Part 2 Friendship
I grew up in Atlas Park after that, just a punk kid who ran in a street gang, the main difference being that instead of beating up innocents, we beat up the Hellions and Skulls in our neighborhoods.
There were three of us, Michael, he'd lost his sister, a mutant who killed herself when she was caught in a Circle spell intended to drive Mutation heroes mad. He was the weakest of us physically, however he had a fast mind and at times could display slight psychic powers.
Jess had a photographic memory when it came to martial arts, not to mention two gymnastics medals. Unfortunately she also had her soul in alignment with certain mystic gates and had repeatedly been kidnapped to open these gates.
And then there was me, I'd inherited Grandfather's strength and toughened skin. Not much use against bullets but we'd usually dealt with them by the time they'd pulled out the guns and fired.
Our overconfidence was our downfall though, as we were about to find out.
Part 3 Defeat
Even now I don't who planned it, if the Hellions had actually thought it through and realized they could take us if they had enough firepower, or if someone had given them directions for handling us.
It was a normal enough day, the three of us sat in the street laughing and talking about the Hellions we'd beaten up the day before, when a group of Hellions appeared at the end of the street led by a single Damned.
We stood up quickly, there was at least twelve of them, Jess whistled for assistance, a sort of honor code between the local teen gangs existed when it came to Hellions. Knowing help was on the way, we moved to take care of the Damned.
Jess and Michael moved behind me as the Damned started throwing Fireballs up at us, although I could fend off the first few we knew we had to act quickly before my skin was burnt off.
Jess vaulted over me and aimed a jumping kick in the direction of the Damned, even now I could hear the other gangs getting close, but I was focused on the Damned, if Jess missed, I had to introduce my fist into his face before he could react.
A Blood Brother swung a hammer and somehow managed to strike Jess in midair, I shot forward and raised my fist before Michael's scream made me turn and realize their plan.
Another Blood Brother had snuck up the other end of the street and had Michael down on the floor with a knife to his throat. As the other gangs piled into the street he pressed the knife harder, not hard enough to cut, but hard enough to make him panic.
I forget if I've mentioned it but Michael had some psychic powers. No control at this point of course, except to psychically overload every mind in around 10 ft when in danger.
Part 1 - Ancestors
I suppose I'd best start at the beginning, my name is Stephan Andrews, although I'm known more as Bluedarky now. I'm a Paragon Kid, born and raised in the time of heroes after the Rikiti War. I'd always wanted to be a hero when I grew up, like my Grandfather.
He was the original Bluedarky, a Professional Wrestler who managed to stay in the big leagues after the incoming Mutation and Science Superstrength Wrestlers. He worked as a part time hero to do his bit for the city as well. His Blue Trenchcoat was always a welcome sight in Eastgate.
Eastgate, the town I was born and raised in for the first ten years of my life. On the day of the "Hollowing" my Grandfather went out to investigate the Trolls behaviour. He was the first hero to find the bombs and warn the district. It was his last act, his proximity to the bomb meant that what was teleported to the hospital was beyond even Paragon Cities medical care.
My parents quickly moved out of Eastgate, securing a flat in Atlas Park, my Grandmother refused to move, even with the threat of Trolls, Circle of Thorns and the Igneous she stayed resolute refusing to move from what had been her home for more than 50 years. David Wincott's men called her the "Queen of Eastgate", the only civilian living there. To the heroes she was just some batty old lady, the Trolls left her alone, in their own twisted way they had respected Grandfather's strength and this was their way of showing it.