FrozenDeath

I'm saying this as someone who is trying to improve as well, so please take it the right way. My intent is not to bash your work.

1. Anatomy. More than anything else you need to improve your understanding of the human form. In general the eyes are too big in the head, waists too small, heads too big, limbs too short in relation to the torso. Overall, a couple of the older pieces, while still having issues, are in better proportion than a lot of the newer stuff. A lot of the musculature looks stock, like its placed there out of convention or copying other stylized works rather than really understanding where things go.
2. Rendering volume. The big thing you seem to be striving for in the later pieces is line quality. It definitely gets more confident in the newer stuff but it's progressing in what imo is a bad way.

Solid black lines, if you're going to use them, should be used for the outside contours of objects. If you have a contour on the inside of a silhouette that needs a black line--the inside line should be lighter than the outside edge lines. Heavy floating black lines tend to flatten an object and the effect is really bad when you switch to color. The color shading should be rendering the volume but then there's this weird black line there that doesn't mesh.

This is a great example of how linework relates to rendering.

I've got a few updates in my contest folder on my Deviant page. Two are of the head and my progress sculpting the hair:

1
2

There is also an update of the body which shows the current proportions and anatomical detail. I hope to have the hair done soon then I'll start on the costume.

Don't use brush stroke filters when coloring. Learn to use the various paint brush options and just paint. Don't lay down color and then try to use a filter to achieve a natural media look, it's not a good approach.

Great concept! The malleable arm is a really cool idea, I'm looking forward to your work in the contest.

Not sure really, maybe around 20 hours including generating the base mesh.

Hola,

Here is an update of my contest entry.

I took a couple weeks off due to the holidays. The link is to a shot of the face. If you look in the folder with the other pics, there are two new ones that show the progress of me roughing out the body. I haven't linked them here because of...nudie digital clay.

Actually, the last I read in the contest thread they were allowing people to participate with licenses that belonged to their work. I don't remember what hoops you had to jump through to verify this, but if you want to go for it I think you can.

I should have an update on this soon. The base mesh is pretty chunky due to being derived from zspheres. Those aren't my desired proportions though I don't generally for super hero proportions anyway. Also its a female character.

Ok here's the refined base mesh. Hopefully this will be adequate for sculpting.

That's actually pretty good for a beginner. My main crit is that it looks like she's going to drop the gun in her left hand.

The main things you want to avoid in Poser Art:
1. Bad mesh deformation--particularly in the shoulders. Also places like the corners of the mouth (eg. the character is smiling but the geometry isn't realistically bending with the expression).
2. Bad skin. Realistic skin has subsurface scattering, where the light enters the epidermis and then is redirected before being reflected back. That's why skin has a soft look, and changes color around the edges of the figure. Often Poser work is either too dark or over lit. Or both (the character is in a dark room but washed out and brightly lit).
3. shadows. 3d apps come with various lighting setups. The most basic forms produce very crisp defined shadows. So you'll have a character in an overcast scene with hard edged shadows on the floor. Realistic shadows are generally soft and conform to the direction of the light sources in the picture.

The easiest way to solve these issues is to rough out the image in the 3d app and then do postwork in Photoshop or some equivalent.

Thanks Larissa!

Here is a screenshot of my initial base mesh in ZBrush. Zbrush has an system for generating meshes called ZSpheres, which you can see on the left. It's kind of cludgy, people usually generate their base mesh in a more traditional 3d app then import it for sculpting.

Anyway, I'll refine this initial mesh with a better distribution of polygons, then I'll be ready to start sculpting.

Hiya,

Here is what I posted for the backstory/powers:

Backstory:

A failed chapter in genetic engineering, hybrid spore X-79 was developed as a food source that could thrive in harsh climates and in low-gravity outer space greenhouses. It demonstrated great adaptibility under a wide range of conditions, but was eventually revealed to generate highly toxic byproducts in the course of it's growth cycle. When the project was canceled, lead researcher Linda Hayes smuggled a sample of the spores out of the lab and resolved to continue it's development on her own.

The sample X-79 developed a rudimentary intellect and mobility and escaped containment. The home lab was contaminated with the spores and the toxicity killed the woman when she came into contact with them. The spores then colonized her body, modeling their continued physiological development on her anatomical structure. Somehow portions of Hayes' memories and emotional makeup were assimilated by the developing spore creature.

A week after Hayes stopped showing up at the research facility, a coworker discovered her poisoned remains in her apartment. There was no sign of any contamination in the building. The following week, the manager of the research facility found a cookie tin on his desk. When he opened it, lethal poison sprayed out killing him instantly. The fluid coalesced into a green skinned woman who went on a murderous rampage through the administrative wing, killing executives and security forces with poison barbs launched from her body. The woman critically injured several armored swat team members in hand to hand combat before diving out of a third story window and running off into the nearby woods where she successfully evaded pursuit.

Since then the creature has done contract work for various criminal organizations who have dubbed her the "Soft Assassin." She has also occassionally assisted superheroes and law enforcements agencies in times of crisis. Her motives remain a mystery.

Abilities/Characteristics:

--Decentralized nervous system. Although Soft resembles a human female, her body is composed of interconnected spores. She has no internal organs and can easily survive wounds (eg. taking a bullet to the head or heart area) that would be fatal in an actual human. Although she has a face and eyes, the creature can actually see from any clear suface of her body, so in reality she has no front or back. She typically moves as an athletic woman, but could just as easily walk on her hands, all fours, or some variation thereof for as long as desired.

--Density control. Soft's normal consistency approximates human flesh. She can increase the hardness of her surface area to thick leather with little effort. With concentration she harden small areas, like her fists, to the consistency of rock. Conversely, she can reduce cohesion until her mass flows on the ground like syrup.

--Superhuman strength and reflexes. Soft's reaction time is much greater than that of even a trained human being. She is able to dodge automatic weapon's fire and perform extreme feats of agility (walking across a tightrope on two fingers). She is able to lift a couple hundred pounds with ease, and can press roughly half a ton over her head for a short duration. She has an acrobatic fighting style that is difficult to anticipate based on the essentially inhuman ways she can move her form.

--Stamina. Soft can perform strong exertion for about 12 hours before beginning to fatigue. She doesn't require sleep or air, although she replicates breathing in order to simulate human speech. She heals quickly, recovering almost instantly from knife wounds and small arms fire. Blunt force doesn't generally cause her much damage although she can be stunned if the spores are dispersed strongly enough.

--Toxins. Soft can generate poisonous spikes from almost any part of her physique and fire them with great force. She can also generate corrosive toxins on any surface to burn through restraints or augment hand-to-hand strikes against armored opponents.Altough she generally will fire a volley of spikes at a single target or small group at one time, she is capable of firing a burst of toxic needles in a 360 degree radius around herself all at once. Soft wears a vinyl uniform with permeable sections that help her control the discharge of the spikes and make the attacks more accurate.

Here are some preliminary designs

This is a re-imagining of my old arena scrapper Soft Assassin (spines/sr). I'll be including some backstory/power description on my thread on the contest page.

Any ZBrushers out there?

ZBrush is the industry standard for digital sculpting. Pixologic, the company that produces it, is running a superhero contest. I'm pretty pumped about this and I think I will be doing a re-imagining of one of my cox characters.

If people are interested, I will post my concept art here, as well as the wip stages of my entry. Regardless, if you are interested in 3d art this is a great contest to follow. The talent at that site is incredible and people will likely be talking about their progress and showing examples of their methods.

Doing your lines and inks and then scanning them in is really a comic book artist sort of thing, imo. Most digital artists just draw directly in their graphics software. If you look at my gallery, I think there is maybe one thing that I scanned in. The only time I draw on paper is when I'm going to be away from my computer.

Happy Bday!

Color

Okie dokie. Was hard to fit these two together lol, but here is the rough version of FOWL EMBRACE!

Alright, reactivation weekend is over. I think I'm gonna do Turkey-Lurkey vs. Turbo-Ski with special guest.

They don't HAVE to be fighting. I just thought it would be cool for an action pic. Also it doesn't have to hero vs. villain. Anything people would like to see.

There are a lot of people doing commissions, TA keeps a big list of the majority. I've recently started up again as well. Rates are posted on my deviant page and samples of my stuff. Feel free to send me a pm or email if yoiu have any questions.

Epilogue


The woman sat on the steps, clutching the binder as she fished through the bag. She pulled out her cell phone and looked at the clock. Thirty minutes after the scheduled appointment. No messages. Another no-show. She glanced out at the side of the road, gnashing her teeth as she stiffled the urge to look, the nagging impulse to look at the spot where it had happened. As if some day they would suddenly reappear there. She got up, leaving her things, and went to the for-sale sign, sliding the flyers out of the box. Twenty sheets, the same as last time. She slid them back in, folding her arms and looking up at the house, slowly moving back to get her stuff.

It loomed over her. The dark windows in the neat yellow siding. The empty flower bed, the copper address numbers, the old bag of de-icer that still sat in the corner. The house haunted her, like a missing limb. Happiness from the past that they'd lost. A future that would never return. Hopes and dreams never to see the light of day. She couldn't bear to live there any more. But they couldn't get free of the place. No one would buy it.

She looked at the upper floor. The residue on the bedroom window from the stickers she'd scraped off. Hers on the other side, naked without the curtains. The bare walls beyond. She looked to the edge. A mess of leaves clogged the gutters. She left the walk to get a better look, stumbling on something hard. She picked it up--a small red plastic action figure. Where would it go? The trash? Another giveaway box? In the end she dropped it back where she found it, and hurried over to collect her things.
She slid the bag over her shoulder and took the binder, cursing under her breath.

She turned to the road and gasped.
"OH MY GOD ..." They looked to the sky. The little one's velcro shoe straps undone. Their striped shirts and tousled hair shifting slightly in the breeze. The older one had his pirate pin. The circles under his eyes were dark with allergies.
They were there. There on the edge of the tarmack where it had happened five years ago.

She dropped to her knees, burying her face in her hands. "NO...no..I'm losing my mind...it can't be.." She sniffed and slid them down, peering over her fingers. They remained. They looked down and spotted her, smiling and squeeling with excitement.

"Momma!"
"Momma!"

They ran towards her. The older boy rushing into arms. The younger following behind.

"Hey! Wait for meee!"

She ran her hands over his face, feeling the warmth of his skin. "No...it can't..." The younger was leaning against her. She took them in her arms, pressing her face inbetween their bodies, holding them close.

"Momma we're back! I love you!"
"Momma I'm hungry....Oooow you're squeezing too haaaard..."

"How can this be? How can it?" She leaned back, looking into the eyes of the older child. "How can you be here?"
"We were sent back Momma. The lady sent us back..."

Demon at the Gate


They stood in what appeared to be a white void, the only detail being the black rectangle in the distance. Mere fidgeted
anxiously.

"Is this it? Just a white space and that black shape?"
"No Mere. Move very slowly and look closely at the space ahead of you."

As they shifted their heads, a faint network of lines began to become visible. There was a complex maze of white cubicles and pathways ahead. Focusing more, they were able to make out people as well, clad head to toe in white, even with white goggles covering their eyes. All of this being revealed, it was clear they had a ways to go to reach the object at the center.

"Come on Mere, let's get there before someone notices us."

As they entered the maze, Mere paused for a moment at the opening of a cubicle. A man was inside. He sat in a white chair, at a white desk, holding a pack of white playing cards. He took the top card and flipped it over, leaning it against the wall. It had a picture of an orange. He stared at it for a while, motionless save for breathing, then took the card and slid it back at the bottom of the deck. He leaned the next card: a banana. He continued like this for several more fruit before they turned to leave.

"All these people to concentrate on things..."
"Yes. To keep the sensations strong. To keep them feeling real."
"Who are these people? How can they do this..."

A woman passed by, rubbing against Purple without even looking at her. She walked down the aisle and turned into a cubicle, her movements dull and mechanical.

"I don't know. I think they are kept in a trance. I doubt they even realize they're here. But I think we should avoid them anyway." They continued on, pausing at the intersections to let people by as they moved towards the center and bodies became more common.


They stood before the object. It was simply a large, black surface. Standing there, nothing holding it up. Mere looked at it and noticed a mark appear on the surface, like the stroke of a piece of chalk. More appeared, criss crossing by some invisible hand, suggesting vague words and shapes. The more she focused, trying to make a section out, the faster the marks grew...lines manically attaching and expanding and filling space. Mere started as the white built on the surface of the plane, moving out, crossing through space as it moved towards her.

"Mere!" Purple shook her by the shoulders. "Don't look at it. It will mesmerize you and then you'll be lost. Look at me ok? Only focus on me as I move in...stay behind me." Mere shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts.
"Yes yes Purple, I will. But..", her brows furrowed, "what exactly are you going to do?"

Purple stared at her, the expression of the obsidian eyes difficult to read. She started to say something then stopped, her gaze dropping to the floor. She cleared her throat then looked at Mere again.

"I'm going to write your name in the book of heaven. Now stay behind me. Please Mere."

Mere followed as Purple turned and approached the shape. The white marks erupted all around her, threatening to crash down like a tidal wave. Suddenly Purple thrust the fingers of her right hand forward into the surface.

"GGAaahhhhHHHHhhhh!" Purple shrieked and hissed as her fingers dissolved into the choas of the frenzied marks, the darkness of her body tainting them as it bled in against the white. She choked back the agony as she made the motion of a curve, as her forearm was gradually consumed by the growing shadow. Then she pressed her left hand in on the other side, her lips contorted as the white strokes ripped it apart and then changed color and bled away. Now the dissolved stain of her body was expanding and moving forward, pulling her in by the hair and legs and torso. At the last possible moment, Purple turned back and called to Mere, here voice breaking.

"Pass through the gateway Mere! It's all you ever wante..." She broke apart and was consumed. All that remained was the shadow, the calm shape of an arch amidst the swarming chaos of white.


"Goodbye Purple." Mere reached up and touched the tears streaming down her cheeks. "I'm....crying." She looked down at the moisture on her fingertips. "I'm crying...I'm a real person." Her head hung there as she sobbed, empty with nowhere left to turn. Then she felt a presence and she looked up at the arch.

The edges of the shape fluttered and fell through the air like soft shadowy leaves. The darkness deepened, receding away from her as the shapes began to form and dance inside. Mere wiped her tears on her forearm, her eyes widening. Figures moved within. Memories given form and substance.

"I see you. I see you...I'm here! I remember you!" There was no sound but she could hear them calling to her. Calling her by thousands of different names that were all one with her being. She went to them, touching their outstretched fingertips, stroking their smiling faces. She called to them and embraced them all. "I'm here! I can be with all of you!" She smiled broadly, beaming with joy as she passed into the depths of the darkness, a fading ember caressing the cloak of night. Then was gone.


All the marks faded and the black rectangle was pristine once again.

The light began to dim, but nobody noticed.

Mere Mal Faire, the woman who never was, passed from the world never to be seen again.

Parting


Supercreep and Purple navigated the twisting underground passages searching for Mere. They passed a variety of traps, some as simple as a covered pit, other complex in design and seemingly predicated on the possession of certain superpowers, or playing on personality traits that may have been present in the group. They were all obvious and dormant, as if the enemy had simply given up or lost interest in the game. Something had happened while they had lagged behind.

"There." The walls of the maze had been blasted through, the edges brittle and scorched. They followed the damage, pausing in the arena, marvelling at the enormous stack of ruined bots melted together in a heap. Purple turned to Supercreep.
"Maybe we should've cut her loose. Let her go at the start." He shrugged and they continued to follow the trail.

The door was open. They squeezed through the narrow alcove, stepping over shoes and boots, and entered the den, somewhat shocked by the sight of Mere sprawled out on a sofa, sipping a cup of hot chocolate as Murakami massaged the top of her head, running her fingers through Mere's jet black locks as she leaned over the couch from the other side. Mere wore a strange brass collar with dials and gauges, too thick and clunky to be ornamental. To the right, Van Vogt was propped up in a recliner. His right arm was gone, replaced be a robotic appendage that held his cigarette. The right side of his face and neck were badly burned as well. They all stared at each other blankly, wholly at a loss for words. He flicked his ash and shrugged.

"Since the dawn of time, I believe man has tried to placate angry women with sweets and sensual pleasures. Seems to have been a success here."
"You lured her in here with hot chocolate?"
"No. She was spent. She damn near killed me. We were able to carry her in here and I rigged up that collar. It increases the sensory perception of her body and simulates a working esophagus allowing her to drink fluids." Mere shot him a sidelong glance.
"As soon as the hot chocolate is gone...and...the fairies stop dancing on my head...I'm gonna kill you...." She took another sip.

Purple looked at Murakami. The woman was haggard, her body stiff and tense. The left side of her face was discolored as if from severe frostbite. She wore a grey sweat suit that extended to her wrists, but it was clear that the bluish marking was extensive on her arms as well. Her entire left hand was dark and discolored as if she had dipped it in black paint. She recoiled as Purple moved towards her.

"No!..no..Van! Stop her..." Van Vogt began to get up, but Purple threw up her hands, giving him pause.
"I'm not going to hurt her, please." She continued as Murakami backed away in terror, her body getting lodged in the corner between the wall and a cabinet. Purple reached out and hooked her waist and shoulder, drawing her in as Murakami shuddered and pushed weakly against her.
"Calm down...calm...I'm not going to hurt you." Murakami relaxed slightly and Purple pulled her deeper into the embrace. "You may never believe me. And even if you do, you may never accept what I have to say. But I'm sorry for what I did to you. And I'm ready to make recompense for all the pain I've caused in this world." She lifted her hand, resting it on Murakami's face for a moment. And then she gently lifted it away, and as she did so the burn marks bled out of the woman's body and gathered in Purple's grasp.

"I release you." Murakami's posture softened and she slumped in Purple's arms, limp with exhaustion. Purple and Supercreep guided her to the sofa next to Mere. She sank into it, her eyes wet with tears as she rubbed her cheek and hands. Mere took a gulp out of her cup and stood up setting it on the table.

"Alright..." Van Vogt sighed and rose as well facing her from across the room. She took a step forward, then suddenly turned back, leaning down and taking another sip from the cup. "Damn you hot chocolate!"
"Mere we need him to--"
"HE KILLED CUBIE PURPLE!" Mere crossed the room and punched Van Vogt hard across the jaw. He took a handkerchief out of his pocket and wiped the blood at the corner of his mouth. He shrugged and stared at her, massaging his bruised lower lip.

"If you're going to kill him, at least take that ridiculous bling from off of your neck." Mere glanced back.
"Do I have to? Purple..do I?" Van Vogt grunted.
"You can keep it if you stop hurting me." Mere slapped his face. Less forcefully, lacking conviction.
"You killed my friends!"
"I'm sorry."
"Sorry?! You're sorry?!"
"Yes! I'm sorry!" She raised her hand again and he took it, grasping her fingers. "Please stop hurting me."

Mere pulled away, staring around the room disoriented. She ripped the collar away and threw it in the corner."I'm confused." She swung her arms at her sides, moving towards the side of the room. "It's just....it's just it...." She slammed her fist into into the wall, sending a dozen picture frames crashing to the floor and leaving a large hole in the drywall. "It just feels wrong to...kill him...here...like this." She bent down and sifted through the broken glass, picking up frames and hanging them back on the nails with no concern for straightness.

"It is wrong Mere." Mere turned back.
"Purple you said we could fix things. You promised.."
"I know Mere."

Purple went to Van Vogt. She placed her fingers against the side of his jaw, cooling the surface of the swelling. "Are you going to help us?" He nodded, sinking back down into the chair.
"Yeah. A deal's a deal. But I can only point you the way. I don't have the facilities here to get you into the chalk room."
Purple smiled.
"Yes you do."

She got up and walked over to Supercreep standing near the entrance. She looked at him, then at Mere. "Creep...Mere...it's time. I'm sorry Mere it's time..we have to say goodbye to Supercreep."
"WHAT?! Nooooooo." Mere went to them, grasping Supercreep's coat sleeve. "Why?"
"He's been carrying a burden for me. Keeping it safe. Now it's time for him to take off the mask. He needs to be set free."

SuperCreep raised his hand: thumbs up. He took off a mask, revealing an odd mix of smile and sadness. He took Mere in his arms, lifting her off the ground and spinning around. Then he set her down and turned to Purple, snapping his fingers at his side: Awww shucks. He embraced her.

"Thank you so much, dear friend. Now you must stop playing and become yourself once more." Purple slid her hand over the surface of the mask. The expression was wiped away, leaving a clear surface. With one finger she traced a circle on his forehead. Then, placing her finger inside the circle, she shifted it in a larger circle over the area of the mask. The circle disappeared and then the entire mask crumbled away to nothingness, revealing a void inside the hood filled with golden light, luminous dustlike particles spilling out of the opening.

She reached her hand inside and pulled out a small glass sphere. Inside was a metal framework encasing another glass sphere. And inside that one the same...onward, smaller and smaller as far as the eye could continue to discern detail. It flashed in her hand, the frameworks spinning around inside. It generated an odd presence, as if the thing were alive. Purple tossed it to Van Vogt. He stared at it in his left hand as the robotic arm lit another cigarette. He laughed.

"Okay. I get it now. Makes sense." He took a long drag on the cigarette. "I'm amazed you were able to keep your hands on this my dear."
"I had help." Purple turned back to Supercreep's body. Everything began to come apart, It all lit up and turned to dust, the particles becoming bright gold, coalescing into another form. A male figure stood in front of Purple, his features--the shape of his eyes and mouth very similar to her own. He was tall and wore priestly robes, his right hand holding a metal staff lined with rings at the top that chimed when he shifted them. He smiled at her, reaching up to caress her cheek with his free hand. When he spoke, his voice was that of a young boy.

"Sister. When our world ended there was one child left to save. One poor sinner left to comfort. I rejoice in your moment of redemption. I go forth, my way lit by the beauty of your soul.."

Purple dropped to her knees. She touched her forehead to the ground at his feet. "Brother, you are cherished above all things in this life. Go now in peace. I pray we may someday meet again." The gold dust dispersed, blown away by an intangible wind. The figure was gone.

Purple lingered motionless on the floor. There was a long pause as they all waited for her to speak, to move. Finally Mere knelt down beside her.

"OH my god..Purple...your eyes.." Purple sat up and looked around. Fluid was pouring into her pale, luminous eyes, turning them dark. Soon they were completely black. "Are you blind?" Purple smiled.
"No Mere. I'm fine."
"What's wrong? What's happened to your eyes?"
"A part of me is gone. Don't worry. It doesn't matter." She turned away and rose to her feet, facing Van Vogt once again. " I think you can open the portal now, yes?"

Murakami slid across the sofa to be next to him. "What is it Van?"
"It's called a reality core engine. It's an artifact used to shape reality. Most of them are used to power the war walls surrounding the city zones. This one must've been one of the ones that went missing in the Rogue Isles." Purple nodded.
"Yes." Van Vogt dangled the cigarette from his lower lip as he shifted the sphere back and forth between his palms.
"See...she was able to use this to change her records. Orchestrate events. Even predict things..like my traps, though I changed things up a bit at the end.."

Murakami glanced furtively at the others then went to his side, perching on the arm of the recliner. "You can use it's power to stop them can't you? You don't have to give them what they want...you can stop them.."
"Nah. I killed two more innocent men today to prop up this farce. I did my part. It was a load of crap anyway...stupid bureaucrats. I'm done selling my soul for them. I'm not gonna go back on this one."

He began tapping the surface of the glass, points of light flashing beneath his fingertips. The sphere began to glow brightly.

"But Van what's gonna happen to us?"
"Egh...I dunno." He puffed on the cigarette. "I'll probably die of cancer. Hopefully soon. You'll have to get a life. Stop dressing up like a spider..."

Super Ultimate Maximum Power Showdown


"MURDERER"

Mere stood in the center of the arena, an inverted cone of stone, monolithic steps rising at the sides. At the upper rim robots circled the perimeter, metal death machines marching in unison under the enormous shadow of Mechalomaniac's gladiator bot which hung in the distance, suspended from the ceiling by huge power cables and iron support structures. The floor rumbled as a wave of machines spilled over the top of the cone. Hundreds of tons of armor and weapons poured down the steps. Scores of electric eyes fixated on the small speck of energy at the center of the circle. The small human woman they would batter down with their weapons and missiles, burn with their lasers and flame throwers. They hit the main floor and rushed forward. The giant hand of the gladiator mech swung forward and pointed. The booming electronic voice resonated in the chamber.

TAKE HER DOWN!

Then she was gone, driving deep into the ranks of the war machines, driving her fist down the throat of the beast. An explosion of rage, the metal folding and screaming as she struck blow after blow, thundering through explosions that rippled through the horde, limbs and circuitry showering the chamber, oil and hydraulic fluid running down the steps, hissing like steam as it splattered over her skin. She spread her arms and the power flowed out of her enemies, buzzing like a drill as it merged with her being, leaving them inert heaps of scrap piled in malicious circles around her. The mob of drones scrambled over the fallen units in their relentless hunger to reach her.

There was an explosion at the side of the pile as Mere rocketed out, a flash of light as she sped along the curve of the arena, running along the walls as their missiles and mortar fire shattered the stone in her wake. She circled back, cutting a swath in their ranks as she whipped through, then again, cutting another swath below the first. The heavy mass of robots began to slide down the steps, flailing desperately as she burned them with tongues of lightning from the other side. They glowed orange in the dim light of arena, fusing and sliding together as they lost their footing and tumbled to the ground beneath.

ENOUGH!

The Arena shook as the monstrous form of the gladiator began to swing forward. It gestured again and four more robots leapt into the battleground. Larger, more beastlike units that stood twenty feet tall with more sophisticated armor and weaponry.

Mere spun through the air as one snapped an electrified cable at her torso. It cut through the space where her body had been, leaving a narrow trench as it gouged the stone step. Mere curled into fetal position, spinning faster as she moved through the air, a ball of lighting emerging from her center, expanding until it consumed her and she was no longer visible inside. The sphere hung there, slowly floating down in the middle of the 4 mechs, who raised their weapons while analyzing the new threat.

The second bot took aim at the globe and fired its blaster. The energy beams passed harmlessly through the center, impacting with the stone wall on the opposite side. A bolt of lightning erupted from the sphere, hitting the mech in the shoulder, driving it off balance as it fired again--hitting the mech on the opposite side. The blasts disable the third mech's left arm, ripping open a large gap in its chest plating. The creature stormed forward and slashed a circular cutting blade through the center.

The electricity surged through the opening in the armor and ignited the robot's power cells. They exploded, sending the damaged arm spinning through the chamber as the rest of the body jerked and collapsed on to the floor. The ball of energy began firing on the three remaining bots, targeting at random as they assumed defensive postures to cover the weaker sections of their anatomy.

Amidst the chaos, Mere appeared in the air, descending upon the robot with the blaster, the ruby halo of her fists above her head as she brought the force down. The double handed strike exploded on the metal, ripping the head clear off the body. She gripped the torso, jerking it to the side as the blaster continued to fire wildly, it's aim being pulled toward the fourth mech. She was thrown clear as the first bot's whip arm hit the damaged mech in the center of the back, cutting it in two. Before she could recover, the last bot lunged forward and seized her, crushing her in between it's massive arms. She grunted, her eyes flaring with power as her current coursed through her body and into her assailant, smoke pouring out of its joints as its internal mechanisms began to burn and melt. At the last possible second, Mere jerked her torso down and broke free of the grip as the electric whip cut though the air once more, slicing off the upper torso of the creature that had held her the moment before. She rolled to the left as the whip came down again, narrowly missing her. She rose to one knee as the robot cocked it's arm for another strike.

They were both thrown the air by the monstrous impact of the Gladiator bot's immense first striking the arena floor. Mere landed hard on her back and flipped over as shards of stone and metal fragments slashed her limbs. She gaped at the wave of iron scrap collapsing on her from both sides, the giant's hands shifting the ruined metal bodies like sand. She threw her arms up over her head and screamed as the parts washed over her. The giant mech piled it on, scooping up dozens of robotic corpses with each handful and dropping them on the mound. The steel creaked and groaned as the massive pile settled, the parts shifting and bending under the immense load.


Several minutes passed. The gladiator's optical sensors scanned the wreckage for signs of life. Eventually it leaned back, satisfied that's it's work was done. Then it noticed a spark at the top of the heap, and it leaned forward once more.

Mere clawed her way through the scrap. She flickered like a ghost, her body luminous with raw plasma as she snarled and pulled herself up, finally yanking her legs clear and standing defiantly in the face of the giant.

"You.."

The overhead cables snapped and groaned as the gladiator moved. It raised it's massive arms aloft on either side. The fists opened, fingers extending as thousands of internal motors ground them into position. They were poised. It would would clap its hands together and grind her to dust between its massive palms. Lights flashed all over the surface of the thing as it powered up to rub the woman out of existence.

"WILL.." Mere sank in her stance. Her fists shook violently as she raised her forearms. The gauges on her armbands shifted to red. The warnings sounded: overload-overload-overload-overload.

The gladiator moved, it's arms swinging--

"DIIIEEEEE!!!!!!"


Too late Van Vogt raised his own arm.
[Proximity defense!]

A river of blinding white light cut into the giant's head like a scalpel. The massive arms crashed down on to the wreckage. The ruptured head drooped, the luminous sensor arrays fading out one by one.

Nothing moved in the arena but the crackling of fire and the dark breath of acrid smoke.

The Passage


The basement level opened to an immense corridor of monolithic stone blocks. Purple studied the pathway laid out before them, uncertain of the plan to move ahead.

"I haven't seen this..." She looked at Supercreep and he shook his head.
"What do you mean Purple?" Hypercube raised his fingers to touch the ceiling stone of the passage. It was at least 12 feet high.

"We had some glimpses of the traps that were in this place. At least enough to make some preparations."
"We?"
"Me and Creep. But this is...unfamiliar..." She leaned against the side of the opening, staring down the passage. "I'm not sure we should proceed this way."
"We didn't see any other way though. Everything led us down here."
"I know."

Hypercube placed his open palm against the right side, sending a stream of blue particles flowing across the stone. Mere walked up behind him, trying to squeeze beneath his elbow to see what he was doing. He laughed.

"Nothing dramatic Mere. I'm using my gravitational powers to examine this corridor. See if I can detect the hazzard." He closed his eyes and stood still for several minutes, the particles washing over the wall surfaces and penetrating cracks and fissures along the way. Finally he stepped back and turned to address them.

"Well it's pretty simple. There are sensors spaced more or less to correspond with the large floor tiles you pass as you walk down the hall. Moving past one will release a column of stone from overhead. Which would of course crush anyone underneath if they were unprepared."
"And the solution to getting by?"
"Easy. I generate a force field that keeps them suspended as we move past. Each stone is about 5 tons, well bellow my capacity to repel. The corridor appears to be about 100 yards long."

Purple shook her head. "I don't like it."
"Why?"
"The solution is tailored to your abilities. I suspect that means you're the target of the trap."
"Well then if we have to adapt we will. Like in those other traps we got by. Besides, we have no other option." Purple smiled at him wanly.

"True...true.." He laughed.
"Cmon guys! We can do it! I wanna beat this guy. Let's go."


The blocks dropped down on the force bubble as they moved forward. After they had moved past a few, the one out of range of the bubble slammed down to the floor.

"I guess we won't be going back the way we came."
"Bah... I can punch my way through stone blocks. That wouldn't trap me for long." Hypercube shook his head.
"No that wouldn't be a good idea Mere. I can sense that these stones are hollow in spots. There's some other substance inside. I'm thinking more poison. In this confined space that would take me out for sure, probably Purple too. I don't know about you and Supercreep.."
"Oh.."

Purple looked up at the stone shafts held up by the force bubble. "How are you holding up?"
"They're heavy. But I'm doing ok. Looks like we're coming up to the end."

They reached the end of the passage. In front of them was a metal wall. The wall to the left and the floor were also steel, as if they were standing on a huge metal bracket. The open space to the right led to another passage, leading back the direction they'd just come. Hypercube put his hand on the wall.

"It's thick. At least 18 inches of reinforced steel. Interesting..."

Suddenly, the floor jerked as the bracket began to slide towards the other passage. Hypercube grunted as he tried to insert a force barrier between the steel and the oncoming stone wall.

"It's no good. I can't hold this pressure, we've got to go down the passage or we'll be crushed here."

They turned the corner and entered the second passage, identical to the first. Again Hypercube held the stones up as they walked. This time they could hear loud machine noises overhead as they passed under the stones. Again the blocks slammed down behind them in rhythm with their pace.

"Cubie what is that noise?" He scowled.
"I dunno. There's more weight this time. Might be machinery pushing the stone down harder."

The blue glow from the force bubble deepened a bit as they reached the end of the passage, specks of perspiration glittering at Hypercube's temples as turned another corner, directed yet again down a third passage.

Purple touched his shoulder. "Can we stop to rest here? There's no steel bracket at this end."
"No there's a block overhead. It's pressuring down, there's no way I can turn the bubble off here. Keep moving, I'm trying to think this through."

They made their way down the third passage. Hypercube's posture was becoming increasingly stiff, reflecting the burden. His glasses slid down his nose as he held his palms up directing the force. Mere reached up to slide them back in place.

"Don't bother Mere. I'm starting to shrink..they won't fit. My uniform expands and contracts to match my size, but the glasses are stiff wire. Just take them."
"Oh my god, you're right. You are a bit smaller. Can you see?"
"Haha yes. Don't worry, I don't need them right now." Blue particles rose like steam from his hands and head. The end of the passage drew near, another steel bracket poised to shove them into the next passage. When they reached the bracket, he slumped against the metal, dropping the forcefield and gathering his strength as the floor began to lurch. He rode it as long as he could then stood up and projected the field again, leading them down the next passage.

"How strong are you guys? How much can you lift?" Purple shrugged.
"I think I can press maybe 400 pounds over my head. I saw Mere throw a small car one time when she was really angry. Supercreep can generate superhuman strength for a short period of time, but we've never measured it. What are you thinking?"

Hypercube grunted and took a breath before answering. The strain was obviously taking its toll. He had lost considerable body mass. He was roughly 7 feet tall now and much thinner, his skin tone darker and less blue.

"I think the blocks are being re-used. I think they are timed to fall and make it look like the passage behind is sealed."
"Go on."
"So when we turn the corner, I'm going to move ahead. When the block falls behind us, I need you guys to help me lift it. I'll be extending the force bubble both ways, trying to hold up the front while assisting you. If I'm right...the passage will be clear. We'll backtrack as fast as we can. I'm thinking that bracket thing will have moved ahead. There's a chance one of us can get through before it moves backwards into place"
"Are you sure about this?"
"No. But it's all I got. I can't keep it up much longer." Mere raised her fist.
"We'll do it! We're gonna make it!"

They made their way to the other end of the passage and turned the corner.
"Be ready." Hypercube moved forward without them as they waited for the first stone inside the passage to fall. Suddenly he threw and arm back towards them, a cushion of force rolling towards them as the groaned and strained to support the stones further down.

The three caught the stone and strained to lift it as the force field floated up from beneath. Mere yelled.
"You were right! It's clear behind us!" Hypercube turned and made his way back towards them, rushing as fast as his fatigued limbs would carry him, sweat dripping from his body. They turned the corner and could see the opening to a room at the far end of the passage. The edge of the steel bracket began to slide backwards into the opening.

"GO MERE! GO!" A machine gun flurry of steps rained over the floor as Mere darted down the hall, her lithe figure a blur as she dove through the narrow opening just before the bracket slid back into place. They started moving after her, a torrent of particles rising off Hypercube's body as he struggled to keep the weight up.

There was a sound of pounding and shrieking metal from the other side of the metal wall. They heard a tremendous clang as something snapped on the other side. Then Mere's hands became visible as she started wrenching the bracket open. Soon they could see her entire body as she labored to shove the thing clear. Hypercube stopped in the hallway.

"What's wrong Cube?"
"Nothing. I want you to to go forward and get on the other side with her. Move as fast as you can. Then when you're clear, I'll activate my personal force field. It's impenetrable. Then I won't have to exert myself getting clear."
"You're sure?"
"Yes. Absolutely. Now go. quickly."

Purple and Supercreep ran to the exit, watching as the stones jerked over their heads, bouncing against the translucent membrane of the force field. Mere gaped at them.
"What's he doing?"
"He'll be her in a second Mere." Mere looked down the passage. Hypercube had fallen to all fours, as if suspending the weight on his back.
"Cubie! Cmon! What are you doing? Get out of there!" He grunted and raised his voice.

"I'm..sorry ladies. I put one over on you. I don't...have the strength left for my personal force field..."

Purple pushed past Mere and began desperately icing the sides of the corridor, forming makeshift pillars underneath the stone shafts.

"Mere..."
"Cubie?" He lifted his head. Smiling. His hair matted with perspiration.
"You can see me. Me..this is how I really look...you got to see it...remember I wanted to show you..." He was tall with an athletic build. Tan with refined features. His fingers were long and thin as he pushed against the floor.
"Yes. I see you. I remember."

Purple began shaping and solidifying the air above his body, forming a canopy of dark ice. "Cubie! Just hold on a little longer...please!"

His head drooped with fatigue, his voice was weak. "I'm sorry...I think this..is..goodbye."

There was the hideous impact of all the stones falling at once, breaking through the flimsy ice and filling the passageway. Purple leaned against the stone in front of her, pressing her forhead against the hard surface trying to grasp the grim finality of it. Then she turned to look back.

"Mere.." Mere was hunched over, her face buried in her hands.
"...no..." Purple took a step towards her. Suddenly there was a flicker, and then Mere's head had snapped up, her eyes blazing white with energy, her fists raised, the air around her roiling with flickering tendrils of lightning and radiant plasma.
"Oh no..Mere..."
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"

Purple staggered and fell to the ground, dizzy as thousands of voices screamed in unison in the small room. She looked up in time to see Supercreep try to restrain her from leaving. As he reached out to take her hand, Mere waved her arm....sending him spinning through the air, his coat burning and smoking. He slammed into the ceiling and fell to the floor, his limbs spasming from the current surging through his body. Purple looked back to Mere but she was gone, a small pinpoint of light visible--flickering in the distance for a moment before moving out of view.

"Come back....."