A chaotic scene filled the television screen.
“Destiny City: A city under threat,” a deep narrator’s voice boomed. “But who is this terrorist threat? And who will protect the city we love from these unusual evils?”
A graphic of the smug journalist Tag Swagger, crossed arms and smirking, pans into the screen. He flashes a smile, and a poorly rendered lens flare on his sparkling white teeth fills the screen.
“Tag Swagger investigates,” the narrator introduced as the scene went to black.
A single spotlight emerged, presenting Tag Swagger dressed to his finest, his expression solemn.
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Inside a diner, a strangely dressed man stormed in amongst heavy smoke bombs and danger.
"For the glory of the White Moon Queen!" he is heard shouting as the patrons of the diner panic and hide.
"For the glory of the White Moon Queen!" he is heard shouting as the patrons of the diner panic and hide.
“Destiny City: A city under threat,” a deep narrator’s voice boomed. “But who is this terrorist threat? And who will protect the city we love from these unusual evils?”
A graphic of the smug journalist Tag Swagger, crossed arms and smirking, pans into the screen. He flashes a smile, and a poorly rendered lens flare on his sparkling white teeth fills the screen.
“Tag Swagger investigates,” the narrator introduced as the scene went to black.
A single spotlight emerged, presenting Tag Swagger dressed to his finest, his expression solemn.
“Any resident of Destiny City may know of the dangers that lurk these streets, but where is this danger coming from? Who is terrorizing this city, and what do they want from us? Is there any hope?” he opened. “I have taken it upon myself to investigate the matter and met an organization known as the Negaverse, a group of upstanding and powerful vigilantes who seek to defend the city from these terrorist threats – who they refer to as ‘Senshi.’”
“Who is the Negaverse, and who are these upstanding citizens?”
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The segment cuts to a recorded interview. Tag Swagger sits with his back turned to the camera, interviewing a blonde-haired boy. In the lower-right corner a name appears: “Benitoite”.
” The word vigilante isn't always the most comforting, but in these dark times that Destiny City is facing, what makes you the good guys? Why should we put our trust in the vigilantes rather than the police?" the journalist questioned.
“What makes me a vigilante is simple. A simple want; and need really to help the people of this city. It's obvious the cops won't do anything. The few times they are around they seem to simply stand there waiting. They should be taking action rather than standing there. These people are terrorists, in the most basic sense of the term - they cause terror amongst people anywhere and everywhere in this city."
“It's because the cops have done nothing - and we have - that trust should be placed in us. We have shown, I hope people have seen, that we know how to handle these terrorists and are willing to make the sacrifices in order to do so."
"I think - I think that the word vigilante in this case is one which should give comfort to people. I know, I hope it does, because we are out here working to protect the people."
” The word vigilante isn't always the most comforting, but in these dark times that Destiny City is facing, what makes you the good guys? Why should we put our trust in the vigilantes rather than the police?" the journalist questioned.
“What makes me a vigilante is simple. A simple want; and need really to help the people of this city. It's obvious the cops won't do anything. The few times they are around they seem to simply stand there waiting. They should be taking action rather than standing there. These people are terrorists, in the most basic sense of the term - they cause terror amongst people anywhere and everywhere in this city."
“It's because the cops have done nothing - and we have - that trust should be placed in us. We have shown, I hope people have seen, that we know how to handle these terrorists and are willing to make the sacrifices in order to do so."
"I think - I think that the word vigilante in this case is one which should give comfort to people. I know, I hope it does, because we are out here working to protect the people."
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Another cut to a second interview, this time interviewing a brunette boy. The name in the corner reveals: “Natron”.
"These Senshi terrorists," Tag started. "They've been an issue for quite some time now, plaguing this city yet so much about them remains a mystery. What can you tell us about them? The police are certainly capable of taking care of most of the crimes in this city, why might they struggle here? And why are you equipped to stop them? What are the goals of these terrorists?"
"I don't know a lot about them," Natron admitted. "I mean, some of them claim they're from other planets, but, heh, that's pretty crazy..."
"I'm sure the police are totally competent, but the thing is, these Senshi? They operate on a different level. They've got crazy abilities - and we've got some too. We're strong enough to keep up with them, but a normal civilian - not a chance."
"What makes you so different than a normal civilian? What type of abilities are you talking about? You don't mean magic, do you? Do you mean heavy training? Do you think perhaps the police as too busy taking care of the other crimes in the city to address this issue that your organization is more prepared for?"
"We're stronger and faster, mostly," Natron replied. "I'm not gonna call it magic, just...not everyone's gonna be able to do this. You don't find us, we find you, that sort of thing." He tilted his head to the side and considered. "That might be it. I'm not a cop, I don't know what their priorities are - but our only priority is to fight the Senshi and keep the people of Destiny City safe from their terrorist threats. No matter what it takes."
"These Senshi terrorists," Tag started. "They've been an issue for quite some time now, plaguing this city yet so much about them remains a mystery. What can you tell us about them? The police are certainly capable of taking care of most of the crimes in this city, why might they struggle here? And why are you equipped to stop them? What are the goals of these terrorists?"
"I don't know a lot about them," Natron admitted. "I mean, some of them claim they're from other planets, but, heh, that's pretty crazy..."
"I'm sure the police are totally competent, but the thing is, these Senshi? They operate on a different level. They've got crazy abilities - and we've got some too. We're strong enough to keep up with them, but a normal civilian - not a chance."
"What makes you so different than a normal civilian? What type of abilities are you talking about? You don't mean magic, do you? Do you mean heavy training? Do you think perhaps the police as too busy taking care of the other crimes in the city to address this issue that your organization is more prepared for?"
"We're stronger and faster, mostly," Natron replied. "I'm not gonna call it magic, just...not everyone's gonna be able to do this. You don't find us, we find you, that sort of thing." He tilted his head to the side and considered. "That might be it. I'm not a cop, I don't know what their priorities are - but our only priority is to fight the Senshi and keep the people of Destiny City safe from their terrorist threats. No matter what it takes."
“Even to these upstanding citizens who have been fighting to protect our city, this terrorist threat is a mystery with the most unusual rumors.”
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The segment returns to the interview with “Benitoite.”
“The terrorists are such an unknown entity to the public, do you know much about them? Who are they and what is their purpose?” the journalist questioned.
"Not as much as I'd like - I'd like to know where they live to be quite honest. If we knew that it would be much easier to handle them. But I fear we lack such information,” the boy answered. "We know enough to know that their purpose is to disturb the peace and to disrupt things enough they can take over slowly. Not something which is likely to happen but the fact they are trying, and how they are doing it, is what we must stop.”
“The terrorists are such an unknown entity to the public, do you know much about them? Who are they and what is their purpose?” the journalist questioned.
"Not as much as I'd like - I'd like to know where they live to be quite honest. If we knew that it would be much easier to handle them. But I fear we lack such information,” the boy answered. "We know enough to know that their purpose is to disturb the peace and to disrupt things enough they can take over slowly. Not something which is likely to happen but the fact they are trying, and how they are doing it, is what we must stop.”
"There are some Senshi terrorists who have reformed themselves, turning against the terrorist group's attempt to brainwash them and join the noble citizens in protecting the city."
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Another cut to a third interview. The name in the corner reads: "Carnelian".
"I am a senshi but I was very lucky. I was reformed in the very beginning before I had the opportunity to stumble into a life of crime even before I knew it. I feel very privileged to be working on the citizen's side.
There is a small cut to later interview.
"They...they want power, they want oppression. As far as I've experienced, all they seem to want is slavery. They talk about some alien queen, one who will descend upon the Earth in some kind of hellish ceremony. They want everyone on Earth to bow to this woman. The White Moon senshi, the terrorists who wear white, they seem to be this queen's minions or something. From what I've been able to find out from talking to them, they want to get rid of the opposition - us."
Hand to his chest again, Carnelian's brow furrowed in anger. "I feel blessed to be free from their propaganda. I'm one of the senshi who escaped. There aren't many of us, yet, but slowly we're working to show them what they're doing is wrong. How their powers and their battles with us have been destroying Destiny City. I'm sure the people out there know someone whose house has been leveled or their business has been damaged, or maybe they themselves have suffered because of the terrorists' carelessness..."
"That is what I am working to stop."
"I am a senshi but I was very lucky. I was reformed in the very beginning before I had the opportunity to stumble into a life of crime even before I knew it. I feel very privileged to be working on the citizen's side.
There is a small cut to later interview.
"They...they want power, they want oppression. As far as I've experienced, all they seem to want is slavery. They talk about some alien queen, one who will descend upon the Earth in some kind of hellish ceremony. They want everyone on Earth to bow to this woman. The White Moon senshi, the terrorists who wear white, they seem to be this queen's minions or something. From what I've been able to find out from talking to them, they want to get rid of the opposition - us."
Hand to his chest again, Carnelian's brow furrowed in anger. "I feel blessed to be free from their propaganda. I'm one of the senshi who escaped. There aren't many of us, yet, but slowly we're working to show them what they're doing is wrong. How their powers and their battles with us have been destroying Destiny City. I'm sure the people out there know someone whose house has been leveled or their business has been damaged, or maybe they themselves have suffered because of the terrorists' carelessness..."
"That is what I am working to stop."
“While the origins of the Senshi are unknown, rumors existing only in the most far-fetched of conspiracies as they claim to be aliens following a space queen, they pose a threat to our daily lives as they attempt to take control,” Tag said in summary of the interviews. “Thankfully, Destiny City finds its protectors in the Negaverse, watching over the city in ways that even our outstanding police force cannot.”
“In my investigations, I have even come across rare footage of these Senshi terrorists endangering the public. In this video, City Councilwoman Avery Hollister is seen being attacked by a Senshi, only to be rescued by vigilantes of the Negaverse.”
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In the video, City Councilwoman Avery Hollister is seen under threat by a orange-haired Senshi clad in white and green.
The councilwoman was cornered against a chain-link fence, pleading: "Please-" She took another shaking breath. "-Just let me go, okay?"
The Senshi responds, her voice and words unintelligible.
The councilwoman continued on in fright: "I don't know you. People aren't that strong. Your hands-"
A second voice joined in: "Hey!! What's going on down there?! Ohmigosh get away from her!" A female vigilante with blue hair appeared, rushing in for the rescue from the threatening Senshi.
The councilwoman is heard: "She's not human. She just killed something."
The terrorist is heard shouting to the rescuer - "Don't touch her!" - just before the Senshi began to assault the heroic vigilante, aggressively beating her.
"Stop it!" the councilwoman is heard crying before grabbing a hold of the terrorist's arm to stop the beating from continuing. "Leave her alone!"
Two more vigilantes arrived on the scene for their rescue, two men - one dressed like a patriotic hero, and another dressed in brown and gold.
A brawl broke out between the vigilantes and the Senshi, as the female vigilante grabbed the councilwoman and took her away to safety, out of harm's way from the terrorist and out of view of the cameras.
It wasn't long before a blinding white flash filled the camera's screen, disabling its vision.
The film went to static.
The councilwoman was cornered against a chain-link fence, pleading: "Please-" She took another shaking breath. "-Just let me go, okay?"
The Senshi responds, her voice and words unintelligible.
The councilwoman continued on in fright: "I don't know you. People aren't that strong. Your hands-"
A second voice joined in: "Hey!! What's going on down there?! Ohmigosh get away from her!" A female vigilante with blue hair appeared, rushing in for the rescue from the threatening Senshi.
The councilwoman is heard: "She's not human. She just killed something."
The terrorist is heard shouting to the rescuer - "Don't touch her!" - just before the Senshi began to assault the heroic vigilante, aggressively beating her.
"Stop it!" the councilwoman is heard crying before grabbing a hold of the terrorist's arm to stop the beating from continuing. "Leave her alone!"
Two more vigilantes arrived on the scene for their rescue, two men - one dressed like a patriotic hero, and another dressed in brown and gold.
A brawl broke out between the vigilantes and the Senshi, as the female vigilante grabbed the councilwoman and took her away to safety, out of harm's way from the terrorist and out of view of the cameras.
It wasn't long before a blinding white flash filled the camera's screen, disabling its vision.
The film went to static.
"After receiving this footage, I spoke with Mrs. Avery Hollister in a one-on-one interview."
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A fourth interview appears on the screen. The name in the corner reads: Avery Hollister.
"My name is Avery Hollister - I currently hold a seat on City Council, work in the music industry and recently graduated from DCU majoring in economics and marketing. My accent is a result of my upbringing in Britain, but I maintain dual citizenship with this charming country."
“I understand you were recently attacked by a Senshi, and rescued by the Negaverse. It was caught on tape, quite chilling footage. Can you tell me about that experience?”
"Yes, I..." The young woman composes herself, briefly, taking a deep breath. "That is true. I was working late and called a car. Before it arrived, I was attacked. I struggled briefly and broke free, but they remained... Undeterred. I ran. The rest is on the tape. At the time, I was terrified. In shock, really, but now I'm embarrassed that I didn't do more to protect myself."
“What do you know about the Senshi? Where do they come from and what do they want?”
"What do I know? Not much. I don't know what they want or why they're here. My attacker didn't tell me, and I have no idea if she was operating under their agenda or not. I can only imagine that she wanted me for something specific. I only know that she was ruthless, and strong and... So angry. It took three people to help before I was able to get away."
There is a small cut.
“Do you have any words to the upstanding citizens who rescued you from your attack?”
"I hope that they're alright. One of them, the woman, took me away while the fighting was still happening. When I heard that footage had been found, I was hoping to see them come out of it." She shakes her head. "I don't know what would have happened if... Thank you. If you're watching this, and I hope you are, thank you."
“What would you advise to the citizens of Destiny City to stay safe in these harrowing times?”
"To be realistic and practical. Make sure someone knows where you are, where you're going, and what time you should be there. Keep your phone or your pepper spray where you can actually use it - no attacker is going to give you time to look through your purse or backpack. Don't feel the need to be polite to strangers, you don't owe anyone anything, and if you feel uncomfortable somewhere or with someone - leave. Never feel embarrassed to ask for help - this world is hard. Look out for your neighbors and friends. Take care of yourselves and each other.
No one should feel unsafe on the streets of their home. No one. It doesn't matter who you are, what you do, or what you look like, there should never be a street that is dangerous, a time of day where some would blame you for another's choice to hurt you. This is a call to arms, a warning - not just to these terrorists, but to anyone who would seek to commit a crime on our streets. If my attacker is watching? I'm not scared of you, not anymore. I'm angry. Tell your friends that I'm not the only one who cares about this city.
We're coming for you."
"My name is Avery Hollister - I currently hold a seat on City Council, work in the music industry and recently graduated from DCU majoring in economics and marketing. My accent is a result of my upbringing in Britain, but I maintain dual citizenship with this charming country."
“I understand you were recently attacked by a Senshi, and rescued by the Negaverse. It was caught on tape, quite chilling footage. Can you tell me about that experience?”
"Yes, I..." The young woman composes herself, briefly, taking a deep breath. "That is true. I was working late and called a car. Before it arrived, I was attacked. I struggled briefly and broke free, but they remained... Undeterred. I ran. The rest is on the tape. At the time, I was terrified. In shock, really, but now I'm embarrassed that I didn't do more to protect myself."
“What do you know about the Senshi? Where do they come from and what do they want?”
"What do I know? Not much. I don't know what they want or why they're here. My attacker didn't tell me, and I have no idea if she was operating under their agenda or not. I can only imagine that she wanted me for something specific. I only know that she was ruthless, and strong and... So angry. It took three people to help before I was able to get away."
There is a small cut.
“Do you have any words to the upstanding citizens who rescued you from your attack?”
"I hope that they're alright. One of them, the woman, took me away while the fighting was still happening. When I heard that footage had been found, I was hoping to see them come out of it." She shakes her head. "I don't know what would have happened if... Thank you. If you're watching this, and I hope you are, thank you."
“What would you advise to the citizens of Destiny City to stay safe in these harrowing times?”
"To be realistic and practical. Make sure someone knows where you are, where you're going, and what time you should be there. Keep your phone or your pepper spray where you can actually use it - no attacker is going to give you time to look through your purse or backpack. Don't feel the need to be polite to strangers, you don't owe anyone anything, and if you feel uncomfortable somewhere or with someone - leave. Never feel embarrassed to ask for help - this world is hard. Look out for your neighbors and friends. Take care of yourselves and each other.
No one should feel unsafe on the streets of their home. No one. It doesn't matter who you are, what you do, or what you look like, there should never be a street that is dangerous, a time of day where some would blame you for another's choice to hurt you. This is a call to arms, a warning - not just to these terrorists, but to anyone who would seek to commit a crime on our streets. If my attacker is watching? I'm not scared of you, not anymore. I'm angry. Tell your friends that I'm not the only one who cares about this city.
We're coming for you."
"Destiny City, a city under threat. But with noble heroes at the ready to stop these Senshi terrorists, perhaps the safety and security our city deserves may be found again.
The peaceful view of skyline of Destiny City at dawn appears on the screen, with a translucent waving American flag over it before all fading to black.
