Tart

The trial was quite the fiasco, wasn't it? All those men and women, shouting, yelling about how Hal and I were "unstable". How we had done illegal experimentation and research. We were deemed unfit for life with humans. And who was it that happened to be the prosecution but Mr. Henderson himself.

They put us into the custody of the state of Paragon. In turn we were handed like cattle over to Longbow for for incarceration. Three years living in that Hell-hole. Three years in the Zig. And that is why you hate them so, isn't it Jonas? Because all of those people responsible for your imprisonment had no idea what you had done. Because they feared you, and Haliphar, it was their duty to save society from your tainting presence. Hypocrites. And ever since you have made it a hobby to hunt down every single individual who had a hand in that affair, from the jury members, to the judge, the reporters, and my greatest hope to be fulfilled, Charles. That, and the Longbow organization itself.

How long can we last, Jonas? How long before one of us is killed? Once you have eliminated Charles, what will you do? I guess we will see when the time comes. After that, the ghosts of the past should depart. Now, back to the moment at hand...

[ QUOTE ]
"You were the one with the rotting meat," it growled at Mortanis, the tooth-laden head elongating slightly as it talked. "Why do you follow us?"

[/ QUOTE ]

Mortanis was puzzled by this creature's ability for cognitive thought. Puzzled and intrigued. Perhaps a mutation, an experiment. Or maybe one also tainted by the Netherworld...

"I came for Gilda, not you." Mortanis was unsure of what he would do if the creature became overly hostile, so he tried diplomacy. It was something he was very good at. "I am not going to harm her, or you for that matter, as long as I am not provoked. What is your business with Miss Ferris?"

Mortanis was feeling very weary, and very agitated. His trail of Templar and his companions was getting cold, and so were his chances of obtaining the cure. I will not abandon you to their hypocritical justice. I will not abandon you to their treatments, cures, and "rehabilitation". When I find you, I will kill every single man or women in that place. And then we can continue our search for him. I just need time, Haliphar, I just need time...

Mortanis saw that rupture was not large enough for him to squeeze through, plus he hated small spaces, so he went out the front door and flew to the rooftop. He saw no sign of whatever took her. Wait a second, what in the name of... On a nearby building he saw... well, it was hard to describe what It was. More importantly he saw the woman. She appeared unharmed by the thing but was also defenseless. Mortanis decided to make a point of his existence and flew over to the mass.

He directed his next comment towards the woman, but kept his eyes on whatever the thing was in front of him. "You are becoming quite popular today, Miss. I'm sorry, but last time we met I didn't catch your name." His fists began to glow a menacing black...

(Seeing as none has posted for some time, I'll give some insight on to the inner workings of Mortanis.)

As he continued his search for the missing Arachnos soldier, Mortanis's thoughts began drifting to his past life, before he was this monstrosity that made a normal life filled with work and of course, romance, impossible. It was over three years ago...

He used to be someone important, someone that was looked upon. He, Jonas Reaga, was the top scientist in the field of time/space relationships. The modern era offered so much technologically advanced topics, and he worked without remorse. The cost for the machines involved was tremendous, but with corporate sponsorships and his seven figure salary he was covered. Jonas was a scientist who kept to himself, save for his partner Hal and the woman he loved, Megan. His secrecy was in part to keep his success. Give Jonas a problem and three days without observance, and he'll fix it. Should others discover his lack of protocol he would have been ruined. He wasn't a bad man, he just believed that in order to make the great leaps forward in science, certain sacrifices would have to be made. It all started with a reporter...

Jonas moved around his office, pacing in order to keep his mind on the task at hand. However, a year ago he made an oath to himself that he would propose to Megan, and he had three weeks before that time was up. He loved her more than she knew, more than she could know. She saw him every Thursday, when she, Jonas, Hal and his wife would have dinner out. They laughed and joked, talked about every topic that they could think of. Megan worked in the D.A.'s office at Atlas Park, and she had recently been staying late to finish up on paperwork. Today. I will do it today. Jonas filled the papers on his desk and proceeded out of his office. "Hey Hal, I gotta take five. Cover for me?"
"Sure man. Hey, are doing what I think your doing?"
"Today is the day."
"In that case, good luck."
"Thanks Hal." Jonas took the stairs down to the parking lot and found his silver Mustang waiting. He drove to a local flower shop and paid $30 for a bouquet of red roses. His trip then took him towards the high end sector of town, in which he purchased a 20 karat diamond ring, the stone laid on a platinum band. He placed the ring inside one of the roses. Careful not to lose that rose, he drove over to the office of the D.A. With his confidence quavering, his heart racing, he stepped inside.
"Hello, I'm looking for Megan Wells. Can you tell me where I can find her?" Jonas noticed the secretary was busy with her nails and waited for an answer.
"I am sorry sir, but she cannot be reached right now. May I take a message?"
"Yes. Tell her that Jonas Reaga would like to ask her something very important."
The secretary typed something into her keyboard and motioned towards several chairs in the lobby. Jonas took a seat and waited. He checked his watch. The time was 4:30.
She should be off any second now.

He checked his watch. 5:00.

5:15

6:00

Jonas was able to muster up his courage and asked again where he could find Miss Wells.
"She isn't able to be reached today. It's her day off."
Day off?
"Please, it's very urgent."
"Ok, but this isn't strictly our policy. She went to Chamille, that restaurant on 23 street."
"Thank you."

When he arrived, the time was 6:35. In he went with the flowers and ring, in he went with his hopes and dreams. He found her at a booth by herself, looking at a menu. He went over.
"Hey Megan!" She looked up, surprised to see him.
"Jonas, what are you doing here?"
He began to sweat, but kept his cool. He put it frankly.
"I came to ask you if you would marry me."
Her eyes grew wide, tears began to fall down her softly paled cheeks.
"Megan, what's wrong" Jonas was feeling uneasy.
"Oh Jo, I'm so sorry." her speech was beginning to falter. "I never thought..." she wiped her face."I've met someone."
Now it was Jonas's turn to weep.
"But... you said... I was a great guy, I was a good friend."
"You are, you are, but you are just a friend. I didn't know you felt that way about me." Megan averted her gaze from the now broken man standing before her. "Please, don't make this harder than it is. I want us to still be friends. You have been so good to me. You and Hal. Charles knows me, he... I'm so sorry."

Jonas dropped the flowers, dropped the ring, dropped his life. He left the restaurant devoid of hope and full of sorrow. Tears streaked a trail to his car. How... was it me? Did I drive her away with my work? What did I do wrong? He flipped the radio on, and heard the one thing he didn't want to hear.
"And on that note, the D.A. has announced his retirement. His successor is none other then the talented rising lawyer Charles Henderson."
Jonas wanted his life to end.

And it did, didn't it. But enough of the past, let's find whatever took Miss Arachnos. I'll enjoy watching as the life slowly leaves it's body.

An hour later...


Mortanis awoke alone inside the building which had seen so much attention in so little time. He braced himself against a wall as he stood, and scoured the room for the Arachnos woman. He could not find her. Damn it!!!! Now look what you've done! She saw your dramatics and now she has run away! Wasn't it odd how much she looked like Megan? How long ago was it when she left? Mortanis slumped back to the floor at the thought. Maybe those androids got to her, maybe some more heroes. Or worse, Arachnos itself. Mortanis banged his fists on the ground and swore some more. In his anger he began to break most of the things he could find; chairs, bottles, it didn't matter. After the splinters from a wooden stool dropped to the floor something caught his eye. A very small amount of dark viscous material was present around the room. He calmed down and began to study the trail at hand. Something moved from the door leading into other rooms to where he lay in his state. Mortanis glanced towards his suit, and more of this stuff was on himself. He saw a little puddle were the woman was standing when he had his fit, but something was amiss. He watched as a drop fell from overhead into the puddle, and jerked his head upward to see more of the black coming from a crack in the ceiling. Mortanis levitated off his feet and gently rose towards the crack...

[ QUOTE ]
"Save the lecture." He replied back to Mortanis, not bothering to turn away from the first two villains. "I've heard it all before. From other villains, heroes, my superiors, you name it. But do you see me dead?"

[/ QUOTE ]

The young villain's irritating confidence made Mortanis's long pointed ears twitch. He spoke with a wry smile, his sharp teeth gleaming in the sun. His solid yellow eyes stood out from the thin slits if his pupils.

"Obviously someone hasn't tried hard enough, or has acted in the manner that you present yourself. Enough of this, you and your comrades may be of use to me. I have a job that requires more hands than I can spare, and I'm looking to hire some new blood. The pay is negotiable, the time adequate, and if done right, there will be no trail for others to follow. Are you in?"

Mortanis was slowly going over the faces of every person that approached the ferry, studying them for any recognizable features. He stood up straight when he saw the young man with some robotic comrades turn and shout something to the other two that were on the feed from his cameras. This young one is defiantly full of himself. Too confidant, and not able to see past his own ego. This will be too easy. Mortanis began to walk slowly and surely towards the three gifted and six robots.

Svagthose, if you can here me on the other side, I may need to call you within a short amount of time. Get the rest of those undead ready.

Understood, Master.

He stopped about twenty paces from them and spoke towards the one that the robots crowded around.

"If I were you, I'd stop treating your youthful existence as a game and grow up. The world is no place for one as unskilled and cocky as you."

His directive completed as the "Sockets" were eliminated, Svagthose and the undead could support no answer before they were once again whooshed to their home on the other side. The still body of Mortanis lay prostrate on the ground, helpless if anyone was determined to end his unlife. In his comatose state Mortanis could "feel" what was happening around him, but by neither sight nor sound was the world around him able to penetrate his hibernation. His eyelids were shut, and yet the eyes themselves fluttered beneath, back and forth.

That Arachnos soldier, why did I say those things? I know that I haven't seen a real woman in over three years, but still! Oh, God, if only I could get my hands on them. Charles, the solution, her from so long ago...

By the rate of his recovery, Mortanis would wake in around an hour from the time that the beast spoke. More than enough time for a calculated stroke, a shot to the head...

Mortanis watched the vid-screens that were projected on many of the Rouge Isles. Today he was focused on the ones at Mercy, placed at secret locations, searching for some activity to warrant some sort of a response. It's been getting rather dull around here. Hello, what's this? Mortanis zoomed in on camera two, focusing on a strange group of three small time villains.

[ QUOTE ]
“Will Port Oaks suit you?”

[/ QUOTE ]

Mortanis smiled. Who knows? These might be worth my time. Heists or ransom, or maybe a bounty. Young gifted are always easier to catch, and any gifted are worth a hefty sum of money for those who are willing to pay. Mainly Arachnos, Longbow, or that Aeon doc. Mortanis arose from his chair, turned, and walked into the destination sector of his headquarters. Taking a left, he made his way to a room with several large arches, each with a small panel at the zenith. He found the one that led to Mercy and activated the gateway. after several seconds the arch whirled to life, dark black and purple sparks erupting from the empty air in the center. The still air begin to rush as a doorway appeared, a dark tunnel that would transport him to his destination. He stepped through...

...and appeared in a back alley in Mercy Island out of thin air. Mortanis brushed himself down and made his way to the ferry that docked at the harbor which would take his objectives unto Port Oakes. He leaned against the front of the barge and waited.
After all, I have all the time in the world...

With the remaining synthetics distracted by the beast, the undead were able to take advantage of a quick closing of the distance between them and their targets. As silver guns blazed, black bolts fired back. The shields served their purpose, blocking as many shots as possible while regaining strength from Svagthose and his mastery of the Nether. Mortanis, on the other hand, still lay comatose on the floor, not having moved since he fell save for a slight rise and fall in his chest. To an untrained eye he might be in a coma, but Mortanis was in fact in a state of "hibernation" while his energy reserves were filled again to the point when he could regain bodily functions. That would take anywhere from five minutes to five hours.

From the storm of his raging fit, Mortanis felt something was wrong in the real world. He could feel turmoil, feel fear.

My will is not to be hindered.

Mortanis used what consciousness he had left to give himself up to the Netherworld, to make himself a temporary gate for his minions. His seizure ceased as the power flowed through his veins, his whole body seeming to be covered with ethereal colors of black and purple. He began to rise, not on his feet, but into the air itself, the toes of his boots touching the ground. His limp body began to move, his head rising till he saw the men in front of him.

Those men... familiar... enemies...

He roared as his undead warped in from his own flesh, leaving the gate that was his core.

"Svagthose... kill... the... men." Whispered Mortanis in a cold and papery thin voice.

"By your will it shall be so."

And with those final words, Mortanis slumped to the floor, his energy completely gone. His breathing was slow, heartbeat faint.

Svagthose resumed command of the undead, preparing for a bitter fight.

"I am what some may call a "mercenary". I take jobs as I see fit for various clients, who for whatever reason, want something done smoothly, cleanly, and correctly. The last job I had, I was employed by the organization that you belong to as well. My partner and friend Haliphar was recently captured by the Longbow after a heist on the bank at Kings Row. I would rescue him myself, but there are some complications arising from the process that made me what I am today, and I hope to find what I need from certain heroes that you have witnessed."

Why am I spouting my life's story to her? I don't even know who she is.

"I saw the video footage of what happened to your squad. I am trying to find those heroes responsible for the reason I have stated, and would kindly request your assistance in doing so."

Even under the dirt, she looks so much like...

Mortanis began to smell lightning, his body tensing up.

Oh no, not now! Please not now, not now, not now!

Mortanis fell to the floor, his yellow cat eyes rolling into his head. He started convulsing, throwing up dust that lay on the ground.

Mortanis held up his hands, dropped the head, and the cloud surrounding his right hand up to his wrist fizzled into nothing. I wasn't expecting a woman to be the sole survivor.

"All I want is to talk. I won't hurt you unless you do something drastic, like your friends at the door."

Mortanis knew that if worst came to worst, he could remove her, but the thought irritated him. It's been so long since... He shook his head. No, these thoughts are not right for this time or place.

"My name was Jonas Reaga, but now people call me Mortanis."

(Heads up, this is my first story, and all of the characters are mine, both hero and villain. Comments will be appreciated greatly.)


Carl Thomas Henderson was not an ordinary 32 year old man. Not many lived in Paragon City. Oh, he looked normal enough, with his mottled dirty blond hair that looked like he just woke up, his sapphire blues eyes, his strappingly built body with average height. One could say that he looked like a well-exercised person. Not many knew that he had never taken a sick day off work, that even after he sliced himself on a bagel, he came in without a scratch. Not many saw his recreational routines, involving weights, pull ups, pushups, and laps around an old decrepit and condemned stadium that lasted mere seconds. Even his parents didn’t know about the foot long blades lying just under his skin on each forearm. With a gentle sigh Carl focused on the present, being which his carrying groceries down 9th street in Kings Row at night.
Passing by a store advertising radios, phones and widescreen television sets, he noticed the nightly news update on channel 6. He paused his trek to stop and watch.

“…And following that story, we have Nicole with the domestic update. Nicole.”

“Thanks Jim. Earlier today the Kings Row Bank was robbed by 13 men who called themselves “Lucifer’s Ire”. Officials state that they are a small, but radical, offshoot of the feared Hellions gang. Luckily, the event also caught the attention of the Drakernaut, an upcoming hero who has been reported to live right in this city. The thugs were quickly dispatched and left for the police. We have live footage of the men being escorted into the squad cars.”

The film that followed showed a close up of one man, his face tattooed with flames, with others seen in the background. He walked sullenly until reaching the car, then tried to escape, pleading shouting, even crying.

“Please, don’t send me back there! It’s not safe, he can get in! Nowhere is safe, man! You don’t know Him, but He sees, He sees! Oh, God, please bless us poor sinners, take…”

“The rest of the film has been cut due to graphic violence and language coming from the convict, know identified by the name of The Right. Authorities now are following all leads, believing that these men were hired to rob the bank. The 13 criminals are being held at Kings Row PD headquarters. The Drakernaut himself left the scene before he could be reached for comment. And back to you Jim.”

Carl smiled as he trudged onward through the streets, the nearby lanterns affording haven from the quiet and dark that is the business district at night. No adventures tonight, though he thought. Megan wouldn’t like it. She worries enough as it is. At the mental mention of her name, his train of thought leapt off its rails and slowly wafted through the clouds. He pictured her emerald green eyes, her fiery red hair, her…

No one heard the shot that, although muffled, rang in the crisp autumn air at 10:38 pm that night. Nobody called for help as a man with brown paper bags crumpled like paper on the sidewalk, his food spilling into the street. Not a single person tried to stop the hulking being that stepped out from an alley, injected the man with something, promptly slung him over his 7’ tall shoulder while being careful not to damage his sizable bat wings, and waited. And no one was able to see the shadow that left the building across the street a few minutes later. As the shadow moved closer to the corner where the Brute stood, the light from a nearby street lamp gave shape to it. What stepped into the light was a slimly built figure of a man, about 5’ 10. His face was in a smile that revealed his pointed teeth. His pointed ears twitched in excitement, his yellow cat eyes shining brightly, the pupils almost lines in the light. The face, although dark grey, was also shaped like that of a feline, except for the curved horns that jutted from the area on his forehead above his temples out of the head covering that resembled a pharaoh’s headpiece.

“Good shot” said the Brute, his wings ruffling.

“Think so?” replied the villain.

(Thanks! )

Mortanis tended to his chest wound as his minions overwhelmed the two synthetics. The blue energy blasted through his chest plate and burned his dark grey skin underneath. I'm going to need to get Facemaker to fix this back at Cap. Although his opponents could withstand injuries that would have killed a normal many times over, the persistence, numbers, and ferocity that came with the Netherworldly creatures proved too much. As they were hacked to bits, they did manage to take down his lesser creatures. No matter, I can always summon more. As Mortanis kneeled on the ground, the Necromantic energy flowed back into his body, rejuvenating his system and healing his burn.
"Master, what is your will?" replied Svagthose when the synthetic humans were completely destroyed.
"You may return, but stay alert. I may need you again soon" replied Mortanis.
"As you command" were the only words that escaped from the glimmering air, and then Mortanis was alone.
Mortanis walked over the bodies, then turned and picked up the head of the one who shot him. This may be useful later. He walked into the building to where he saw the woman, his right hand in a shimmering cloud of black, deep purples, and blues. His left hand carried the head, which still leaked the blue fluid.

Mortanis was hit square in the chest, causing him to fly backwards into some garbage in front of the building. The blue energy hurt. Alot. Mortanis flew a few yards away and called up his servants from the Netherworld to help rid himself of these pests. A total of seven creatures began to phaze into the material realm. Three were lowly little things, used mainly to swarm opponents and act as a barrier between Mortanis and whoever he was fighting. Two were more powerful, carrying swords of Dark Steel and limited ranged capabilities. One was a spirit, translucent with bright red eyes, and the last creature was large, and covered in black robes. "What is your bidding, Master?" said shrouded figure.
"Kill these beings Svagthose, but please, quietly this time. Screams will only attract unwanted attention."
"By your command" replied Svagthose.
Now these are my kind of odds. What perplexed Mortanis is how these... how they managed to track down the Arachnos soldier before him, and their desire to find him. Mortanis began to level the field of battle by channeling negative energy into the ground itself to weaken his foes and strengthen his minions. When I find their leader, I'll rip out whatever powers these beings myself.

"We don't have time for this sir," they said, their voices a little harder now. "We are government officials going about our business. Now please leave." One of them stepped forward, reaching out and arm to push Mortanis away from the door.

[/ QUOTE ]

Mortanis grabbed his arm, the negative energy from his hands flowing into the body of the man, draining his life force. The strength flowed into him, and as his power grew, he smiled and said "That was very unwise. Now, I am giving you a choice. Leave while my patience is still tested and you will live. If you don't, and still stand in my way, you will die. I am not to be trifled with."

Mortanis was surprised to see the other men standing in his way. "Yes you can. I am looking for someone, and they seemed to have stopped here. I am a liaison for a private firm that is interested in this subject, and I am authorized to do what is necessary in order to find them. So, if you don't mind, let me through." His voice was calm and powerful, and the last part was said with a slightly menacing tone. While talking, he spied inside the building another man with the same outfit talking to a young woman.

This is going to be interesting. If need be, I'm sure you can incapacitate three.

Mortanis folded his hands behind his back, his fists starting to glow black...

After resting, Mortanis found his way to the monorail and followed it as the Hellion said. He now found himself in Faultline.

Now to find those imbeciles who waste their gifts.
Mortanis was quite anxious to track down these heros. More news clips revealed that Templar had gained some comrades by the names of Bladewolf and Etherburn. The first priority should be finding any remnants of the squad, and interrogating them.

The ground was still stained with blood, the bodies having been removed. Mortanis was still unimpressed by the work done by the two heros. A squad a Wolf Spiders is nothing. He studied the traces of the battle, and remembering the news reel, he noticed that several squad members had not been killed. One seemed to have fallen, gotten up and run from the scene, and another pulled away by the shadows. Interesting. Money talked, and some more bums pointed him towards a building where it was apparent a guttersnipe lived, but one that could fix up a place to be livable. Now Mortanis, let's not try to hurt anyone if you don't have to. He knocked loudly on the front door and asked if anyone was home. He waited for a response.

As the ship arrived in port, Mortanis quietly shuffled to the back until he was out of sight and lept from the ship, gliding a few feet above the waves. On the shore he tore the clothes off, the stench being unbearable. In the moonlight he walked on the sand. enjoying for a brief moment the tranquility of night. Movement on his right caused Mortanis to spin around, his fists glowing dark with negative energy. A small child stared back at him with his hand on a half eaten apple lying on the sand. Mortanis calmed himself and, trying to coax the boy, pulled out a few bills.
"Do you know were I can find a hero called Templar?"
"Why?" he asked, his voice full of fear.
"I want to thank him for stopping those bad Arachnos guys from doing bad things. He was on the news recently."
"Oh, he was over a place called Faultline."
"And where is that?" Mortanis spoke while he got closer and went on his knee to look the boy in the eyes.
"Ummm, I dun know. I should go home."
"Thank you child" Mortanis handed some more bills to the boy. "Now, don't tell anyone that you saw me. I am an undercover hero like Templar, and if someone found out, more bad guys would come. This is our little secret."
"k, bye!" The boy started running towards the city.

What are you doing, you fool? He could ruin your chance to save Haliphar!
"He is no of threat."
Just like Charles?
Mortanis cringed at his name. The task at hand was to find out where Faultline was, not to find that miserable rat and make him pay for what he did.
Why do you continue on with your miserable existance?
"Halpihar is all I have of my old life. I need him."

Mortanis decided a good flight would clear his mind, so he promptly took off on the sand. He soared above the silent houses in Kings Row. He stopped to the sound of a fight below and to his left.
Maybe one of them knows where Faultline is.
It turned out to be a Skull and a Hellion, with both rolling on the ground in a succession trips, punches, and kicks. Mortanis grabbed the Skull by the sides of his face and twisted sharply. A crack, and the man slumped to the ground. The Hellion tried to run, but a quickly thrown trash can resolved that issue. The Hellion tripped and landed with a thud on his front. Mortanis walked over to the young man. He pulled out a knife and stabbed Mortanis in his abdomen. Mortanis hissed, pulled out the knife and absorbed enough life force from the Hellion to seal the wound. The man gasped for air as he felt the warmth from his body disappeared. Motanis lifted him by the collar and shoved him against the side of a nearby building.
"Answer me truthfully, or you'll end up like your friend over there" Mortanis snarled.
The Hellion simply gurgled and nodded.
"How do I get to Faultline?" Mortanis let the hellion down, but with his right arm in a steel grip.
After a few coughs the Hellion replied "First stop on the green line."
Mortanis started to leave, then turned and spoke in a voice cold as ice. "Tell anyone I was here, and you will wish you ended up like him" He motioned to the dead Skull.
"What are you?"
"I am not to be crossed." Mortanis flew until he spotted a condemned building, landed, and slunk inside for some rest.

(Heads up, I'll be doing a Dark Mastermind named Mortanis)

Mortanis sighed as the news played some clip of some hero slicing through an Arachnos squad like a scissor through tissue paper. He switched of the television and started to pace around the room, wondering what he should do, his slim, lithe, 5'10 body gracefully avoiding the clutter that resided on the floor. Ever since Haliphar was caught by Longbow, I can't get the funds I need to continue with the process he thought. How ironic. Mortanis made up his mind to find his brute partner, no matter what. He's all I have left ...

Mortanis moved to the mirror in his room at the Blakmoore. His yellow and black outfit, cape and all, was in pristine condition. His bright yellow cat-eyes shown out through the dim light. "I'm gonna need to find something to hide these" he whispered to himself, sliding his hands down the horns that came out of his forehead and resembled those of water buffalo. A sudden rush flowed through his body, expanding and contracting. He fell and seized, his body convulsing terribly. A side effect from the experimant caused by an overexposure to the Nethe... were his last thoughts before darkness overtook him.

He woke a few hours later, brushed the dirt off himself, and promptly left the safehouse on the mission to get over to Paragon. As he was leaving, he noticed a small poster advertising a time and place for single people that were "unwanted for their gifts" to meet. Even we need some company once in a while he thought. Ever since his delving into time and space, and the eventual experiments with the effects of the Netherworld, he gained his distinct appearance that made attempts with women almost futile, his ability to channel a small amount of negative energy, and an aura that attracted followers. Those heroes on the news might lead me to what I need to stop these irritating side effects, and then rescue Haliphar. The one was named Templar. He waited down by the docks at Sharkhead Isle until the sky grew dark with twilight. After some persuasion, a homeless man handed over his coat and trousers to Mortanis. He smiled as he flew quietly to the back of the ferry, slumped down in a corner, and pretended to sleep with a newspaper covering his face and horns. And thus it begins...

Name: Jonas Reaga
Age: indeterminable. Adulthood
Alias: Mortanis
Weight: 170 lbs
Height: 5'7
Characteristics: Feline shaped face, pointed ears, bright yellow eyes that dilate to round circles or contract to thin lines. Two large bull-like horns that curve over the ears and end parallel to his face.

Jonas was brilliant. Really brilliant. He passed all his exams with flying colors, was never caught unprepared. This, and a tendency to use his "gifts" for uncivilized practices, made him unwelcome company for many that knew him. To feed his curiosity, he began working with space/time continuances, gateways and the like. His theory was that a parallel universe existed, and by using a specialized gate, one could hop long distances in short time. Him and his partner Leon tested the gate without ample protection. The Netherworld did a huge number on both their bodies.

I would definatly have to say for El Sceptco- Hells Bells (AC/DC)

The only sign of the rift was a rustle of leaves, a shimmer in the air. With a screeching lurch and flash the Netherworld spat up It's bounty. Mortanis and Haliphar quickly brushed themselves off, looked around, and pondered about heir situation. Haliphar's 9ft. football player's build combined with his appearance of a human-bat hybrid unsettled some at least and threw him in jail on occasion due to being "a public disturbance". Not that a cell could hold his strength, amplified tenfold by the gifts from the Netherworld. Mortanis, a more cool and calculating individual, concluded they would stay there till dark. Strange how I cling to him as strongly as the Netherworld to our bodies Mortanis thought. In truth, both Haliphar and Mortanis were more than associates or partners, they were like two soldiers on a battlefield. They looked out for one another.

"Haliphar, any idea of where we are?" Mortanis asked.
"Looks like city."
"Yes, but what city?
"Don't know." Haliphar truthfully replied. He didn't like letting his friend down.
"Then we shall need to find out." Mortanis was eager to show the new world that he had plans for it, especially in who would eventually run it.

My Villian was married also, but in poket D. Sadly, we broke up befor any real plans were made