Upon this obscure little planet near the edge of a rather average
galaxy, there evolved a bi-pedal lifeform of which one must admit the
potential for acts of horrendous, unspeakable cruelty... this same
species is also capable of unbelievable acts of courage, bravery, and
self-sacrifice...
This lifeform is a
well of potential... potential for Evil, potential for Good.
The Morphon
particles haven't changed that...
They are STILL only
human... or nearly all of them are...
A few are refugees
from other realms within the Multiverse... for the most part also
human, with all that entails.…
The full origin of
Acidburn would fill several volumes, which will appear in these
forums later, but suffice it to say that she originated in a
dimension now lost to the Nexus of the Multiverse...
She was unknowingly
the child of an exiled fae of Royal blood on her father's line, a
direct descendant of the wizard know to us as Merlin on her mothers'
and had her abilities activated by an accident.
Some of those who
will appear in this tale are no longer with us, having remained in
the dimension which was lost, some moved on to other realms, but
there remain a precious few who have made it to this place as well...
She's not the
strongest...she's not the fastest... but she might be the smartest,
and she is definitely the most determined... She might just be the
hero we need.
So settle back and
grab some popcorn...
A Little Tale
Overheard @ Starbuck's
Pink was sitting at
her usual table in Starbuck's, enjoying a double-shot espresso and a
large tray of bearclaws when she noticed that one of the many "new
kids" (rookie supers) had wandered in through
the door with a
somewhat dazed expression.
The rookie quietly
ordered a mocha latte from the barista and moved to the last empty
table which was nearby. "At least this one has decent taste in
coffee." thought Pink to herself, while sipping her own
beverage.
About this time the
Angelic Rogue stopped into the same shop after completing her own
patrol, ordered a vanilla cappuccino and since all the tables were
now taken, asked Pink if she could join her.
"Go ahead."
Pink said with her usual expression.
A few moments passed
as the Rogue scanned the other patrons and sipped from her cup, then
she noticed the rookie at the table nearby.
She said quietly to
Pink, "I do believe that one would jump a mile if startled by a
loud noise.", gesturing with her chin towards the rookie.
Pink looked in that
direction again and murmured, "Yeah, you're probably right."
Rogue said quietly,
"Maybe we should speak to her, help her calm down."
Both of the veteran
heroes reached a decision at the same moment, stood and moved to the
rookies' table. The Rogue gently touched the young woman's shoulder.
The rookie startled slightly.
"Is everything
alright?", the Rogue gently asked. Pink leaned with her hand on
the back of one of the chairs.
"W-with all
t-that's happened r-recently I d-don't know w-where to b-begin...",
the rookie stuttered.
"At the
beginning is usually a good place.", Pink said, as she pulled
out the seat and sat down. The Rogue signaled the barista for 3 more
coffees and followed suit.
The rookie drew a
deep breath, perhaps the first in a few weeks; settled herself, took
a moment to arrange her thoughts, and began.
"Well... It all
began while I was analyzing a "xeno-biological" sample in
my lab at the University, for NASA. The electron microscope I was
using developed a "spontaneous, catastrophic" vacuum leak,
at least that's what they told me later, and it exploded in my
face.", she said.
"As I regained
consciousness in the ICU, I realized that I had strange tingling
sensations around my hands and arms, and as I recovered, also
discovered that the equipment being used to monitor my
condition kept
'mysteriously' overloading.", she continued after a moment.
She took a short sip
of her refill and continued.
"Once released,
I conducted a few tests of my own and discovered that I had been
exposed to whatever the hell that sample actually was; it was infused
into my DNA.", she said.
"Over the next
few weeks even stranger things began to happen; as I hid in my
apartment, I began to develop other 'symptoms,' Then, I woke up one
morning actually hovering above the surface of my bed.", she
continued.
"I soon found
after a little practice & using some meditation techniques, I
could control the 'symptoms' of this 'condition.'
She closed her eyes
for a moment and the slight electrical nimbus around her hands died
down.
She sipped her
latte, took a deep breath, and continued.
"As my
strength, dexterity and new abilities continued to grow, I knew that
it would be a nearly impossible task to fit in & to remain at the
university, but where could I go and not feel like the proverbial
sore thumb?", she said.
"So when the
news began reporting the 'meta-human' wave of crime sprees here in
Super Hero City, I decided to help out where I could...and to begin a
new life in a place where my 'differences' would help me fit in.",
she said.
"Then once I
got here... the street fights...the arena battles my new colleagues
at work suggested... some sort of war between groups of supers which
I was talked into joining...", she mused with a slightly
puzzled expression.
"Whew, I'd
never sat down and put it into perspective like that before... I mean
what with everything that's happened and all...Well, Thank you,
both.", she said looking from one to the other.
Rising from her
chair, she handed each a card that read "Acidburn, SHC" and
a
beeper number.
"I doubt either
of you would ever need my help, but if you should, it's yours for the
asking.",she said, turned and strode ever more confidently to
the door, turned again and waved at the two veteran heroes, and took
flight in the direction of midtown.
"That was
strange.", said Pink, as she picked up her coffee and moved back
to her favorite table. Rogue nodded and remained at the now otherwise
empty one...
..."Well,"
thought Acidburn, "they both seem nicer than some of the rumors
I've heard make them sound. But, of course, with rumors you have to
consider the source... at least I think I could get some sleep
tonight, since they
helped settle my mind."
A short time later,
she landed in the alley behind a small brownstone and wearily made
her way up the 6 flights of steps to her small apartment. After a
quick shower, a small glass of white wine, and a piece of her
'emergency' chocolate (funny, how there seems to be an emergency
every night, she thought), she settled into her cozy quilt and read
until she dozed off.
We'll get more of
the story in their own thread later, but that's how it started, in a
realm which no longer is accessible in the nexxus of the
Multiverse...
Read more of Acidburns story on the Heroes Rising Forum
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