The Enemy of Correct Understanding - [Open||R]

[Joshua D. MacArthur]

Tuesday, October 6th 2009



It seemed like a lifetime ago that he was just another person on the street, granted he was richer than anyone other than his Grandfather but he was still just another person. It all changed when he and Lantos fought against Helios and nearly killing himself in the process, it was a miracle he survived and even more so to regain his powers. Joshua had felt useless and for the first time afraid of living, he had been reduced to an average human being clinging to the hope that things would get better. And they had.

Joshua walked down the streets of NYC making his way to a center he had heard about from some people in the 'underground, his sources had later confirmed that the place indeed was a small haven for power users in these crazy times. Many had been abandoned by those they called family and forced to live on the streets, it was something he could sink his teeth in and hopefully help by making a sizeable donation. "They said to look for the huge ass four-leaf clover sign, and ask for uhhhhhh Alice. Yeah, Alice." he said internally as he scowered the buildings for any sign of this place, Levi had pretty much forbade him from going to the center citing reports that anti-power user groups were looking for people like them to string up. His glare had quickly placated anymore show of overprotectiveness from Levi who relented on the ground that Joshua not tarry and head home after leaving the cash. "Well, i'm sure a small stay there wont hurt anything besides it's not like he'll know. I think...

Finally after many false sightings he found the place and crossed the busy street when the entire building wnet up in a huge explosion that sent him flying back a few feet. Joshua quickly got to hs feet and looked on as the place quickly burned, it seemed that only the ground floor was horribly compromised by the explosion and the floors above now would become tombs for those trapped within. "Fuck fuck fuck!" he shouted out loud and raced across the street not noticing the many people standing around doing nothing for those trapped, his hands flew out in front of him as his powers reacted to the fiery scene. His telekinesis broke open two nearby fire hydrants and bent the water that was released to extinguish the flames in the lower floors, as that was happening his right hand reached out with his powers and with care pulled the fire escape from the side of the building and brought it towards the front of the building where the flames were less.

Joshua smiled as the people trapped began to use the fire escape to reach safety and no longer needing to hold it in place as he had forced it into the front he released his powers from it. It was then that he noticed the people who had done nothing when the place exploded were now shouting hateful things at him and the people exiting the building, his shielding flared to life suddenly as a brick hurtled from one of the men struck it. "Who the hell threw that piece of shit? Here i am trying to save these people and you losers are trying to kill me, it's one this to cuss me out and somethine else entirely to throw a god damned brick at my head. I could have gotten hurt you mother..." His words were cut short when a shot rang through the air, the smoking slug lay a foot in front of Joshua where his shield had stopped it from piercing his gut, his eyes widened at the number of guns trained on him and hoped that help arrived quickly...

[atlas]

Dane had been getting tired of late, with the dissapearence of mr McArthur, and the sudden proactivity of the normals. He needed to escape the brutal excitement that was his home. As such he had decided to return to new york for some peace and quiet. It didn't take him long at all to realise just how big a mistake it was.

He raced to the smell of smoke from down the road. as he rounded the corner his reflexes kicked in fast enough for him to catch the brick as it was launched at him by an obviously outnumbered user, with considerable talents. "Hey, Whats going on here?" as the croud turned to look at him he saw the fear in the young mans face, obviously his power is not as good as he's use to. "Leave the poor guy alone, he's not hurting anyone. If anything he probably has bigger balls than any of you because I'm betting he stood against you lot of pansies" In the hopes of scaring at least a few of them away he crushed the brick against the wall beside him with his left hand. "I could, and will, put you through your own torment if you don't leave now... anyone who stays, will be persecuted by their lovedones evermore!"

[Joshua D. MacArthur]

Joshua could hear some guy who apparently thought he could take on the douche bags with the guns, the last of the people had evacuated the slowly burning building and with a sigh he let go of his hold on the water. Now with his attention firmly planted on the men trying to kill him, he was able to get a better look at just who it was that was playing Roy Rogers "Look dude, i don't know what the hell you smoke before you wound up here but these guys aren't that smart when it comes to backing down. So unless you can dodge a fucking bullet, i would suggest you run...'cause it's about to get twisted pretty soon." Joshua noticed that the mob had their sights on the both of them now and would hold on like sharks until they or their intended prey were dead, a sudden attack at his back drew his full attention as the man tried to wail on his shield with a lead pipe.

Jade coloured eyes narrowed at the pest and with a flick of the wrist pulled the lead pipe out of the guys hands and imbedded it into the ground using telekinesis, Joshua launched himself at the man who was soon joined by 4 others. He quickly ducked under a wide punch and roundhouse kicked the man to then send him flying into the side of a van using his powers. Every once in a while his shield would flare up as a shot rang out protecting him from any fatal shots, "They weren't doing anything against you, only trying to survive this shitty world that seems to want them dead then you go and try to blow them up. And another thing..." Joshua paused as he noticed someone about to lunge at the 'cowboy' that tried to save him with a dagger in the attacker's hand, swiftly he telekinetically pulled a dagger away from another guy and sent it flying into the gut of his 'cowboy's' would be killer. "The names Joshua, i thought you'd like to know the name of the guy who saved your ass." The smirk on his face the only sign that this skirmish would end well for the two, that is until the police sirens rang out from a distance...

[atlas]

Dane chuckled at the mans remark, sure he had good reflexes, not good enough for bullets though. "I'm right thanks, I'm use to a little action" A man raised his gun aimed high at the doctors head, Dane watched his muscles and knew he had little choice in the matter. With but a moment's though the mans hands began to liquify as his own power suddenly kicked into turn. Dane turned to see a dagger slam itself into the chest of a man midway toward himself. "Nice to meet you McArthur, I'm assuming thats who you are. Name's Daniel, and I don't need to be saved." When the man collapsed dead at his feat the doctor roared at the man Joshua "Don't kill anyone, do you want to bring us down to thier level?" He grabbed the wrist of his next would-be attacker and watched as the man fell through him and the sidewalk.

After a good few minutes exercise Dane had grown bored "hey dude, you can keep fighting if you want. I've had my fill-" Clarke relaxed himself for the first time in years. An explosive unfolding of powers around him was as beautiful as oceanview fireworks. With only five men still standing Dane thought it'd be a nice workout for the weakened joshua. "I'll just sit over here and wait for you to finish your lot" He smiled as he sat down on a bench,

[Revi Balalaika]

Revi was just leaving a store from across the street of all this action, his hair was trimmed and splayed atop his head in short messy spikes chest barely covered by a unbuttoned Hawaiian shirt, legs in black board shorts, and feet in brown leather sandals. See after his frustrating run in with Liam he had decided to screw the world and take his own point on life. Went to California chilled on the beach drinkin some brews, as well as hit up a bank for a small sum of money to make sure that wasn't a problem.

He even found the time to shower and clean himself up now, as it had seemed he just didnt care nor did he want to play into Liam's hand and deliver the information to Josh feeling it was somehow what he was wanting and thinking Revi would do.

However as he walked out of the shop with a Italian sub he saw the one person he wouldn't expect in this mass of a place, and there where people harassing him and some other guy. Revi simply walked into the crowd and watched what was happening slowly eating his sandwich, and nothing more then that.

[Joshua D. MacArthur]

The sirens gave way to a multitude of police vehicles that created a perimeter around the block that contained the bombed building and the fighters, the officers quickly got out of their cars and held defensive positions until their weapon could be delivered. Joshua swiftly ended the fight by rendering his attackers unconscious with a well placed telepathic impulse to sleep, "I will kill whomever is a threat to myself and the ones i love, you just happen to get caught up in the middle of that so don't preach to me about lowering ones self to another level. Yes, i'm a MacArthur which i am more than sure you learned from my loving Grandfather and so i already have one reason not to trust you." He looked down at either end of the street and saw the police barricade that prevented them from leaving, Joshua's eyes looked over at the man who was already ticking him off and another who looked a hell of a lot like Revi "Hey Revi, don't know what brought you back to NY but i do hope your trip wasn't any problem for you...did you manage to squish the rat? Even if you didn't it still gave him pause knowing that there was someone else aside from me onto what he was really doing, and we may just find out something more from the look of that."

As sure as the sun sets in the west, the appearance of a black coloured armoured vehicle from MacArthur Enterprises was not a good thing and as the vehicle passed through the police barricade it became evident that this ws what the officers were waiting for. Joshua broke eye contact with the other two men and took a defensive stance well away from the armoured van, he took mental stock of himself and readied himself for anything "Revi! I've been out of the loop for a long time with the company and my Grandfather, did he tell you anything when you went to see him...anything that i might be able to use to understand what might be in that thing? 'Cause if it's anything other than a Horseman i'll have to think quickly on how to react. Other dude, what's your story and make it quick...?" His words cut off as the back door to the vehicle exploded outwards and a figure stepped out of the inky blackness within, his metallic skin an exact indicator to what they were dealing with "Cronus?"

[atlas]

Not to trust me? Guess you see him in a similar fashion to the way I do. Shit, Authorities! Serves me right for leaving haven unguarded.” Dane barred up at the look of the police, uncomfortable that he’d have to deal with people who are only doing their jobs. “well done man, guess all we have to deal with is this guy.” He said as the van pulled up. Dane looked from one to another and realised he was in the company of users who were not on the best of terms with Mr. McArthur.

“My story? You want to worry about that at a time like this?” He stood up and walked across “How bout you ask me a more intelligent question, like what the fuck is my power?” He placed his hand on Joshua’s arm and instantly knew just how weak the guy must be feeling. “I’m just going to sit back down over here and let you guys have some fun... maybe I’ll even the odds too” Sitting back down on the bench Dane concentrated on the powers of his two allied-esk users and forced them into a centifolded state, amplifying them to levels he knew neither of them would have ever had encountered “Enjoy” He took a swig of his coke and lent back to watch the action, now that all three participants were of equal matter.

[Revi Balalaika]

Revi looked at Josh as he spoke to him blankly still chewing down the bite of the sandwich thinking if he should answer him or just play the innocent normal human role. Though there was another with him, and the police where stalling for something. Revi looked to his sides seeing he was no longer in a crowd but encircled in by police. Inside mentally he cried he was in a good relaxing mood, and so he slowly edged for the entrance of the building.

He let out a light sigh, and looked to Josh "Well nothing I feel is any use... I think I should stay low... and..." He paused as a truck came in and unveiled a new player to this game. Revi shook his head, and closed his eyes "Son of a bitch... its gonna be one of those days.. less I can weasel out of here I am done being a hero." He groaned to himself, as he looked to the other person with Josh.

He gave a light smile "Hello weird dude... ummm how are you?" He said grinning, as he then made a dash for the door of the building closest wondering if the metal man would suddenly appear to stop him short from making it to a safe area, or if anoy one else for that matter would try to stop him.

[Joshua D. MacArthur]

Joshua's focus was fixed on the presence of Cronus to fully understand what anyone else was doing, he could feel his mind touch the other two in order to gauge just where they were in proximity. His brow furrowed suddenly at the unexpected buzzing in his mind that quickly became a deafening roar, his body spasmed at the onslaught of energy that easily overwhelmed his inner walls and slowly he sank to his knees. The ground around him gave a mighty shudder and cracked under the pressure of his power unleashed, the cracks raced across the expanse of the street flipping vehicles over and shattering building windows. "No!", Joshua screamed as he pulled his walls back up after regaining control of this wild yet foreign power and forced it to bend to his will.

Joshua's body shuddered at the slimy feeling he got from what he refered to as the 'wild force', to him it seemed like someone had amplified his powers forcibly and left him to deal with it's repercussions. He had known that his powers were not at normal levels to begin with even after all the rest he's had and that his potential was indeed limitless once certain barriers were established, but to deal with something like this without his permission was unexceptable "A little warning next time you decide i need a power upgrade and then go about raping my inner defenses, you should know that this is exactly why people hate us for taking liberties with our powers. I will thank you though for helping, we will have much to talk about after thsi fight." Joshua took notice that Cronus was not in the position he was originally in and now stood facing off if front of Revi, the portal he used to move around swirling behind him. "Running will not get you anywhere Revi other than a face planted into the cement, we can either do this together or get in eachother's way trying not to die by his hands. Speaking of said hands, what are you doing here Cronus? You're supposed to guard my Grandfather and nothing else."

The silver coloured man cocked his head to the side at the sight of the thing he most coveted, his eyes took in the boy's healthy appearance and shook off the feeling of murdering Levi should the man have slacked off with Joshua. "We have been dispatched to the four important cities in the United States in order to combat the rise in 'mutant' attacks on the human populace, it is Mr. MacArthur's idea to combat this threat with his own power users on loan to the U.S. government. Already we have crushed a few elements in Los Angeles and Washington D.C. in the 24 hours we have been operational, and it pains me to be the one to take you down Joshua MacArthur." Cronus quickly engaged Revi in battle and awaited Joshua to strike knowing the man wouldn't stand by while someone else fought for him, if things went the way he truly wanted then this day would be a new beginning for him. "Too slow..."

[atlas]

Dane watched as Joshua collapsed “HaHa, not too use to this sort of thing I guess. Your welcome” he chuckled “I can turn it off whenever you want… Speaking of turning off, if you want to play, I’ll sit here and watch. If you just want that guy gone I could probably help. Just a suggestion though” he put his hands in the air to signify that he wasn’t trying to impose, before rounding on the healer, “Don’t be a pansy man, at this point your bones won’t break, and there’ll be no delay in your healing. Get in there and get some action” He chuckled quietly to himself. Knowing full-well that every power in play was at his mercy.

Dane stopped laughing when the tank talked. “Hey shiny? Your brothers are as kickass as you are aren’t they?” Dr. Clarke searched his pockets furiously for a phone. Once found he dialled haven immediately “Miranda, Yea we got a problem-”

[Joshua D. MacArthur]

"That was never in the plans Cronus! The attacks were to be launched from the laboratory in Montana, first on the east coast and then spreading westwardly. And let me guess, dearest Grandfather sent out Helios as well right?" Joshua was buying time for them to come up with some semblance of a plan that didnt get them killed or portaled to the bottom of the ocean, he wasn't sure his shields would stand that type of strain. His eyes shifted slightly to Dane as he circled the silver man from behind, although Cronus could track his movements as they were right now there was a limit. As Joshua reached that limit, Cronus shifted his position to compensate for it and once again took the high ground "Your Grandfather's plan was not without backups Joshua, in the event that something were to trump his attack then he would shift everything to take account of the new development. It was the wave of power user attacks on the general populace that caused such deviation, your boyfriend's army at the heart of it was simply icing on the cake." Cronus took his attention off Revi to look at Joshua and winced as some memory shifted in his mind that seemed out of place with the ones telling him that the man before him was nothing to him, it was then that he took final notice of just who else was on the playing field.

Cronus smirked towards the doctor which slowly melted into a sneer, his eyes narrowed imperceptively as he took in the unkown threat. "The good doctor i presume? I have extensive files on your involvement with Mr. MacArthur and the information provided to you through the company, i must inform you though that your services are no longer required here and i must terminate you. Know this, once i am done here i will hunt done yours and kill the lot of them. Have a good day."

[/size]

[atlas]

The following post has been approved by Ray(player of Joshua and Liam McArthur)

Dane watched the confrontation, amused slightly at how two experiments could bicker like that. When the horseman turned to him he felt this rush of energy. “I only said I would help McArthur so I could get funding and raw data! I never really meant it. Terminate me? You think it’s possible for you to use your powers to terminate me” As he was talking Dane’s mind focused on cronus’ power, all others seemed to melt away from his attention “You think that you could harm me, with at least one power-user here that is greater than you in every aspect? Stop kidding yourself.” And then the threat came, it was fine to threaten Dane, or McArthur(Joshua) but to judge and harm innocents was beyond the question.

Dane felt a burning inside him, in his chest, it was like a cigarette or eraser burning him away. It tried to get rid of this feeling, instead directing it to ‘shiny’s power. With the matter of a second he’d gone from all-powerful to all-human.

[Joshua D. MacArthur]

Joshua's jade eyes widened as he learned just who exactly it was that the doctor was working with, and to make matters worse it came to light just when he was starting to warm up to the wiseass. Now as he stood rooted to the spot, he couldn't help but wonder just who to trust in this situation what with Revi all but running away with his tail tucked away "And to think you kinda get where someone is coming from to only have them throw a wrench in that perception, i can't believe you were helping that sick fuck." Joshua had just had about enough when the unexplainable happened, for an instant the man he consideredto be a dear friend went from all-powerful to regular Joe. His inner eye could feel the painful thoughts echo within Cronus' mind as his power was sapped, "Oh god! What did you do Dane? He's nothing but a human now..."

Joshua shook off the fear that had gripped his heart from the moment he realized just how powerful Dane truly was, in all his years with his own power he had always felt untouchable and that his potential was limitless. With this new information he could only wonder just what kind of repercussions came with using a power in such an extreme manner "Nate you need to get the hell out of here and find my Grandfather, the gene therapy should be able to reverse this...oh god what is he going to do to you when he sees you now?" His eyes took in the form he had only seen in photos clipped to the man's file, blonde hair and blue eyes on a man 3 inches shorter than what he once was and built like a swimmer. Gone was the metallic armour that protected him and with it the extra muscles, it took a moment for Joshua to make his way to Dane's side and stood his ground with the older man. "Look, i know we got off on the wrong foot and that power trip you just took didnt do anything to help. But you're all i have right now and i so desperately want to trust you, all i need to know is one thing. Are you truly done with my Grandfather or shall you keep some fucked up deal you probably have with him to return me? Answer now please, from the thoughts i'm getting from the police officers they are freaking out without their added muscle and that never spells a good thing.

[atlas]

Dane collapsed to his knees, pain searing through him as he grabbed his head. “Don’t!” he called to the blonde man. He slowly managed to stand on his weakened legs “You were lucky to survive the barbaric methods first time, you have an even smaller chance of survival this time. Trust me, you’d probably be safer if you just disappear” He looked at Joshua, his mind was swimming, his ears were throbbing. Through the disorientation he managed to make out what was being said to him.

Dane looked into his eyes “Do I look like the kind of man who would help some twisted asshole farm superpowers? All I wanted from him was the things I lost when I was sent to Alcatraz.” He fumbled for his phone. “where is it? Help me find my cell and I’ll get us outta here” he looked to the blonde human pitifully “You too, you’ll be safer with me than with them.” Picking up his phone he texted haven “Help, 3 passengers” Dane looked to the police. Even if he wanted to he probably couldn’t even give them a power in this state, he felt so weak and vulnerable.

[Joshua D. MacArthur]

"He wouldn't come with us even if i begged him to, his life has always been for my Grandfather to do with as he saw fit and that man wont let his project runaway. No, he has to go back and receive the gene modification and get his old powers back...besides he has too much pride to let you win." Joshua smiled at the silent figure of his friend knowing full well that this could be the last time he saw the man, Dane was right that there was a risk of death if the modification was done a second time. His brows furrowed ever so slightly and with determination crossed the short distance quickly, his left hand cupped Cronus' cheek and with small sigh kissed the ma chastely on his lips. It was bittersweet.

Joshua pulled away before Cronus' could latch onto him and made his way back over to Dane again, "Not a word about what you saw, he's loved me for a long time and i couldn't let him die not knowing what it could be like. Anyways, i trust you enough to get us out of here apparently and i have to inform you that i wont stay wherver it is you're taking us for long...Levi needs to be warned about what's happening. His hands rose above his head and held there as his shield raised around them, the blue layer would flare brightly in spots as snipers on the rooftops took any shot they thought they would get.