Fiction   Phoenix Force History Part One by Polaris     Ugh, did that suck... I shift my head ta the side... it's so claustrophobic in here. The dust and debris make it hard ta breathe, let alone see. If it weren't for these damn powers, I'd probably not still be alive. Even with my powers, it's an effing miracle. Feels like I took a bite out of an iron pipe, the taste in my mouth is awful. I know it's just blood, so I'm not that concerned. Heh, how many people could say "just blood". Laughing in the face of your doom. Good one, Jimmy. How the bloody hell am I going to work my way from under this slab? Damn explosions brought the whole city crumbling down, seemingly right on top of me. I mean I'm strong, but Jesus, What's that? Was that footsteps? God, please tell me my cape is sticking out, maybe someone can see me. Bah, it's a damn foolish hope. Assuming others could even survive that blast, nothing but squishies around that I could see. You're getting dumb in your old age, Jimmy. Be a damn miracle if they survived it as well, let alone could rescue me. But... No, that was definitely footsteps! I try ta call out, but the air is thick, throat's too dry. Please! I can't heal myself from asphyxiation! Someone, please.... ------------ Hours before , It was the greatest threat Paragon City had ever faced. Not much is known as to how Arachnos reformed at this time, but the fact remains that they have amassed vast amounts of power and influence in the global underworld. The number of heroes rising together against this new threat was legion, but even so they were vastly outnumbered. The great city seemed on the verge of utter annihilation, the likes of which made even the Rikti invasion seem like a day at Disney World. Just when all hope seemed lost, the waves of Lord Recluse's army withdrew. The booming voice of Lord Recluse was heard over the din of the wreckage. One would almost mistake it for the voice of God himself, if it weren't for the stench of evil that permeated his every word. "This was just a test, Statesman! An exercise, if you will. I trust that next time your precious heroes will put up an actual fight? And fear not, there will be a next time, you old fool. Your day has passed. Consider this a reprieve." And with that, the heroes had the city to themselves again, ------------ The sun was burning so brightly in the cloudless sky, she almost didn't notice. "Tyrr! Over here!" Chrysalis called. "I found someone!" A blue and white cape was all that could be seen of the hero under the debris. "Is he alive?" came the voice of the hulking figure to her rear. Tyrr's voice was an unexpected sound: soft, even gentle for all that he was as hulking man. Once he spoke, no one could mistake the kindness in this man, regardless of his fearsome appearance. "I'm not sure, let me move this crap off of him." And with but a thought and the motion of her hands, the petite Chrysalis moved 3 tons of concrete and warped metal from the buried hero and gently laid it down on the ground beside her. "Oh no," she sighed. "Oh no, Tyrr, I don't think he's breathing" "At least you found him," came the gentle voice again, almost a whisper. "At least we can give this one a proper, " The sudden outburst from the "fallen" hero shocked the words out of Tyrr's mouth. Half choking, half coughing, the wounded hero rolled over, and violently vomited blood and dust from mouth. "He's alive!" shouted Chrysalis, rushing to his side. Dazed, and wary, the hero jerked his hands out in a slashing motion towards his rescuer. Almost too late, Tyrr saw the razor-sharp claws protruding from the injured hero, making a direct angle for Chrysalis' throat! With lightning fast reflexes, Tyrr withdrew his broadsword from its sheath, and parried the attack safely away from its original target. Ready to deliver the final blow, finishing the job the concrete slab started, Tyrr arced his sword high over his head, but oddly found his arm now unmoving, at the height of it's motion. "No, he's startled, and badly hurt. He doesn't know what he's doing." Chrysalis had held Tyrr's hand in place, preventing him from killing the other. The wild gleam in his eye gone, the blue and white hero collapsed back onto the ground, wheezing. Amazingly, as Chrysalis and Tyrr watched, his wounds seemed to close. The blood slowly stopped trickling from the cuts on his face, in fact the cuts themselves were no longer there! His breathing steadied, and he began to sit up! "Thank you." His voice was gruff, deep. "I thought I was gone for sure, I couldn't breathe." "What's your name? Who are you affiliated with?" asked Chrysalis. "Name? Like a hero name? Never bothered with one. Friends call my Jimmy though. Figure that's good enough for you all at his point. As fer affiliations, ain't got none." Jimmy replied, his voice steady now, as if the ordeal he'd just been through had never happened. "Well, you had to be here for a reason. Especially considering your, um, talents," Chrysalis pushed on. Friendly and open, Chrysalis hated to see a person hurt, and even worse, alone. "My story's not important. I saw the shindig goin' on outside, I tried to help. What else was there to be done? I have my reasons, my motivations, and they aren't of yer concern." Jimmy retorted. He didn't like being pried into. "Well, my name's Chrysalis. This bug guy behind me is Tyrr. Regardless of appearances, he's really a good guy. He just doesn't like seeing me in danger" Chrysalis smiled and looked coyly at Tyrr. "Regardless, considering your, improvements? , you're more than welcome to join us. We're searching for others that may have survived, ", she looked around as she was talking, looking at the carnage that littered the streets, "this." Clearing his eyes and looking around for the first time, the vision he met was overwhelming. Everywhere he looked, he could not escape the blood and bodies of fallen heroes. It was disheartening to say the least. "Sure, just give me a few more minutes, will ya?" "Excellent," Tyrr and Chrysalis chimed in at once.