow joint of one of the Harvesters he sliced clean through the bone and muscle dropping the limb to the ground. It roared in defiance. “I think I noticed something.” He spoke into his headpiece. “Each one this guys has an insignia on their harness at the left shoulder. Like a rising sun only the rays are between two and seven in number. The five, six, and sevens all drop pretty easy.  Whoever is number one is the leader.”

“I have eyes on number one, he’s coming out of the ship and he looks... human.” SuperDude spoke and he flew overhead providing support where it was needed.

* * *

Warmonger spoke up finally, “I’m inside the ship.”

SuperDude glanced to the armor fighting three of Harvesters by itself. “I can see you fighting --” he started, before being interrupted.

“Yeah, I multitask really well. Anyways, they have some crazy readings in here, and if I’m reading this correctly their main objective is SuperDude and secondary targets are Conjuressa, Amazona, King Hrolf, King Carp and Jack Rabbit. Plus they are mining some kind of power source from Central Park and I think they have one chained in their ship.”

“We need to crack the ship open then, and release it, and that will stop the harvest of the Central Park source.” SuperDude said.

“Can you upload the ships specs to me?” The Dark Avenger asked.

“It’s uploading now.”

“Enough talking,” Amazona ripped the insides from one of the aliens and swung them into the oncoming horde of weaker ones attempting to overwhelm her. Hrolf dropped down and sliced through three of them in a single swing.

“I agree.” He said before spinning around and bringing another two down.

“Keep them busy and I’ll figure out the weak spot on the ship and have SuperDude crack it open like an egg.”

“We also need to figure out what the leader is planning. He’s just standing there, and I think he has some kind of shield protecting him.,” Jack Rabbit responded.

“Why do you say that?”

“I keep getting bounced or shuffled away from him when I get close. A few feet for sure are no man’s land.”

“Damn.” The Dark Avenger started reviewing the schematics and knelt down as his brain worked through the information.

* * *

Jive spoke up, “I got this one.” He opened up his mouth as wide as it would go and began to scream. It was a slow build, and low, until it started to build towards its crescendo which erupted in a cone outward from him. Waves of soil were pushed away as the sound headed for the ship. The ship rang like a bell when the sound wave first struck it, and then it began to vibrate.

The heroes defended Jive from the waves of Harvesters looking to protect their home, ship, and food supply from the attack. Finally the ship cracked along the seam that the Dark Avenger had spotted and the roof slid open. The ground started to rumble along with the ship as light spilled forth from the opening.

One massive shudder ran the entire length of Central Park, knocking everyone to the ground. The ship hopped into the air, the landing struts ripping free of the soil beneath them. Trees toppled and a wave of water crashed against the far bank of the lake.

The Harvesters seemed to panic with these developments, some fumbling with their harnesses which seemed powerless now. The weaker of the Harvesters collapsed as if drained or they just had their strings cut by an invisible puppet master. The remaining High Blood dropped their weapons and placed themselves on the ground in a passive position, surrendering.

“Well I would have loved to say that was easy…” Rabbit popped in.

“It’s not done yet.” The Dark Avenger said. “The leader is still standing.”

“He didn’t fall when all of you did, either.” SuperDude said.  He turned in the air to face the leader. “We’ve beaten you. Surrender now and perhaps we can confine you to a lower security prison and not the SPIRaL.”

The leader began to laugh. “That’s funny. I cannot be contained. I am the last survivor of a dead universe. I have lived countless eons alone. That is until I found the Harvesters, parasites eating at the edge of existence. They need the Star Force to live and I needed pawns to break free of my tether in the dead universe I was lost in. So we struck an accord. I fed them one of the greatest Star Forces ever created and brought them here as soon as I could sense another like myself out in the void. A few weeks ago I sensed one.” He paced back and forth on the ground in front of the ship as the soil continued to churn.

“Are you seriously doing a monologue? Wait does this make him our arch-enemy or something?” Jack Rabbit asked.

“That does seem to be the case.” SuperDude responded. “Do you have a name, fella?”

“Yes I do, but unfortunately I tire of this game. We shall soon meet again.” The leader vanished in a pop.

“So.. we won?”

TBC in Team-Building: The Epilogue

Team-Building 104 - Part 3H

Team Building 104 Part 3 H "Galaxy Quest: The Undiscovered Country"

Skofnung flew through the air and struck the first Harvester in the shoulder blade, it bit deep and blood fountained from the wound.   Spraying wildly and covering its allies nearby it roared.   Skofnung laughed.

"To me my blade!!"  King Hrolf Kraki shouted and the sword pulled itself free and flew back into his hand.

I AM PLEASED KING.  HE WAS DELICIOUS.  The King frowned at the sword.  How could he be so stricken with this cursed blade?  GIVE ME ANOTHER AND PERHAPS I WILL ALLOW YOU TO SHEATH ME.  It laughed again.

He surveyed the battlefield and watched the berserks and his champions fighting the alien threat.  The woman Amazona had arrived just after the initial onslaught had begun.  He had met her on a different battlefield some years before and they had grown close quickly.  But her duties to her people and his to the kingdom had pulled them apart, but she had returned to him.

WE'RE BEING SURROUNDED.  OH GOODIE!!  Skofnung pulled itself around and sliced and peeled the Harvesters as they advanced.

"Damn sword you will be the death of me one day."

SOONER THAN YOU THINK KING!  More blood erupted and the blade screamed with its mad laughter.

*********

"I am a King.  One of several hidden Kings of Denmark who rule and war with each other and live the cycles in solitude; forever reborn throughout the ages and alone in our curse."

"The tale of King Hrolf Kraki began ages ago. While of import this is not the tale we need to revisit. During one of the many battles between the kingdoms an occurrence ripped through the field.  A third party led by a princess filed from a tear in the ether and joined the conflict.  They sided with none save their own and won the day.  This princess took her spoils in the form of slaves.  King Hrolf was one of these slaves.  He allowed this because he was curious about the situation."

"One day during his enslavement the princess took notice of him.  She found him working in the fields and saw him lift a large stone and toss it aside casually.  She asked for his company later that evening, full with intent and promises of great rewards.  He nodded his agreement and arrived at the appropriate time.  She was dressed in a loose gown that shimmered in the moonlight and a glorious necklace emblazoned the ensemble."

He smiled at her.  She then noticed the sword strapped to his waist.  She frowned and barely moved as the blade leapt free and sliced through the air, she continued to dodge and pulled a knife from a scabbard hanging from the side of her bed. 

He smiled again.  The gown parted at the straps and flowed down her bronzed skin, coming to rest at her feet; her skin untouched by the blade.  The sword clattered to the ground.  The knife followed.

"What happened next is anyone's guess."  The old tale weaver stood as the warriors around him clapped and murmured to themselves.  "We all know that the following morning came and the princess and her people were gone.  The King and his champions were free."

A young warrior stood and clasped a hand across his chest.  "Old one what was the woman’s name?"

"She was called..."  The doors slammed open and the King came in.

"To arms!!"  He rallied.  "The gods damned goblin kin and trolls have allied again and come in from the South!"

"...But?" The young warriors question was unmet.  He sighed and pulled his blade.

((Pulled from http://www.northvegr.org/sagas%20annd%20epics/legendary%20heroic%20and%20imaginative%20sagas/old%20heithinn%20tales%20from%20the%20north/034.html))

TBC in Team Building 104 Part 3 - I

Team-Building 104 - Part 3G

Team-Building 104: Part 3G "Galaxy Quest: Insurrection"

"KIMBO BLASTAR YEVETTE!!" She shouted at the Harvestor stalking towards her. Bright bursts of chaotic light raced from her fingertips and struck the key points along the alien's life lines. It screamed in terror and took a step away from her. The harness on its chest started to blink and whine and it managed another step towards her.

"RAMBUDONE!!" Pink chains leapt from her chest and wrapped around its limbs. She took a step backwards and the creature followed suit. She smiled.

"ALLAVETTE TRIGGODONE YAYYOOE!!" The chains started to spin as she released the tether that bound the magic between them from her chest. Then like a chainsaw it ripped through the aliens flesh and tore the limbs from its body, the head and torso smacking into the cobblestones like discarded meat at a slaughterhouse.

She snapped the fingers on her right hand and spoke, "KEEYOE SIMMALARE!!" The pieces of the alien smashed back together and ground into one another, taking up less space with each pulse of the aliens heart, until it was gone.

"So what the fuck did you guys want?"

**********

Before the Earth had cooled two souls were bound in its stone. Powerful beings that had died in a war of jealousy and rage. One was of anger and hate and the blackest evil, the other inherently good and strong in spirit. The Earth was balanced by these two and over the eons fed the world.

Magick.

Few among humanity are gifted with the ability to harness the power latent in the souls of the Earth. Those that are able are soon called to one of two places nestled deep in the hidden recesses of the planet. Two cities. The Mystic City of Sham'bala or the Dark City of Carcass. The Mystic City is deep in the mountains of Europe, hidden in the climbs and valleys. The Dark City is rotting in the jungles of South America. There are satellite cities at junction points around the world. They are small and spread out from a small temple directly over two of the lei lines.

The Mystic and Dark Cities sit on a major site for the lei lines, eight cardinal points join and align with the Grand Line which is one of the paths of the universe. In the Mystic City a fountain was built on this spot and its waters have amazing properties. In the Dark City the fountain is one of legend, searched for by many and those who found it were destroyed by the darkness instead of given youth as the legends promised.

The history of the Dark City will come soon but for now we focus on the Mystic City. Two paths spiral down from the lip, a perfect helix. The whole of the city was designed by the First People, and crafted to utilize the Good into energy and power to aid in the formation of the civilized world around them. There are seven levels which hold houses and businesses and schools and dojo's. Each level is significant in its power, and the closer to level one, or the bottom, the more powerful the abilities of the people of that level.

In the current era three Proctors rule over the Mystic City, Anneletta the High Priestess, Thaddeus the Master of Arms, and Kimalia the Judge. Together they are the law. The city is a well-oiled machine with one exception: Wendy Zatanikoff, teenage girl with more raw magickal talent than half of the city.

"She's a trouble-maker that one." Thaddeus said.

"Just like her mother, Ancient Ones bless her soul." Kimalia replied.

In this Age of Powers, Magick is making itself known, and loudly.

TBC in Team-Building 104: Part 3H

Team-Building 104 - Part 1A

Team Building 104 Part 1 "First Contact" A - Voyager

He slammed into the ground and debris shot into the air.  He narrowed his eyes and scanned the area for his opponent, one of the alien creatures called the Harvesters.

He found the being and molten heat lanced from his eyes and scorched the air in its wake.  SuperDude stood as his attack burned in the metallic harness that was pinging his location back to the others of his group.

"I don't want to fight you!!"  He screamed at the creature as it landed and growled at his.  "We don't have to do this."  It spoke back to him.

::I AM AFRAID I DO.  I MUST FEED.  YOU ARE THE SOURCE.  I WILL HAVE YOU FOR MYSELF.::  SuperDude blinked.  Internally the Star Force, Dawnbringer, allowed him to understand the alien language at a basic level.

"Well that's new.  What do you mean by source?"

::THE SOURCE IS FOOD FOR US.  POWER OF THE STARS.  WHY AM I TELLING YOU THIS?::

SuperDude smiled.  "People, including enemies and aliens it seems, just like me."

"Not everyone likes you."  A voice from the shadows behind him spoke.

*******

My name is Calvin Kellerman and I was once just like you, normal.  Many years ago I was given a chance to be greater than what I was, and I have used that to become the greatest hero in the world.  I am getting ahead of myself however; allow me to start at the beginning.

It was a day like any other.  The sun was out.  The weather was clear and the forecast was cool.  Across the Universe something awoke, something that sensed me, or something inside of me.  A purity of purpose and spirit.  That was when I was chosen by the Star Force.

A beam of pure intent lanced from the Heavens and buried itself deep inside of my soul; we bonded instantly as I accepted everything that it offered.  Power and enough that I could change things in the world for the better.

It told me that it was called Dawnbringer and that together we would show the world our light, one that will change the way humanity views the augmented, and different.  It also told me that it was not alone and there were other Star Forces in the universe with less than noble intentions.  They would be our enemy and would stand in the way of our purpose.

I wept then.  Before being chosen I was no one.  I had a desk job.  I ate dinner alone.  I was just an average Joe, one of the working class, and I moved through life oblivious to the greater universe and the underpinnings of how the way things worked.

I soon learned of the greater Darkness and of Those That Came Before, of the Entity and the War of Sorrow, of the Kaleidoscope Cascade and the ruptures.  Many things in the Universe that tried to tear it apart just because they could.  I was the first of the new breed of champions, and I would excel beyond Dawnbringer's wildest dreams.

Soon I would meet more like myself, but that is a tale for another day.

TBC in Team Building 104 Part 1 - B

Team-Building 104 - Prologue

Team-Building 104: Prologue

In the deepest reaches of space there exists an unnatural creation called the Kaleadoscope Cascade. Its creation was accidental, but this is not the focus of our tale; it is just simple fact. Many eons have passed since Those That Came Before brought this world into being, and there are many tales to be told. This tale begins with a simple spark...

The sky ripped open above the Chicago skyline and from it issued forth the sound of the thunderclap of space-time tearing. The effect was quick and gone in an instant, leaving behind the smell of ozone... and a body. The body plummeted to the ground below and impacted with a parked van. This was an era before car alarms, so the only noise was the crash.

Half an hour later the scene was covered by police, firefighters and a single ambulance. Somehow the man had survived the fall, but just barely. The paramedics had him stabilized and loaded and were transporting him to Saint Angel of the Prophet, a nearby clinic, for treatment.

They never arrived.

My name is Damian Lockheart and I am a private investigator. I was hired by an insurance company to look into this matter on the side. I fear that the governemnt was involved somehow, and that if I were to dig too deep I might end up like the unidentified male. Missing.

********

Deep in space, on the edge of the Cascade sat a ship, small in size, but large in power. It sat on what could be compared to the event horizon of a black hole, only one that ran into a variant reality. At the moment that the man crossed through one of the breaches of the Cascade, a ping was sent through the universe. The ship's sensors caught this ping and turned towards the Earth of the Prime Universe, piercing the veil.

They were called the Harvestors and they fed on the Star Force.

In the universe of their origin they had killed and fed on all the Star Force available to them.

They were on the verge of starvation when the breach occured.

Their salavation was at hand.

Their ship was called the Erroneous Bleed and it held only 35 of their species.

All that remained.

They moved towards Earth and would arrive within days of the breach.

What waited for them there was unexpected.