Hey all, this is a short story I'm working on. I hope you enjoy I plan on continueing it if you guys like it.
The basic concept I had for this was trying to explain away some of the things we see everyday what might not might make that much sence, like when you open ANY door you see inky darkness behind it, etc.
Also, after reading The Web of Arachnos, I wanted to add the twist of having a hero from that era ((namely my main)) arriving in modern paragon and reactions.. Ok ok, so I get that it could be considered as an origin story, but I hope you enjoy.
Prologues and Epitaphs
by Clockwork Dusk
It was midday in City Hall when the doors opened, although what got the attention of the City Represenative was the fact that there was a inky darkness beyond the door once it swung wide. She stood there and pushed her glasses up onto the bridge of her nose.
"Wonderful," she thought as a tall man in black walked in, "and I was about to go on break too..."
she scowled a bit, and gave him a look that was all business, hurrying behind the counter. He looked around curiously a bit, taking in the surroundings, eventually making his way past the gentleman responsible for super group registration.
She looked him over and had to at least give him points for style, not many heroes could go for that 1930's look these days.
He stood in all black, heavy boots with treads gnawing at the floor as he examined his surroundings curiously. He was dressed to the nines in dress slacks and a business style jacket, although she could tell from experience there was some form of padding or kevlar armor underneath. With the summer sun, she couldn't imagine what the heat must be like. Hotter than hell, she imagined. His face was hidden behind a red silk scarf, worn bandit style, and a large black duster lay atop his head. If not for the black tinted spectacles she might have been pointed to the door, that she didn't have time for someone who seemed like he walked out of an old radio program.
She wasn't sure what to think of the shiny silver gears he wore on his lapel.
She snapped her fingers to bring his attention to her and got a chill as those hiden eyes stared at her, almost through her. She went through the motions she had done so many times before.
"Afternoon, Sir. Let's start with the basics first, what name will you be using on the street?" She cracked her knuckles, usually folks with a theme had a bit of difficulty getting a name what was just right for them and hadn't been taken.
The man looked down at the lady behind the desk, tapping away at her machine. He tipped his hat at her question and spoke with a voice that was best described by those in the room as a whisper on the winds across a dark void. It seemed disembodied from the man, loud, but distant.
"I am.. The Dusk."
Her fingers stopped typing at the keyboard for a moment as she looked at him, rolling her eyes. They always go for the famous names, thinking that somehow no one else had thought of it. This time was different, the error message that appeared before her was not the common message of "codename taken, please choose another."
"Sir, I'm sorry to report but that name has been officially retired for the last several decades... a personal order from Statesman."
He was still taking in the surroundings, currently examining the statue of Casseopeia, when he heard a familiar name.
"Is there any chance of me seeing Marcus Cole?"
She took a step back and looked at the other teller, who was in fact giving her the same look. Few people knew of the identity of the city's most well known hero. Only those involved in the superhero registrants office truly had access to all that information.
"I'm sorry sir, but that's not going to be possible, please choose another codename."
He thought for a moment, bringing a dark gloves hand to his mask,rubbing his lower lip through the silk in thought. He looked at the gear on his lapel.
"I am... Clockwork."
Her hand reached slowly under the desk, trying to find the alarm. There was something about this man that just gave her the willies. She'd met repentant demons billowing balefire who were more personable than him. Now he was claiming to be a... or was he?
"Sir, is that some sort of joke?" She said moving her hand away from the button, he cocked his head curiously, seeming interested in her now, and not the room.
"Is that name unacceptable?" He muttered, a hint of irritation on his almost ethereal voice.
"It's just, I'm sure you have seen them... The Clockwork. Most of the time we send our lower security clearance heroes out after them, they normally don't cause the citizens much trouble, but they are one of the leading causes for property damage. Not to mention the Clockwork King."
It was at this moment he leaned over the desk and gazed at her through those ebon lenses, she took a step back, clutching her cameo on her neck.
"Where is the Clockwork King? He will be dealt with. He has caused instability, I am here to repair and to create proper order." He hissed angrily, she swore just on the edge of sound she heard a familiar tick-tock from walking the alleys home at night.
It was at this moment the supergroup registrant stormed over and stood between them. The man took a step back, looking between the two of them. He held up his hands, trying to show he meant no harm.
"I have only just arrived, things are different here than what I am accomstomed. If those names are ill fitting then I am..." He paused, letting the city rep tap away at her computer, a bit curious what he'll say next.
"I am... The Clockwork Dusk."
She stood and stared at him, the name had not been taken, and she did want to be done with him. "Fine." she said as she tapped away. "There is just a few details, I need your personal information for the computer is all."
He nodded and placed a hand over the monitor, the screen glowed brighter for a moment and the sound of the computer processing information was heard. He removed his hand a moment later and tipped his hat, taking the moment of shock on the registrants faces to pick up his identification card and pocket it. He was halfway to the door when she called out to him, once more.
"Wait a second, it says here your address is in Astoria, no one has lived there in AGES. You have to give a more recent address."
He smiled under his scarf and tipped his hat one more time opening the door and peering out at Atlas park, much to the rep's delight, instead of the inky blackness she swore the man come in from, she was gazing out at the familiar sights of heroes lounging about the feet of the statue, even holding a costume contest sponsored by some supergroup trying to recruit members. The Clockwork Dusk looked at this in shock and awe.
"My word, there are so many of them now.."
She walked to him, retaking her spot in the middle of the floor, a hint of curiousity about her now.
"What are you talking about, you saw them all when you came in, you act like you've never even seen the statue before..."
He looked at her and nodded.
"I haven't." He then turned his gaze out the door, "Give Marcus Cole my regards, and do tell him I want to discuss this retirement business..."
With an odd tingle in the air, the man walked out of the door.
She looked back at the supergroup registrant's desk, the clerk threw up his arms, not knowing what to do as the black clad man walked out into Paragon City. She walked over to her co-worker and then looked out the door...
"You don't suppose that was ACTUALLY..."
He shook his head, chuckling. "Heavens no, rumors of The Dusk go far back, he didn't fight crime like your average hero, which set him apart, especially back then. Now and then you get someone impersonating him, say once every five years, but no one has ever been that... convincing."
She smiled a bit, you didn't live in Paragon City without knowing more than your fair share of heroic tales, but he was damn near a historian on the beginnings of Paragon City. Not to mention she liked his stories, kept the day going at a faster pace.
"Tell me more about him once I'm back from my break, ok?" She smirked and walked out the door, fishing out a few coupons for Up'n'Away.
Whereever the man had gotten off to, he sure wasn't in sight at the moment. She looked around, watching the crowd for any sign of him.
"Well where did he go off to, not even Synapse can go that fast..."
She felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise as that strange tingle filled the air. Swiftly she turned toward the door, facing City Hall once again as the door swung open and out walked...
"Clockwork Dusk, how in God's name did you do that?! I just watched you leave a moment ago... and you sure as hell didn;t go back in."
He tipped his hat and looked deep into her eyes.
"Simple, my time.. is not your time." He stood there motionless, as she took a step back gripping the rail of the stairs. She nodded as he continued.
"I felt you needed proof of my claims, madam. Proof that I am who I claimed to be, though I can sense you still doubt it. It bothers me not, during my last visit to Paragon City I was confused most of the time for a teenager they called The Dark Watcher. I have been gone for a long time, and I am in a weakened state. The world had passed me by, it has evolved and I must reattune to it."
She stammered, her mouth agape, taking a few steps forward.
"Why are you telling me all this? I mean.. I have a strange enough life as it is, and frankly I just want to get a milkshake..."
He chuckled and bowed.
"I apologize, you are merely the first person I have seen in several decades, I get.. excited. I will leave you to your break, good day miss."
He watched her walk off and took in his surrroundings. The feel of Paragon was different, there were so many heroes now. Had there been this many during his first visit Brass Monday would have been well, not quite the cataclysm it had been...
He walked around the massive statue of Atlas, keeping to himself, taking in the scents of the fresh cut grass, the chirping birds, even the sounds of traffic. How alien it was, after all these years. He noticed a group of heroes congrigating around a figure at the front of the statue, and saw flashes of red, white and blue on whatever costume the individual was wearing... 'surely it must be Statesman', he thought.
His feelings were quickly quelled as Ms. Liberty took notice and nodded politely, seeing only another new hero, fresh from City Hall, and gave him a friendly nod and a thumbs up.
"Miss Liberty, how is this possible?"
She cocked her head gently and shooed off a few of the others who were around, looking at the strange man in all black.
"Sorry Sir, you have me confused with my mother. I'm Ms. Liberty, and you are? Well hot I'd imagine in that get up.."
He shook his head and introduced himself, have to remember the new moniker. "Clockwork Dusk, my word, you could be her twin. Then again I still see Maiden Justice in your cheeks, though you have his eyes..."
He exhaled, this was going to be more difficult than he had imagined. She eyed him cautiously, writing down the name on a mini tablet and putting it in a compartment on her belt.
"Listen, did you need an assignment, I'm not much of a contact, but you look like just the guy Wilcott might need in the Hollows..."
She grinned internally, generally the freaks who entered the Hollows gave up or shaped up, either way for the city it was a win win, and on a freakiness scale, this guy just gave her the willies... he just felt like a best forgotten memory, out of place. Something that just wasn't supposed to be here...
".. of course you'll have to prove yourself out on the field a bit before I can give you clearance to help him, shouldn;t take too long, couple of hours tops."
He looked around and scratched at the back of his head.
"Hollows, Hollows...Hollows, do tell me where I could find it..."
She nodded and pointed to her left. "Eastgate's new name after the Troll's blew it up, found out there was a giant cave network, hollowed out the whole area, hence... Hollows. You can find the gate over there, just mind the War walls and you'll be fine."
He blinked behind his glasses, holding up a hand in pause.
"War Walls, you'll have to explain..."
She raised an eyebrow, chuckling a bit. "Yeah we put them in place during the Rikti invasion..."
He held up another hand. Her face drew into a scowl.
"Are you trying to tell me you don't know who the RIKTI are?!"
He shrugged and simply said "I've been gone a long time. I have a lot to learn."
She stopped, stared at him and nodded, being a hero for so long you got a sense of the truth from people, and he was telling the truth,... somehow. She noticed a few of the other heroes holding out cards with arrest figures and needing security clearance upgrades. She turned back and smiled at him.
"You'll do fine, just.. do what needs done, ok? I'll talk to you in a few hours."
He nodded and headed out, looking at the electronic ID in his hand, he concentrated for a second, letting the familiar glow flow around him as he integrated it's functions and purpose, learning evrry minute detail and how to..
He shook his head and pocketed the device. No, he wouldn'y merely alter his own security clearance, that would be... uncouth. He nodded to himself and walked past several heros, many of whom grabbed him by the arm, begging him to join teams and supergroups, heroes he didn't know, and with some of the attitudes being shown, had no desire to. He politely excused himself taking a walk along the park where he found a young woman in a tight blue and white outfit, stomping a boot and asking folks for just a bit of help.
He looked around and saw the others haphazardly forming teams, to clean out sewers and find things to do while she stood alone calling out for assistance with a building under attack in progress. He scowled and muttered to himself.
"You could have at least taught them manners Marcus... Seems I came a bit too late."
He walked up to her and wrapped a arm around her should pulling her close and walking briskly.
"Tell me where this building is Miss, I'll be more than enough help."
She blinked and tapped a bit on her badge, the image of her face and clearance changing to that of Paragon city, a pinpoint where the crime was taking place shown a bright yellow...
"I'm Snow Girl, I just arrived here last week, I wanted to get familiar with the city, but I think you can see how they act... it's all about the image anymore, costume contests and forming teams based on how cool your name is."
He chuckled at her and patted her shoulder, taking his card and linking it to hers in the data ports on the side, downloading the data and sending a message to the PPD that they were taking care of it. The yellow dot went red.
"Clockwork Dusk, miss. A pleasure to meet someone who actually has their head on right..."
She blinked and looked back at the large towering statue of Atlas, as he piped up.
"Little do people see the true burden for that man is actually standing at his feet, heroes who do nothing."
She grinned and looked at him, he returned her gaze and tipped his hat. Then they ran to the building. Through backalleys and industrial yards they ran, until even Snow Girl had to succumb to the fire in her veins from the exersion, panting as they soon reached the door.
"Tell me more about this gang, Miss Snow. Are they perhaps linked with the Kings?"
She shrugged and opened the door. "I don't know much about the Kings, never heard of them, really.. These guys call themselves Hellions though. They think they can get power from summoning demons and their kind."
He walked into the warehouse and rubbed his temples..
"So this is what the Circle of Thorns have devolved into? A street gang? A bunch of punks with guns and a few parlor tricks up their sleeve?"
Eyeing him curiously she proceeded to explain that the Thorns shouldn't be an issue for them yet, that they didnt have the clearence for dealing with that threat until they reaches The Hollows... Dusk grunted, again talk about this Hollows place. He hated this culture shock, why couldn't people just call it Eastgate? Why did he have to get hassled over living in Astoria? Why was the only hero he saw that knew she was here to help others standing alone while others were trying to see who had the niftiest new threads from the tailor shop?
He turned the corner and was answered by three guns, two pointing at each of the lenses on his sunglasses, the third pointing between Snow Girl's eyes.
The leader, a man in a ornate red mask piped up. "Listen up and listen good. We needed a couple sacrifices for tonights events, and guess what.. they came a'knocking down on our front door. Now you try anything funny and we'll just have to collect your blood in advance for the ceremony. The Archdemon Kalidrev may be displeased with the lack of freshness but I assure you, I'm willing to take that risk."
The man in black cocked his head to the side, as if in thought. "Did you say Kalidrev? About 10 feet tall, deep violet skin, with streaks of black, wingspan of 20', "He-who-shall-beget-the-choasfire"?"
The leader blinked under his mask and nodded after a second. "Y..Yeah, how'd you know. you one of them Circle guys, trying to go straight and narrow?" He was answered by a shrug and a shake of the head.
"You cannot, I assure you, summon the Archdemon Kalidrev..." The Hellion cocked his pistol and leaned in close, the scent of brinstone on his breath, as he asked, "And why can;t I.. I've been cleansed in the hellfires and the power, the source is part of me... I have the power to summon him, I assure you."
Snow Girl stammered as her hands were bound behind her, as were his and they were led deeper into the building.
It was a good thirty minutes later when the ceremony began, Snow Girl having been hoping for some form of backup, but Dusk had remained silent for the remainder, seeming pleased with the situation, forboding as it was. He even went so far as to call out when they had misplaced a rune, used the wrong type of candle, more interested in the ceremony being done properly. The Hellion leader had just about shot him there, save for the fact that without the hero's assistance, he actually would have botched it. He kept one eye on the dark clad man as the ceremony began.
The leader readied himself and looked back at the two to be sacrificed, the girl seemed defiant, but fearful. Fear, he thought, was such an admirable quality for an enemy to have. But the man, there was just something about him, and that voice. Had Kalidrev spoken to him with his words he could understand, and he had seen his fair share of Circle mages, demons, and supernaturally powered heroes in his years, but nothing was like that. It was the voice you heard in your mind, playing tricks on you when you have to collect stuff from Moth cemetary. He'd never believed in the boogieman, but the man in the red scarf talked like one.
Chanting filled the air, as an electric pulse flowed around the words, rippling hither-nither making the hairs on everyone's heads stand a bit more alert, as if they wanted to lean up to see the events going on as well.
The leader began to yell into the air which rippled and seemed to tear asunder...
"Felicis alio quisnam agnosco is. EGO vilis is est vere infigo ut vos can agnosco latin. verum si vos transporto mihi a dico in rectum EGO mos tribuo vos multus of viaticus. Felicis alio quisnam agnosco is!!! KALIDREV BE AMONG US!!!"
He turned at the two bound heroes. "You shall be honored to be the first meal Kalidrev has enjoyed in so very long.." In fact I do wish to see your face, masked man... see it before you die..."
He reached out to remove the glasses and pull down the red scarf, when a horrifying screetch assaulted his ears. He whipped his head around in shock to see the portal closing, and beyond, in a steadily shrinking veiw through was.. nothing. Abyss. Void. He stammered and sputtered, ripping off his own red mask and letting flames lick from his nostrils and throat.
"This is IMPOSSIBLE, I double checked everything.. I performed the ceremony without any flaws!"
He only had a breif recollection of hearing a slight ticking sound, then the rip of fabric and twine, before a freight train hit him at the base of the neck, his world quickly going dark.
"I told you that you'd never be able to summon Kalidrev... had you been more polite I would have told you I personally banished him in 1936...but no, you had be be brash."
He stood, pulling off the remainder of the ropes that bundled around his left wrist and proceeded to deal with the remaining gang members, Snow Girl grunting, trying to pop her own bindings, in vain.
He was almost done with them when he heard the clinking sound of a chamber being loaded, turning to see Snow Girl and a Hellion. The larger man was holding the gun right between her eyes, she sobbing a bit and asking for mercy. He spoke up, shakily as the others turned and began to creep him around, towards the exit.
"This is how it's gonna be, the crew gets out and you don't follow, or we see if your little friend here is a cheerleader, cuz on more step and her head does the splits." He pressed the barrel harder against her forehead, leaving a slight imprint and bruise. The Clockwork Dusk nodded and held up his hands.
"As you wish, boy. I'm sure we are both aware that ladies with talents such as her can only use the palms of their hands for blasting, shame they never think outside the box. Nothing I can do, and she's lamed as it is having her hands tied as they are, should have used your head more girl..."
Snow Girl blinked at him, her eyes darting between the man who had been if anything, the most difficult man she'd ever met, and the man who wanted to kill her. Think outside the box indeed, it's not like she could.. or could she? She grunted as that barrel pressed against her forehead as the Hellion laughed as what he assumed was a slander against the hero's teammate.
"Well I'll be damned, literally if bossman doesn't recover... could use a guy like you, you know your runes and you got the look down, should swap sides..."
Dusk shrugged a bit and stared at Snow Girl, nodding at her, winking behind his ebon glasses. All the while the Hellion continued, "In fact, down in Perez Park we been having a turf war you could help with... The guys call themselves the Skulls and...AAAUGGGHHH!!!!"
He looked down to see Snow Girls face covered in frost, the barrel coated in 4 inches of ice that went up and engulfed up to the elbow. He screamed as she rolled back and kicked. Luckily the man kept his arm, although the gun did shatter, but the flesh was still frozen and patches of black were starting to show. Frostbite, instantanious. He fell over clutching his hand in shock and pain.
Dusk ran over and untied her, helping her up. "Leave him for now, he's not going anywhere, call PPD and I'll get the others.
Snow Girl obediantly nodded and sent the distress call to the Police Department as Clockwork Dusk ran after the fleeing Hellions.
A few hours later they were standing back by Ms. Liberty, both giving their statements to the police and turning in their ID's for security upgrades. She patted Snow Girl and congratulated her on ingenious use of her powers, noting that with resourcefullness like that, one day she may get an invitation to join Longbow.
They chatted for several minutes, and after everything had been done, all the papers written out and filed Snow Girl looked over at Clockwork Dusk, walking swiftly away, alone. She nodded politely to the leader of the Vindicators and caught up with him.
"Hey, back there, how did you know I could do that.. I mean I've never used my powers like that before, I had no idea it was possible until I.. Who are you?"
He stopped and looked at her. She had fought beside him and showed promise, she could be told. He found a park bench and sat down.
"I'm a long, forgotten memory, child. Long ago I fought crime and trained many to do so in my stead. I was a teacher to those the were needing guidance and a reminder to those who felt they could prey on the innocent that they shouldn't. Now I'm back, and alone. Time has passed me by, and I'm weak from my slumber, although I do seem to be reacclimating my powers as a relatively good speed." He flexed his lower arm as a black haze seeped out of it.
She stood there silent, then sat next to him. "You said you fought that Kali..whatever back in the 30's.. that's not true is it? I mean that would put you around when..."
He nodded. "I was here when the one you call Statesman first donned a mask, I've fought beside him many a time in the old days, but I'm sure he's forgotten about me by now, thinking me long dead. Goodness knows he retired my old name, now I have to odd this "clockwork" moniker before it just so I could fight crime. I've seem such things in these last few hours, but I have a mission I must complete before I'm allowed to slumber again. When I wake up the next time I'm sure I'll have to don a new name once more, life is change and all that jazz."
She patted his shoulder as he drew himself up and looked around. He stared at the sky and asked Snow Girl where she was planning on going now, now that her mission was over, if she had lost her nerve or just whet her appetite.
"I'm planning on going to the Hollows, they have a Task Force there, the police do that is. Quite a few of us new people go there, most tend to not stay long, they leave town once they see what happens in there. Bit of a testing ground."
He looked at her then over at the large opening, leading into the former borough of Eastgate.
"Testing ground, lots of people needing a bit of help, see if this is what they want to do... sounds like my kind of place."
He helped her up and patted her shoulder, telling her to go on ahead without him, that they were sure to meet up sometime soon, once again. He smiled under his scarf as she talked to the guardsmen and headed in, muttering to himself.
"Well old man, you thought this place was going to be the death of you, now it's time to see if it's only just begun..."
Turning and tipping his hat to the statue of Atlas, he walked onward.
