Morningstar : the Northern Light (campaign journal)
Posted by Powersurge
This forum is currently read only. You can not log in or make any changes. This is a temporary situation.
Morningstar #18
While out on patrol over the city of Toronto, Morningstar received a message over his ear-transceiver from an Epsilon Shuttle that quickly appeared in the distance. He was informed that his prescence was required at Department H's HQ in Ottawa and that the Epsilons had been sent to facilitate a speed journey. As cooperative as ever, it was not long before Morningstar found himself in a small briefing in Department H. A map of Saskatchewan was on a large viewing screen at the front of the room, with an enlarged map of it's northwestern reaches partially superimposed upon it. After a bit of a wait General Jeremy Clarke entered the briefing room. He thanked Morningstar for his cooperation, and then drew his attention to the map and a settlement on the northern shores of Lake Athabasca. He explained that this settlement was called Uranium City. It was established by the provincal government in 1952 to service the Beaverlodge Uranium Area, and it thrived until 1982 when it's population reached the 5,000 mark required to achieve city status. However, with decreased demand for uranium and the closing of the mines in 1983 the city's economy collapsed and the majority of it's population moved; eventually leaving leaving only about 300 people spread across it's 20+ square blocks. The General then went on to explain that roughly one-week ago all communication was lost with the remaining citizens of the former city. Those R.C.M.P. sent in by helicopter -- as there are no roads connecting the former city with other populated areas -- to investigate were never heard from again, and a similar fate awaited the Epsilon unit sent in three days ago. Thus, Morningstar was now being sent in. The synthoid would be taken by an Epsilon Shuttle to within striking distance, survey the area both from the air, then on foot, and then report his findings within the hour. And so it was that Morningstar was taken by an Epsilon Shuttle and depositted over the southern shores of Lake Athabasca, adjacent Uranium City. As he made his way across the lake, he used his light manipulation powers to bend light, rendering himself effectively invisible to the naked eye. As he began his approach, he could see that a thick blanket of snow had already fallen on the area and the streets were desolate. Unable to spot out much from the sky, Morningstar soon landed and began making his way through the eerie streets on foot. Occassionally he would come across a big mound of snow, but mostly found old derelict vehicles, in every way the equal of the houses that line the streets, buried underneath. Eventually however, just outside of an old, severly vandalized school, Morningstar uncovered the shuttle of the missing Epsilon team. He barely had to time to investigate however, when a very tall (7'), gaunt figure in raggedy clothing appeared up the street and began striding toward Morningstar with intent. As the figure drew closer, the synthoid noticed that it was a man, but that he suffered from some form of abnormal bone growth that gave him a freakishly hideous appearance. Momentarily startled by the man's appearance and features, it took the synthoid a moment to realize that, somehow, the brute was able to see him. And he was quickly made awre of that fact by a crushing blow to the head. "Stranger don't belong! Strangers bad!!" it growled in barely discernable English, "kill strangers!!!" Before the brute could land another blow, Morningstar erected a shield and then sent him hurtling back with a powerful photon blast. However, he was then grabbed from behind by a very muscular Native man with four arms. He held Morningstar as the brute got back to it's feet and closed in once again to deliver another blow. And so the battle was joined. And before long the two freaks were reinforced by another Native man with very droopy skin and uncanny plasticity, a Caucasian surrounded by some form of electrical field, a naked Native that could sweat and vomit concentrated acid, and finally, after being smashed into the derelict school, by a once beautiful Caucasian woman whose skin was covered in lacerations and scar tissue and whose teeth, nails and hair were all razor sharp. With the odds quickly mounting against him, Morningstar decided it was time for a strategic retreat; above the clouds to replenish his solar energy and report back to the Epsilon Shuttle and Department H. ------------------------------------------------  Powersurge (history, pics) [www.classicmarvel.com]
------------------------------------------------  Morningstar (campaign journal) [www.classicmarvel.com]
------------------------------------------------ "You just decided *all by yourselves* that you are the Earth's protectors. And that you, and *only* you, not your teammates or family, are trustworthy enough to include in the process..." T'Challa, The New Avengers: Illuminati 1
Morningstar #19
Flying high above the clouds, Morningstar took a moment to bask in the sunshine, thereby replenishing his storehouse of solar energy, and was about to report in when he felt a voice intrude upon his thoughts. It commanded the "interloper" to set back down immediately and surrender to it's "warriors" or the lives of his fellow interlopers would be forfeit. Thus, with little hestitation the synthoid complied. As he set down on the snow covered ground, Morningstar was met by the tall, slender man with the excessive/abnormal bone growth (Brute), the muscular 4 armed Native (Crusher), and the other whiteman whose body perodically revealed webs of electricity playing over it (Hi-Voltage). All were hostile in their manners, especially Crusher, and it was not long before the synthoid's questions led to a 3 on 1 beat down. Morningstar awoke in a jail cell sometime later. Silvery metal bands were clasped around either of his wrists, which he recognized as Epsilon inhibitor bands, and these explained his unusual weakness and inability to generate any light greater than a faint glow. Before long, he also noticed that his cell was being guarded by a revolving crew of the mutates he faced upon first arrival in Uranium City. While the synthoid's questions were met with significant hostility -- as were his attempts to flirt with the once beautiful, now hideously cut and scarred Caucasian woman whose body hair had become superstrong and razor sharp (Bloody Mary) -- he did manage to learn a few more evident things. Amongst them, he learned that these mutates considered both himself and all outsiders "interlopers", and held them responsible for their condition. He also learned that the Epsilon Troopers sent here to investigate nearly week ago were still alive, and that the "Overmind" had something special in store for the synthoid tomorrow. So it was the following day that Crusher placed a bag over Morningstar's head, and led him outside and to another facility before removing the bag. Looking around, Morningstar found himself in the middle of a large "pit", roughly 10' deep, with wire mesh running the other 20' up to the ceiling. Numerous faces could be seen peering into the pit from around it's dimly lit edges, each of them more twisted and freakish than the next. After a few moments, one stood and presented itself -- a tall Caucasian with black hair and no freakishg disfigurements other than his glowing white eyes -- and began to address the crowd. He spoke of how the outsiders had sent yet another interloper to hound and oppress them, how it was they who poisoned the land, turned them into freaks, destroyed their future, and how they would all pay for that... with blood. The crowd cheered or hissed, as appropriate, at intervals throughout the speech and at last broke out in a chant, "blood! Blood! BLooD!!! BLOOD!!!". As the crowd chanted a big, muscular man wearing an Epsilon jump-suit was thrown into the pit by Brute. The man looked anguished and he apologized to Morningstar, saying that it wasn't his fault and to please forgive him, but that he couldn't help it. As Morningstar asked what he was talking about however, the man grabbed his head and fell to his knees. When he looked back up, his anguish had been replaced by anger and he growled that he couldn't help the desire to the synthoid's "f@#$!-ing head off". The battle was quickly joined, and while Morningstar found himself significantly weaker and more vulnerable, he was still no push over. The fight was a slobber knocker, and initially it seemed as though the synthoid might lose. In the end though, it was Morningstar, barely able to stand, who delivered the knock out blow. And when he refused to given into the crowds chant for death, or his own feelings of unusual aggression, Brute strode into the ring and broke the Epsilon trooper's neck right before his eyes. Brute then back handed the interloper, and dragged him out of the pit, down a hallway and into what appeared to be some form of dog-kennel; save that instead of dogs, the cages contained four people dressed in Epsilon jump-suits. Morningstar was thrown in a cage of his own, before Brute turned and left. The synthoid quickly noticed that he recognized one of the Epsilon troopers; Lt.Katherine Henderson who had been onhand during the Brood Incident over in Yellowknife; the last surviving member of the first response team. She related how her team here arrived roughly a week ago to investigate the loss of contact with the settlement, only to find the place deserted. They were caught with their pants down soon after their initial at-a-glance recon of the area, and half of the unit was taken out via psionic assault. The remainder quickly found themselves surrounded and overwhelmed by a host of "freaks". Since then, the freaks had been forcing them to particpate in daily death matches against one another, presumably using some form of psionic power to incite their more violent and homicidal tendancies. Each of the remaining Epsilons had killed at least one of their former teammates, with the reasons and the rage long since faded, but the memory of every blow forever etched in their heads. When Morningstar questioned into the nature of all of the mutates, Henderson speculated that they were the natural result of the excessive levels of radiation found in the area (which exceed accept annual limits in a single day of exposure) on the remaining population. As for their anger, well, the population of Uranium City came and went as it pleased. No one forced them to come, or forced them to stay, so the rationalization for the great hatred, and moreover, their bloodlust was a little more of a mystery. Perhaps it was innate, or perhaps the same psionic, the Overmind perhpas, that was inciting bloodlust in the Epsilon's was also influencing the others. The following day Brute and Crusher escorted both Morningstar and Lt.Henderson out of the kennel to the pit. There they were commanded by the Overmind to fight to the death, and the crowd of freaks once again began it's chant for blood. ------------------------------------------------ Powersurge (history, pics) [www.classicmarvel.com]
------------------------------------------------ Morningstar (campaign journal) [www.classicmarvel.com]
------------------------------------------------ "You just decided *all by yourselves* that you are the Earth's protectors. And that you, and *only* you, not your teammates or family, are trustworthy enough to include in the process..." T'Challa, The New Avengers: Illuminati 1
I thought I posted the doodle of Rampage that I drew a while back, but I don't see it in the thread, so here it is...
 ------------------------------------------------ Powersurge (history, pics) [www.classicmarvel.com]
------------------------------------------------ Morningstar (campaign journal) [www.classicmarvel.com]
------------------------------------------------ "You just decided *all by yourselves* that you are the Earth's protectors. And that you, and *only* you, not your teammates or family, are trustworthy enough to include in the process..." T'Challa, The New Avengers: Illuminati 1
He looks a lot like the Hulk. Is this your Hulkish Juicer?
 
Yeah, that's him.
------------------------------------------------ Powersurge (history, pics) [www.classicmarvel.com]
------------------------------------------------ Morningstar (campaign journal) [www.classicmarvel.com]
------------------------------------------------ "You just decided *all by yourselves* that you are the Earth's protectors. And that you, and *only* you, not your teammates or family, are trustworthy enough to include in the process..." T'Challa, The New Avengers: Illuminati 1
Morningstar #20
With the crowd chanting for blood, Morningstar felt the ever nagging feelings of anger and violence begin to grow more pronounced in him once gain. He gazed across the pit at Lt.Henderson, her eyes narrowed and the two began to slowy circle each other. When this had gone on for long enough, the Overmind once again stepped forth and commanded the bloodletting to begin. Morningstar refused and proceeded to accuse the Overmind of manipulating the people of Uranium City, but his voice was quiickly lost in the roar of the crowd and their growing frenzy for violence. The Overmiond touched his temples, his glowing eyes flashed, and then several moments later, Brute and Crusher tossed the remaning three Epsilon troopers into the pit. The Overmind smiled, as he boasted that the remaining three would not prove so stubborn. Again he touched his temples, and his eyes flashed, and with that the remaning three Epsilon's grabbed their heads and fell to their knees. When next they rose, their faces were masked with rage. Morningstar and Henderson were left with no choice but to defend themselves. And despite the odds, the two stood, battered and beaten, but nevertheless victorious in the end. The crowd again chanted for death -- all save for one grotesquely deformed little girl, who quickly disappeared into the shadows -- and the Overmind commanded it, but both Morningstar and Lt.Henderson refused. When Brute was once again sent in to make the kill, Morningstar led the attempt to stop him, but both were easily battered into submission by the huge mutate. After snapping the neck of each of the losing Epsilons, Brute pulled the synthoid and Lt. to their feet and began to escort them back to the kennel. As he did, the Overmind declared to the crowd that tomorrow both of the remaining interlopers would face Brute in a fight to the death. Late that night, Morningstar was awakened by the deformed girl he saw in the crowd. She had opened the door to his cage and was gesturing him to come with her. When he indicated that they should release Lt.Henderson as well, her face grew angry and she spit at the Lt.'s sleeping form before grabbing the synthoid by the hand and pulling him toward the kennel exit. So, following the girl, she led Morningstar down a couple of halls before leading him through some airducts in order to evade guard posts and roving patrols of mutates. On their way, they had to pass through a couple of rooms. One such room was filled with all kinds of technological devices, reminscient of a Gentech lab, and it's walls were lined with scores of man-sized glass tubes; most of which sat open and empty, but a sparse few of which contained the corpse of a deformed person. A great iron vault-door also occupied the far wall of this room. The girl remarked that "this is where the doctors brought he sick people". Moving on, another room they came upon was clearly a morgue of some sort and contained some 20 mutate corpses lined in neat rows and covered with bloodstained sheets. The adjacent room contained a chaotic mess of between 40 - 50 dead bodies, apparently just casually thrown in there. While many were horribly multilated, known showed signs of deformity. Eventually, Morningstar and the girl wo ntheir way to the upper levels of what turned out to be Uranium City hospital, and just outside of this they were met by 3 deformed natives whom the girl greeted before heading back into the hospital. These three guided Morningstar out of the city, where he found the constant irritation, and urge to anger and violence disappeared completely. Eventually, he was led into a mine shaft, which he found was inhabited by a small group of some 20 mutates. He was quickly introduced to their leader, a man of quasimodo-like deformity named Eric, who explained that this community was made up of mutates that were either uneffected or since liberated from the influence of the Overmind. When Morningstar asked what was going on here in Uranium City, Eric explained that as a result of the levels of radiation contamination in the region, people have for a long time now been showing increasing signs of cancer, sterility, birth defects, and other radiation-related sicknesses. When the uranium industry collapsed, and people began to leave in the hundreds, the doctors at the hospital began selectively abducting their former patients. Such people were taken to a secret facility beneath the hospital and subjected to numerous experiments. Eric said he knows this because he was one of the first so abducted. He only remembers flashes of the years he spent as a test-subject, but certain faces, of doctors, former friends or neighbours, along with the feelings of pain, lonilness and dispair remained. Eric then went on to explain how 3 weeks ago he awoke to find himself free, along with a host of others; all now terribly deformed. Overwhelmed with feelings of rage, the lot of them began to rampage through the facility, releasing even more mutates from kennel cages, and ruthlessly murdering every "pretty face" they came until all the hospital staff were dead. All save one, one of the chief scientists, Dr.Arnold Lasher, aka the Overmind. Under the Overmind's direction, the mob of mutates spilled out of the hospital into the streets and their continued it's murderous rampage of vengeance. Fortunately, as Eric and a number of others made their way through one household, he came upon the deformed girl that helped Morningstar espace, Pinga by name. Her touch somehow made Eric and the few he was with see through the rage... that, yes, they were outraged at what had been done to them, but that their actions were too, inhuman. And so, with Ping'as help they gathered what others they could and fled into the mines. At times Pinga would send another mutate or two to them. Eric went on to explain how a week ago a meeting had been arranged with a small pocket of the Overmind's mutates, but it was interrupted those men in black power-armour (the Epsilon Black squad), who immediately opened fire on them with their weapons. Many died, Pinga disappeared, and Eric himself barely escaped with his life. Since then, a few newcomers have come to them with news of the girl, of the numerous people killed by these government troopers before their defeat, and of course, with news of Morningstar. However, Eric explained that by saving the synthoid, she placed herself in great jeopordy. Thus, as another mutated came forward, laid his hands on the power inhibotors Morningstar wore on his wrists and shorted them out, Eric said that it was up to Morningstar to save her. The synthoid began to feel his natural strength strength flow back into him, and he promised to not only save Pingu, but to also help the people of Uranium City throw off the yoke of the Overmind and gather all the evidence he can in order to bring to light the inhuman, and "undoubtedly" illegal, experimentations being conducted here. ------------------------------------------------ Powersurge (history, pics) [www.classicmarvel.com]
------------------------------------------------ Morningstar (campaign journal) [www.classicmarvel.com]
------------------------------------------------ "You just decided *all by yourselves* that you are the Earth's protectors. And that you, and *only* you, not your teammates or family, are trustworthy enough to include in the process..." T'Challa, The New Avengers: Illuminati 1
Morningstar #21
Making his way back to Uranium City, Morningstar arrived as the very first hint of day appeared in the eastern sky. Landing just outside of the city, the synthoid bent light to make himself appear invisible and then began to make his way toward the hospital on foot. En route he happened upon a small patrol of mutates and overheard them talking about Lt.Henderson's impending battle with Brute. It would take place at sunrise, and would be followed with a special "treat" involving the young mutate Pingu and a pack of vicious mutated dogs. Making his way to Uranium City hospital with all due haste, Morningstar easily penetrated the facility undetected and made his way back to the kennel in which he and the Epsilons had been held. While he didn't find Lt.Henderson within, he did discover Pingu in one of the cages. The synthoid was quick to tear the cage door off of it's hinges, but no sooner had he done so when Bloody Mary entered the room. She was quick to attack the interloper, but their scuffle had barely begun when Pingu touched the female mutate and thereby banished whatever unnatural feelings of hatred and rage clouded her mind. With that, Mary sat stunned for a moment before breaking down in tears at the memory of her deeds over the past few weeks. Knowing that the sun must by now be cresting the horizon, Morningstar gently but firmly took Mary by the arms and demanded to know the whereabouts of Lt.Henderson. Mary replied that she was alreay in the pit. The battle had already begun. Thus, after Mary assured the synthoid that she would escort Pingu to the surface, Morningstar made his way to the arena; smashing through the doors to find Brute playing a cat and mouse game with a severely battered Lt.Henderson. He quickly stepped in on her behalf, slugging it out with Brute until at last the huge mutate fell beneath his blows. Morningstar had only a moments respite however, before Hi-Voltage, Crusher, Bile and Droopy entered the pit. The crowd went wild as they engaged the synthoid, but he was soon joined by Henderson. Together they managed to defeat the mutates, but during the course of the battle a stray photon blast tore a hole in the surrounding cage, and with the battle's end, the crowd began to pour through the opening, wild with bloodlust. Morningstar and Lt.Henderson quickly found themselves surrounded by mutates, but it was a small enough matter for the synthoid to envelope both himself and Henderson in a field of solid light. He then shaped the field into a tunnel leading out of the pit, and left a wall of force behind to block the exit. From the pit Morningstar made for the main lab; losing track of Henderson while en route. Nevertheless, he made his way inside and immediately stepped up to the huge vault door occupying the far wall of the lab. He was about to attempt to pry it open when he was interrupted by the Overmind and a crowd of mutates lackeys. The synthoid moved to fire a photon blast at the mutate leader, but before he could the Overmind's eyes flashed with white light and the synthoid found that he was no longer in control of his body. The Overmind thence prompted him to power up the labs laser scalpel with the intent of making Morningstar slit his own throat with it. However, with the scalpel powered to full and the synthoid on the verge of carrying out the telepathic command, the Overminds head exploded. Standing in the doorway of an adjacent entrance stood Lt. Henderson; the majority of her Epsilon armour in place and a smoking energy rifle in her hand. With the Overmind's demise, Morningstar regained control of himself, and many of the mutates stood bewildered. Others however remained as bloodthirsty as ever and surged toward both Morningstar and Lt.Henderson. Other's began t ojoin them, but the duo held their own against the mob. Eventually a free for all broke out as those mutates sickened at the memory of their own deeds attempted to restrain their fellows. And so the battle raged, and as it did the bloodthirsty mutates unleashed a small pack of mutated attack dogs. However, while this did serve to turn the tide of battle in their favour, the advantage was short lived as energy blasts began to tear indiscriminately through the crowd of mutates. Before long, Morningstar and Lt.Henderson found themselves in the prescence of a fresh squad of Epsilon Blacks. One of the Epsilon Blacks ordered both Lt.Henderson and Morningstar to get topside, immediately, as he and his troops continued to force the mutates back. However, on their way to the elevator shaft, Morningstar took Henderson by the wrist and virtually dragged her to the computer room. Therein, he ordered her to download all data relevant to the Uranium City facility and it's experiments. She refused, insisting that they get topside, now. When Morningstar again denied her, she scowled at him as she dropped the energy clip out of her rifle and fiddled with it for a moment. When she finished it began to emit a low, but quickly building hum. The synthoid immedaitely surrounded both the energy clip and Henderson's hand in a field of solid light. When the clip exploded a moment later, the Lt's hand was vapourized. A very frustrated Morningstar then dragged Henderson back to the surface. There he found Epsilon Shuttles nd two squads of Epsilon regulars. In their midst stood General Jeremy Clarke. Striding over to the Epsilons, the synthoid threw Lt.Henderson to the ground before bulling his way through them, grabbing Clarke by the collar, and surrounding them both in a field of solid light. He then took to the sky. General Clarke demanded that the synthoid set down immediately, but Morningstar refused, flying even higher and accusing Clarke of conducting illegal experiments of the people of Uranium city; demanding some form of justice for them. The General however remained indignant, reminding the synthoid of his rank and position,and warning him of the possible charges he could face for abducting a General. When Morningstar sought to press the matter further, Clarke cut him short, saying that the synthoid hadn't a clue of what it takes to protect a country's interest against an ever-growing population of foreign superhumans and extraterrestials. He went on to explain that each of the people experimented on in Uranium City had already been diagnosed with terminal illnesses, brought on by cellular mutation, prior to any government expermentation. Thus, if any were still alive today, it was precisely due to the work that took place within the Uranium City facility. He then once again order the synthoid to return him to the hospital. Frustrated and confused, Morningstar at last complied. And as he brought the General safely back down to the earth, the Epsilon troopers surrounded and leveled their weapons at him, demanding his immediate surrender. Morningstar complied. ------------------------------------------------ Powersurge (history, pics) [www.classicmarvel.com]
------------------------------------------------ Morningstar (campaign journal) [www.classicmarvel.com]
------------------------------------------------ "You just decided *all by yourselves* that you are the Earth's protectors. And that you, and *only* you, not your teammates or family, are trustworthy enough to include in the process..." T'Challa, The New Avengers: Illuminati 1
Morningstar #22
After his surrender to the Epsilon Troopers, Morningstar was placed in inhibitor bonds and loaded on board an Epsilon Shuttle. From there he was flwon back out to Department H HQ in Ottawa and placed in an interrogation room. While the synthoid sat there awaiting whatever fate had in store for him, he lamented his impulsiveness in attacking General Clarke. At length, General Clarke himself entered the interrogation room. He sat in silent regard of Morningstar for a moment, and then launched into a monologue. He reminded the synthoid of how, years ago, a small group of GenTech scientists had been attacked by an alien lifeform known as the Brood, and how GenTech held them in stasis in order to conduct research into Brood DNA. He reminded him of how GenTech's failure to contain the threat of the Brood resulted, not only in the deaths of many residents of the city of Yellowknife, but also to the ultimate escape of the Brood-Queen; who, so long as she is at large, poses a threat to the very planet. And finally, Clarke reminded him of how the research conducted into Brood DNA made a significant contribution to the creation of the GenTech line of super-synthoid; most noteably the deceased Thunder and Morningstar himself. Clarke went on to explain how in this world certain sacrifices must sometimes be made for the sake of the greater good, and of how the conscience might suffer for them, but how this was a good thing; proving the presence of conscience and moral regard. He continued on about how there are factions at work in this country, in the world, and in the vast universe that surrounds it that are possessed on no such compassion and regard, that operate unrestrained in their activites, with no checks or balances to keep them in place and limited only by their resources. He then posed the questions, how are we to compete if we allow conventional morality to tie *both* of our hands behind our backs; shall we simply roll over and surrender our world to them; allow them to bring an end to all human conscience and morality? Or do we fight it as best we can, making what sacrifices true heroes are required to make? After allowing the synthoid to dwell on that for a few moments, General Clarker again spoke. He told Morningstar that he was not asking him to discount his feelings of what went on a Uranium City, as this country needs heroes. He was asking him to see it all in context however, and understand the very real consequences of inaction in such areas. His tone then took on a much sterner tone and he warned the synthoid that if he leaked any information of the Uranium City Incident to anyone, GenTech, Dr.Stone, and indeed all of GenTech's creations would share a similar fate. Finally, he asked Morningstar where he stood; would they drag each other down into the mud and leave the door wide open for evil to step in and take control? Or would they stand together against the ever gathering darkness? The synthoid told the General that he understood and had never thought of things that way before. He agreed to keep the matter quiet. With that the General thanked Morningstar for his cooperation and bid him farewell, telling him he would soon be released as he walked out the door. A few moments after Clarker left, Dr.Albert Stone entered the interrogation room. He apologized to Morningtar for the position he was in, and assured him that he and his team did everything they could to save those scientists from the Brood, but that the embryoes had already begun to rewrite their DNA. He then launched into his own clumsy monologue regarding the advancement of science, medicine, and technology, and it's conflcits with the prevailing morality of various Ages. He asked where would medicine be today if it's pioneers had not been "corpse-thieves" and despised as ghoulish necromancers? But would we trade modern medicine? The two conversed for awhile more, when Stone remembered what (else) had brought him to Department H and rushed out to keep an appointment. And with that an unarmoured Epsilon Trooper entered the interrogation room, removed the inhibator bonds and told Morningstar that he was free to go. On his way to the launch bay, Morningstar ran into Powersurge, who once again thanked the synthoid for the rescue from Randal North and his Failsafe project. He then gave Morningstar a contact number he could reach him at if he ever needed any help. Making his way to the launch bay, Morningstar took to the sky and made it back to GenTech HQ in Toronto by mid-afternoon. He fond a number of messages waiting for him when he got there; one form Dr.Banks regarding the rescheduling of an appointment he missed and a heap of others from Katherine Sullivan regarding the "Hype story" and the promised results of GenTech's chemical analysis of the drug. Calling Sullivan back, Morningstar quickly let certain "vague" details slip regarding the source of the Hype, and from these the reporter easily concluded that a rogue GenTech scientist used GenTech resources to manufacture the drug. Morningstar attempted to deny the specifics of it all, and said that she wasn't ware of the whole story. She said that he could tell the "entire story" tomorrow night over dinner, and he could bring the promised analysis results along with him. Morningstar agreed. He then called Dr.Stone to explain the situation and get clearnce to obtain a copy of the Hype analysis. Stone told him to tell her *everything*, to satisfy her curiousity, and then offer her a deal; in exchange for her not printing the story, he would offer her keep her advised of all of his future public superheroics, tipping her off, giving exclusive interviews, everything. Morningstar then called Dr.Banks to reschedule their appointment and asked her if she would help him buy a suit for his dinner date tomorrow. She took him up on the offer, an made it an oppurtunity to go over some of the finer points of human social interaction with the synthoid. The following evening, Morningstar put his expensive new suit on over his costume, bought a dozen roses, and presented them to Katherine at the restaurant. She was flattered by them, but quickly got over it and down to business. Morningstar did as Dr.Stone advised; he told her everything and then made her the offer. And, after a few moments of consideration, Katherine took him up on that offer and agreed to the terms. Dinner continued on for some time after, with Katherine drinking one or two more glasses of wine than she should have. Morningstar offered to fly her home, and when they landed on her balcony, she immedaitely drew his mask back aboce his mouth and kissed him. And after a moments shock, Morningstar kissed her back. Their kiss was interrupted by the whine of sirens, as numerous firetrucks raced to a fire that could be seen in another highrise a few blocks away. Waiting a moment for Kate to grab a camera, Morningstar flew over to the scene and set her down at a safe distance before proceeding to rescueing a number of people trapped on the upper floors and roof of the building. He then used his powers to carry large amounts of water from Lake Ontario and use it to help douse the flames. It was not long after the fire was brought under control when a enormous rumbling was heard from up the street. Morningstar looked to see another towering apartment collapse, sending a thick cloud of dust their way. Throwing up a shield of solid light to protect the scene of the fire, the synthoid again took to the air to investiage. As he approached the area of the collapsed building, he spotted a man with long black hair and a well trimmed goattee, in a blue costume with a white cape, hovering high above the debris. Making his way toward this figure, Morningstar identified himself and challenged the man; whose only response was to send the synthoid rocketting back to earth with a wave of his hand. 
Pulling himself out of the debris, Morningstar then found himself falling upward at an ever-increasing speed. Luckily, he managed to get his shield up before he was flung out of the atmosphere and into space. However, as he was, he felt a massive rush of solar energy pour into him... the likes of which he had not felt since the Solar Amplifiaction Device was destroyed in his battle with Rampage. Putting everything into his shields, the synthoid flew back toward Earth and into the atmosphere, unthinkingly, at top speed. Within moments his shield was obliterated, and his flesh horribly seared. Ultimately losing consciousness, Morningstar plummetted back to Earth, landing with a great impact that left his broken and smouldering body motionless at the bottom of a small crater. ------------------------------------------------ Powersurge (history, pics) [www.classicmarvel.com]
------------------------------------------------ Morningstar (campaign journal) [www.classicmarvel.com]
------------------------------------------------ "You just decided *all by yourselves* that you are the Earth's protectors. And that you, and *only* you, not your teammates or family, are trustworthy enough to include in the process..." T'Challa, The New Avengers: Illuminati 1
Morningstar #23
Having crashed back to Earth within the borders of Latveria, it was not long before the charred and broken remains of the Morningstar synthoid came to the attention of Dr.Doom. These were carried to Doom's castle where they underwent thorough a analysis culminating in Doom's "resurrection" of Morningstar. But this was not all. Dr.Doom had also tampered with the synthoid's memories, such that Morningstar's last memory was of the Fantastic Four attacking Toronto and sending him hurtling into space. And with much of the synthoid's brain still in the process of regenerating, it was thence an easy matter for Doom to manipulate Morningstar into travelling to New York in search of the F.F. and vengeance. Making his way to New York, Morningstar quickly located the Freedom Four Plaza and launched an attack on the Thing and the Human Torch; engulfing the Torch in an airtight field of solid light, and tackling the Thing in an ariel charge that carried both of them several blocks down the street. As Morningstar and the Thing began to exchange blows, Mr.Fantastic and the Invisible Woman arrove on the scene and Sue was able to save the suffocating Human Torch by using her own forcefield to destroy Morningstar's from the inside out. With that the remaning trio quickly raced to their teammates aid. They arrived to find the Thing hard pressed against the power and versatility of the synthoid, but with the arrival it did not take long for the F.F. to ground Morningstar and bring his shields down; thus enabling the Thing to get in close to deliver a number of solid shots. Throughout the battle Morningstar had begun to see flashes of his real memories about the events leading up to his near fatal reentry into Earth's atmosphere. And with the solid blows landed by the Thing, these memories at last reassert their dominance. As a result, Morningstar ceased struggling and then willingly answered all of the questions posed to him by Mr.Fantastic; who quickly deduced that Dr.Doom had been using Morningstar as a distraction and that they should make with all due haste back to the Freedom Four Plaza. Once there they found Doom in the process of stealing an experimental piece of technology Mr.Fantastic had recently been working on. The five heroes engaged the villain and after a hard fought battle managed his defeat... only to learn that it was a mere Doombot. Both Invisible Woman and Morningstar easily contained the explosion of both the Doombot and it's nearby escape shuttle when they self-destructed moments after the Doombot's defeat. And so it was that after a thorough examination of Morningstar by Mr.Fantastic, to ensure that Doom's tampering were no longer in effect, and contact being made with Dr.Stone at GenTech, the synthoid began to make his way back to Ontario. ------------------------------------------------ Powersurge (history, pics) [www.classicmarvel.com]
------------------------------------------------ Morningstar (campaign journal) [www.classicmarvel.com]
------------------------------------------------ "You just decided *all by yourselves* that you are the Earth's protectors. And that you, and *only* you, not your teammates or family, are trustworthy enough to include in the process..." T'Challa, The New Avengers: Illuminati 1 |
