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 Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 2:22 pm
<< Profile Allen marveled at the distance he had run so far. Campus was nearly ten miles the opposite direction and yet he wasn't thirsty, he wasn't tired, he hadn't cramped up but most importantly: He could keep going. He owed it entirely to the experimental Steroids he'd been using and since the tests had become a demi-god in his opinion. With each day he felt a little stronger and healthier, only wishing that BULK had increased his stature as he was still a measly five seven. All the same nothing seemed to slow him down, he had pulled numerous heists, beaten the tar out of numerous cops and worked as protection for various big figures in the underworld. All while maintaining a C+ average in College. As he rounded the bend he saw Listerine Estates in all it's glory. He spat at it, one of his frequent employers was a business rival of Listerine and so long as said employer paid him he'd hate the Listerine's as well.
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Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 2:51 pm
JONATHAN JOHNSON
The cab pulled up to the grand Listerine Estates and Jonathan Johnson handed the cabbie money quickly and got out. Jon did not see how he was going to get in. The gates seemed miles high and a couple of feet away was a mean looking security guard. 'Great... this is going to be hell...' Jon thought.
Just then, Jon saw the figure of a man he could recognize from almost anywhere; his roommate Allen and he was running once again. For as long as Jon knew Allen, he could run a marathon... no three... and not get tired! Jon walked tentatively over to Allen and waved a hand. Jon didn't know how "in the game" Allen was when he was running. Some people just exploded if you ruined their workout. "H-h-h-h-h-hey ALLEN!" Jon practically yelled to his friend, hoping he didn't surprise the man too much. "Wh-wh-wh-what a coin... coincidence!"
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Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 3:02 pm
Allen hadn't been paying significant attention to his surroundings when he suddenly noticed a very familiar figure in front of him as he nearly bowled the man over. Tripping over himself to stop in time Allen stopped inches from Jon. "Jon! What a coincedence indeed." He bellowed at his friend. "Just about knocked you over there friend, What the heck are you doing all the way out here?" Knocking Jon over was an understatement for sure but Allen wasn't about to let on how powerful he was to anyone, even if they were good friends. There weren't many people that Allen liked but he made an exception with Jon, mostly because it made him feel better about himself. The way Jon always slouched and stammered made Allen feel sorry for the young lad but it made him look better and was that such a bad thing afterall? "You aren't going into that infernal place are you?" He nodded at the mansion, "I'm not sure your boss would approve of that."
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Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 3:30 pm
JAMES CROSS
James Cross's mind was going in circles. Was everything the Mastermind telling him true? He said he had a picture of Mitchell... but his name wasn't Mitchell anymore. He was the most powerful super being in the world? Mitchell no longer remembered his past? How could he not? It had been such a horrible night! How could Mitchell forget all about everything? The Mastermind had to be lying, but he sounded so sure. Anger suddenly started boiling up inside James. All this time; the Mastermind, James, his brother; everything had been connected to him all along.
This couldn't be true, but then everything started to make sense. The fire James Cross had saved people in, he remembered seeing a figure standing on a neighboring building. That had been Mythos... no... that had been his brother. The Mastermind had tried to directly kill James using his brother. "You're lying... you have to be..." James said through clenched teeth, more for himself than anything else.
Strength was surging back to James Cross and a wild idea came to his head. If he could get the Mastermind down, then so many things would happen at once. He would have solved a case that has been going on for years, he'd get his brother back, and his life would be back to normal. "This ends here Mastermind..." James said, about to go over the edge. "You think that I was going to listen to you? Ever... I don't trust Wyong and I do... not... trust... you! This ends now!" James screamed as he leapt at the man he had been hunting down with Laura Listerine for some time.
JONATHAN JOHNSON
Jonathan Johnson nodded profusely to his friend, probably the only one that seemed to understand him, and said, "I-I-I kn-know! But y-y-y-y-ou see... well I wasn't being very hon-honest with you before I left to do that "b-b-b-b-business" I was telling you about. My brother I told you about awhile ago lives here right-right-right now. I have to talk to him about the will my parents left usssss years ago when they died... died! But if Sssssssnottsborn knew I-I-I-I was here he'd-he'd-he'd wr-wr-wring my n-n-n-n-neck. I know that you n-n-n-never see himmmm, but if ever you d-d-d-d-d-do don't tell himmmmm anything p-p-p-please!"
Jon cursed himself and slumped even lower. He hated this stupid stammering. Allen should not have been making him so nervous! After all, Allen was had been the only friend Jon could confide in about anything. Jon told Allen practically everything there was to know.
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Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 3:38 pm
"Woah hey calm down pal! I'm not going to get you fired over something like this. If your brother is in there then you'll just have to storm the castle and rescue him." Allen said with a smile. Sometimes he wondered if this Mr. Snottsborn was the same man as his employer. He couldn't varify as his Employer prefered to only go by the name Mr. X and had never in the time Allen had known him shown his face. He couldn't help but notice how similar the two men seemed to be. The thought was fleeting though and he shook it from his head. "This the same brother you told me was a cop?" He said. He had a hard time with Morals and wondered if Jon ever questioned his actions the way Allen did with his own.
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Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 3:59 pm
JONATHAN JOHNSON
Jon looked down at Allen's feet, becoming a little bit self conscious to the fact that Allen was looking him straight in the eyes. The fact was that Allen knew almost everything about Jon and it was scary to him that Allen was the only person in Jon's life that knew everything about him. Allen was like Jon's brother, another part of Jon himself. Allen seemed to genuinely care, but Jon hated the fact that he, himself, looked like such a baby most of the time with all of his family problems and work issues. Allen was a good listener though. He was very good friend.
"Th-th-thanks Allen." Jon said a little embarrassed. "I ne-ne-never thought that you... you... YOU... would tell anyone... I-I-I-I j-j-j-justttt... welllll... you-you-you-you know me! All... always worrying!" Jon tried to laugh but it came out as more of a deranged psychopathic cackle. Jon scared himself sometimes, but he continued on. "And y-y-y-yes! This is my-my-my brother who is-is-is a co-co-cop. Needless... needless to say that aft-aft-aft-after years of not seeing meeeee... he won't be-be-be happy about the sudden appearance of me-me-me! So I-I-I am veryyyyy... very nervous!"
When was Jonathan Johnson ever not though?
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Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 5:20 pm
Allen clapped Jon on the shoulder, "He's your brother Jon, If I had a brother I hadn't seen in years and he showed up suddenly I'd be delighted even if I had been upset with him. Family is important Jon." He let out a laugh at Jon's comment. "Mum's the word about this little visit kay man?" Feeling pretty good Allen didn't care to venture into why Jon's brother may be at Listerine estates. He figured the poor boy was already in enough heartache having to go into the blasted establishment. And this was very much the narrow mind that Allen typically had. Not even aware of the possibility that Jon had bigger problems than company feuds. "I'm sure your brother will be glad to see you," He stopped and scratched his head, "How long has it been since you seen him last?" Allen said very unmindful of grammar.
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Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 10:31 pm
JONATHAN JOHNSON
Jon shuffled uncomfortably at the question, but he needed all of this off of his chest. He needed some advice before he ventured into the worst possible place he could be right now. "T-t-t-t-t-ten yyyyyyyears... ten years..." Jon mumbled with the most ridiculous stutter thus far. Jonathan Johnson was embarrassed. James would be far from happy to see Jon. Hell, Jon had changed his last name from Cross to Johnson because Jon hated his family life so much.
Jon looked at Allen and said, "The... the l-l-l-last time I saw my bro-bro-b-b-b-brother was when he... he... HE... came to y-y-y-yell at my for not c-c-c-c-coming to my parent's funeral and... a-a-a-a-and you know all... all... a-a-a-a-al about that wh-wh-whole situation..."
Jon had confided in Allen about what had happened to the Cross family years ago. About how Jon's father had killed Jon's mother and then himself, about how Jon's youngest brother Mitchell had run away, about how James blamed Jon for everything, basically Allen was filled in on everything about Jon's past life. When Jon had gotten the call about his parent's will, he had almost broken down and Allen had been there to listen. Jon could never thank Allen enough.
"So... so... so... so... so... so... so... soooooooo b-b-b-basically... yeah... I do n-n-n-not think my brother is g-g-g-go-go-go-going to be all that excited t-t-t-to see me... me!"
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Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 9:22 am
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Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 1:52 pm
"Oh boy," Allen said with a bit of a sigh, "Jon I do believe you're up the proverbial creek. I haven't really got an answer for that particular pickle." Allen used metaphors when he didn't want to swear. For someone who had broken spines and stolen hundreds of thousands of dollars he had a sore spot for swear words and did his best not to use them. He felt degraded when he used them and the ensuing guilt trip afterwards caused him to stress out. So he used phrases to get his point across.
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Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 3:13 pm
JAMES CROSS
James watched in awe as the one and only Mastermind shifted from human to a black hawk and then back to human again. The Mastermind was now standing behind James and he had to turn around in order to face Mastermind again. James had always knew Mastermind was a criminal genius, but James had never known that Mastermind may have super powers just like him! This hadn't be something James ever thought was possible. So what if Mastermind had been near James all along? What if James had talked to the Mastermind hundreds of times without even thinking it was him? This started making James even angrier than he already was.
The Mastermind started talking to James once more and it was the first time James actually tried to calm down and listen. The Mastermind was so sure of himself, but something came to Cross's attention as he listened; the Mastermind was a little too sure of himself, yet had the Mastermind truly ever stepped in harms way and not have had one of his little lackeys, like James's apparently brother, do the dirty work for him? Something clicked in James's brain...
The Mastermind had said that Mitchell was still alive and working for him, yet the Mastermind seemed to fear what would happen if James and Mitchell... now named Mythos apparently... ever met again. Mythos was stronger than the Mastermind and that was something James was picking up on. James smiled to himself and then looked at Mastermind.
"You know... for such the mastermind, you really aren't that smart. I am not trying to kill you and my emotions are not clouding my judgement. I suddenly realized something and correct me if I'm wrong please. You want me out of the way... so why wait? Kill me know. You're scared and that's funny. You're scared I will find my brother and when he finds out that you manipulated him... and I have no doubt in my mind that you have... he will kill you and apparently because he is so powerful he will succeed. So there is a c***k in your armor and that armor is me and my brother Jon. You don't want us to find Mitchell because if we do we could overpower you in a heartbeat. And something else Mastermind... I am not trying to kill you. That would be stupid! You are right about that... but apparently you do not see the other side of things. I am very angry and I will never stop hunting you, but I will not kill you... just yet. You're too valuable. However, this ends today. I am taking you in and you are going to answer all of my questions down at the police headquarters. You're too smart for your own good and I will be taking you down to the station easy or by force. I hope to God it is by force because I wouldn't mind beating the crap out of you a little before I do."
James was satisfied with the speech he gave, but something in the back of his mind was bothering him. How did Mastermind know about Mr. Wyong? Wyong was just as elusive as Mastermind, but much more secret about his operations than Mastermind was. "Before I take you in Mastermind, maybe there is something you can answer for me that you wouldn't be able to down at the station.... You talked about Mr. Wyong and by the familiarity with Wyong, I am guessing you met him before. How do you know him?"
JONATHAN JOHNSON
Jon knew he would not get any answer he had wanted to hear whether it was from Allen or anyone else. This was his problem and he needed to get it taken care of and then he could return to Snottsborn Industries and never think about it again. There was hope in Jon though. Maybe James would forgive Jon for turning his back on family. Maybe James missed Jon just as much as Jon missed him. Maybe Jon and James could be not only brothers, but friends. Jon needed more than just his roommate. Jon felt like he was always dragging Allen into his problems. This encounter with James would be the hardest though and Jon understood that.
"W-w-w-well... I-I-I-I-I should let you... you... you... get g-g-g-g-going Al-Al-Al-Allen-en. Thanks for listen... listen... listening!" Jon waved good-bye to his friend and started towards the main gate when all of a sudden Jon had an idea. "W-w-w-w-w-w-w-w-w-w-wait... WAIT! I-I-I-I kn-kn-know this is a crazy idea... idea. But d-d-d-d-do you think you could c-c-c-come along with me to s-s-s-s-ssssssssee James? I know you d-d-d-don't know him and it may b-b-b-b-be a bit awkward... awkward... but I-I-I-I really n-n-n-need someone in... in... in... IN... there to calm me down..." But Jon knew no matter who was with him this blasted stutter would never leave so he added. "E-e-e-e-even if it'sssssss j-j-j-just a lit-lit-lit-little b-b-b-b-b-bit..."
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Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 7:05 pm
Allen flexed his shoulders and placed a heavy hand on Jon's shoulder, "Anything for you pal," He decided he'd save his strength for later on tonight. "Lord knows it isn't safe for one man to enter this place alone. They won't take you like they took your brother as long as I draw breath." He said with disdain for the vulgar Listerine's very clear in his voice. "Let's hop to it then."
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Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 2:20 pm
JONATHAN JOHNSON
Jon nodded with a smile to Allen. Who was better than Allen huh? Jon now had a little bit more confidence than he had had in quite some time. With Allen by his side, Jon would at least have someone to talk with if everything went bad and maybe if James did not want to hear anything Allen could just chime in. Allen had a way of convincing and consoling a lot of people. Jon thought that Allen had a very good head on his shoulders. But Jon knew James could be very stubborn at times and James would not be happy to see Jon at all.
Jon approached the main gate, full of a new found confidence given by Allen and said to the guard sitting nearby the gate, "I-I-I-I would like to see James C-C-C-Cross immediately!" At least Jon wasn't stuttering as much!
"No." the guard flat out said to Jon. "This is private property. Have a nice day."
Jon slumped over, his confidence gone and turned to Allen shrugging. "Wh-wh-what n-n-n-n-now?
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Posted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 11:11 am
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Posted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 3:12 pm
JAMES CROSS
James took in everything the Mastermind was saying. It all seemed to make sense, but then who was the good guy? Mastermind or Wyong? Well Mastermind killed people and so far Wyong hadn't touched anybody as far as James knew. If it wasn't for Wyong, James would not be alive right now. What was happening? All of James Cross's views were going down the toliet. What would Laura say? Laura!
James mind flashed to Laura and he wished she was here right now. Maybe she'd come in any moment, see Mastermind, and shoot him dead. The thought soothed James a bit, but he knew that wouldn't work. They needed Mastermind alive. He knew so much. But now James's time was running thin. There was nothing more James was curious about. We knew about Wyong, where his brother was, and why the Mastermind wanted James and his other brother, Jonathan, killed. There wasn't anything holding Mastermind back now. Then James Cross cell phone went off somewhere behind Mastermind.
He heard the vibrating tone rumbling on the kitchen table that Mastermind was standing near. Before Mastermind could have time to react, James leapt for the phone and that was when the question as to whether or not he was strong enough was answered. When he jumped, he felt ten times better than he had been feeling before. He flew past Mastermind and grabbed the phone on the table. He had gone a text message from Oual. It told James that Jonathan was coming for a visit. Confusion struck James, but only for a few seconds. He quickly typed, "Mastermind here! need backup now! hurry!"
James then pocketed his phone and threw himself back up. This had all happened in a matter of seconds. He was feeling so much stronger now. "That answer your question Mastermind?" James taunted. "Yeah... my powers have returned and guess what? Oual now knows you're here and soon this place is going to be swarming with so many people. You are trapped. Game over!"
James Cross lunged at Mastermind, this time a lot quicker than he had before. Victory was his!
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Masks hid emotions and any facial mannerisms that the Mastermind could convey. Such things shed light on a man’s character. So again, Mastermind’s reaction to James would have to go unnoted. But when the man leapt towards him, the genius jumped into the sky, body transforming into a darting black hawk.