>>45645143
>>[] Find something to fight him with!

>>45645143
>>[x] Fight him head on! Two on four isn't a bad matchup!

>>45645143
>>[] Find something to fight him with!
HENSHIN!

>>45645143
>[] Fight him head on! Two on four isn't a bad matchup!

We have the power of the sun in our fists of justice!

Rolled 22 (1d100)

Rolling evens for Find Something, rolling odds for Fight him.

>>45645364
>>45645384

You glance around to the immediate area, trying to find something suitable to attack the Baron with. Running your eyes along the cracked pavement, you see a lead pipe. The opposite way, a rusted knife.

Making a quick executive decision in your mind, you dive in the direction of the pipe just as Styx runs and hurls a punch. Taking the pipe in your hands, you deftly move to a nearby car, kicking the hub cap from it.

As the cap ricochets from the wheel, you wind up and swing hard with the lead pipe, sending the disc careening for your opponent. He grunts, one of his arms catching the disc and crushing it like a paper cup.

"Quit running, ya little bitch!" He roars, breaking into a mad sprint with his arms acting as auxillary legs. Just seconds before impact, his back set of arms fly upwards and slam down, with you backflipping in the nick of time.

Your legs buckle and stumble as they hit the pavement. The man in front of you wastes no time backhanding you into a nearby brick wall.

Peeling yourself out of the hole in the wall, you think that maybe, just maybe, you need to start hitting harder, not smarter.

>[] Get into a fist fight! Bob and weave!
>[] Play this like a bullfight. Let him tire himself out.
>[] Write-in.

>>45645751
>>[] Get into a fist fight! Bob and weave!

Float like a butterfly, sting like Zabee!

>>45645751
>>[] Get into a fist fight! Bob and weave!
ORA ORA ORA.

>>45645751
>>[] Get into a fist fight! Bob and weave!

>>45645751

>[] Get into a fist fight! Bob and weave!

JUSTICE~!

>>45645907
>>45645844
>>45645778

You rush in towards him, sliding underneath his next swing and popping off with a mighty uppercut! He stumbles backwards, rubbing his jaw and spitting out a bloody glob.

The Baron sends his two foremost fists into an inter-changing punches. You match his motion in kind, the impact of your knuckles against one another leading to audible crunches in the air.

You both machine-gun your punches against one another, a battle cry rawly releasing itself from your mighty lungs. The fire in your very soul is burning with the strength to push through, to take more hits, and to land more of them in turn!

In a lull between hits, you notice your opportunity, as Styx reels back a punch too soon. You throw your punch directly for his face and then hook him with your left. Striking a violent rhythm, you dance in-between his counter-attacks.

"You think you can just bully people because you're stronger!?" You yell out, decking him with a particularly hard punch that forces him back.

Styx rubs his jaw, blood dripping from his split lip.

"Strength in this world was made to protect the weak! Not exploit them!"

You thump your fist over your chest, before throwing that same one to the sky, a very declaration of your spirited will!

"As long as your wickedness shall infect my city--no, my WORLD, I won't stop fighting until my last breath to make sure you never win!"

"Nice speech. Write that yaself?" He scoffs.

Something burns deep within you. Your chest starts to feel...warmer. A very energy in your body echoes in your mind.

'You, are a candle in pitch black. The ashes of the great flame.' It reverberates.

'Cry out your true name, and smite this evil.'

>[] "...What the hell is that noise?"
>[] Let's just obey the weird voice for now.
>[] TRUE NAME, HO!

>>45646238
>>[] TRUE NAME, HO!
I AM!

>>45646238
>>[] TRUE NAME, HO!
MAXIMUM CHEESE, GO.

>>45646238
>>[] TRUE NAME, HO!
JUSTICE N'SHIT!

>>45646238
> "I AM VANQUISH, DESTROYER OF ADVERSARIES, THE OVERCOMER, RIPPER OF GUTS, KNOWN TO SOME AS SENPAI..."
I don't know punch him I guess

File: thismakesmydickhard.jpg (7 KB, 320x180)

7 KB JPG

Observing this quest.

>>45646314
>>45646353
>>45646393
>>45646399

You glance down at your fist. Despite how utterly alien this voice is to you...you know it like it's home.

You clench your fist and stare down Styx, before adopting your battle stance once more, but with a greater fire than before.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_SxVtf6Nk0

"My body burns with a force that incinerates all evil in it's sight! My name is Vanquish! The fire that never goes out! The Pyre of Justice! So I see you, so you shall be smote!"

"What the hell are you..."

The area around you swelters, bending with the sheer presence of rising temperature. You bury your fist in a car beside you, tearing it in two with a strength you never knew you possessed.

With a cry of passion, the steel frame bends and molds, melting into two phoenix-wreathed gauntlets, as you fly--literally fly--at Sty at breakneck speed and delivering a bone-shattering blow.

"NUCLEAR JUSTICE!"

As soon as your fist connects with him, a shockwave erupts from the point of impact, causing the very ground to shake as Styx flies down the street, skidding pathetically and letting out a weak rattle before going unconscious.

As your body descends to the ground, your body's temperature returns to normal. The gauntlets burn up, whisking away in the wind, as if they never existed.

You stand there, blinking in disbelief.

>"...What?"
>"...I am so fucking awesome."
>[] Write-in.

>>45646620
>>"...I am so fucking awesome."

You really are QM 10/10

>>45646620
> "I would high five me so hard"

>>45646620
>>[] Write-in. Strike a pose!

File: BURNING JUSTICE.jpg (37 KB, 704x396)

37 KB JPG

>>45646620
>[] Write-in.

"I RUN ON HOT-BLOOD!"

>>45646620
>>"...I am so fucking awesome."
>[] Write-in.
Make sure the Old man is alright.

>>45646620
>>>"...I am so fucking awesome."

I really hope whoever owned that car had hero insurance.

>>45646727
>>45646644
>>45646687

"...I am so. Fucking. AWESOME!"

You leap in the air giddily, like Chun-Li after perfecting Akuma. The thrill! The energy! Just what possessed you? Who cares! It was rad!

>>45646657
"I'd hi-five me so damn hard after that! In fact..."

You hold a palm behind you, open, slapping it with your other hand, grinning madly.

>>45646676
>>45646663

"I RUN ON HOT-BLOOD!" You exclaim, thrusting your fist to the sky before bending them behind your back. "HOO-RAA!"

Realization hits you.

"...oh, the old man!"

You run into the alleyway, where Charles had fled to. "Charles? Are you alright? I hope that that Baron didn't--"

You leap in surprise as you find the elderly gentleman standing unsubtly behind the corner in the alley. Geez, punching out a four-armed mobster, and yet you're scared of a geriatric.

"H-Hello, citizen! Are you quite alright?"

"I'm...I'm fine. But just what are you? I've never seen any hero do something like that! Even Paragon Supreme, why...you've got a gift, miss!" he says, eyes wide with a youthful wonder. You might've put 10 years back in this man's life just from your display alone.

"A shame about my car, though..." he laments.

"C-Car?" You say, embarrassed. One quick glance behind you confirms not even a shred of scrap metal made it.

"I can always get it refunded, since it was technically destroyed by a hero. A car can be replaced, but that man was going to kill me, I'm sure of it. Thank you so much, Vanquish."

You wonder how he knows your name, before recalling you just recently screamed it for the whole damn world to hear five minutes prior.

"...All in a day's work, citizen!"

>[] What now?

>>45646933
>[] What now?
Call it a night. It's been a long day. We deserve some time to relax at home

>>45646933
>What now?

Gonna go home and train on that new power!

>>45646933
>[] What now?
Might as well turn in, can't be a hero on zero sleep and an empty stomach.

>>45646933
>[] What now?
Bed time.
>You leap in the air giddily, like Chun-Li after perfecting Akuma.
2pure

>>45646933
>>[] What now? Celebrate at the cafe! Nobody needs to know it was you, but holy shit, get hype for heroism!

File: AKIBARANGER.jpg (98 KB, 1280x720)

98 KB JPG

>>45646933

Work on unlocking the mechanics of Hot Blood to Power Ratio.

Time to Super Sentai research out.

Mite I suggest...

>>45646992
>>45646976
>>45647002
>>45647029

You walk, totally exhausted from that display, back to your apartment. You deposit your costume in the duffelbag, taking a hot whiff of the suit before shoving it in. Sure, it smells like sweat and coffee grounds, but it also smelt like freshly dealt justice.

Collapsing on your air mattress as soon as you make it back, you close your eyes, trying to reach back to that power as you did before.

Nothing.

Just the blackness of the inside of your eyelids.

Eyes flying open, you ponder with yourself further.

Whatever this force is...it choose you. It's binding to you.

"...is it good? Bad? Whatever the wielder wants of it?" You say aloud, opening the mini-fridge and taking a half-empty container of orange juice, daintily slurping a bit and putting it aside.

One image DID stay in your mind however.

A phoenix.

As your eyes grow heavy and the light's just a little too bright for right now, you turn in for the night. Still, at the edges of your brain, you smile in memory of your actions today.

You ARE becoming a hero, step by step.

---

You're standing nude in the inky depths of space.

Normally, you'd be freezing to death, if not for the sun-like figure before you. It's eyes of white-hot flame pierce through you. You feel as though your whole life is being judged with every glance from it.

'So you return.' it speaks.

I never knew I left. You reply back.

Something about that makes it make a noise like scoffing.

'Today was the awakening. But that is as easy as it gets. My avatar's life is never easy, and yours is no exception. Accept that truth, and you may become Truth.' The burning figure turns, smoldering wings fluttering behind it.

I don't understand any of this. Why can't you tell me? you ask, stepping forward. But, something in you says another step would incinerate your being.

'Every one of you learns the truth. Every one of you makes a journey. There is no journey by simply coming to the end.'

>CONT.

>>45647383
'There is adversity. Joy. Victory. Betrayal. All are components are the one thing that all things stem from. The 'zero' of this universe.'

'Truth.'

Will I ever see you again? you ask.

'Until the day you die, I will be with you.' it answers. 'Never falter, Yukari.'

With that, it burns up into the darkness, and your dream ends.

---

You snore softly in your sleep, before you awake, scratching your crotch and yawning.

As weird as that dream felt, something else in you told you not to worry. So you didn't.

Oh, you had questions. But you weren't worried.

As you slipped on your jeans, you remembered today was your coffee date with Rebecca. Inspired by the need to look good, you put on a pure-white button up with a searingly red tie.

You brush your hair in the mirror of the bathroom, mostly just wasting time. Your hair was kept neat practically by your helmet alone, but oh well. Time-wasters are good.

By the time you finish getting ready (with more purposeful delays), it's only 12.

>What to do until then?

>>45647505
>What to do until then?

Train, train and after that? TRAIN SOME MORE!

>>45647505
>What to do until then?
Bum it out at home, go on the computer, maybe play some games. Make sure to keep yourself from getting too nervous bout anything.

>>45647505
Watch the news, surf the internet, check to see if there are any more fanfictions of us yet

>>45647505
>>What to do until then?
Vidya. We still need to get the CGs for tsundare chick's route.

>>45647505

MONTAGE TRAINING TIME

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doFnCzUxLU8

>>45647505
>What to do until then?
Seconding some training, exercise is good for getting some of that sweet sweet dopamine.

Rolled 74 (1d100)

rolling evens for training, odds for general dicking around.

>>45647694
Time to build our body into the ultimate justice machine!

>>45647613
>>45647609
>>45647547

Deciding that home is no place to spend your time, you go to a haven that has helped your hero work by leaps and bounds.

The Grind.

Notorious for being one of the most extreme gyms in the world, let alone Arcadia, The Grind makes steel out of tin cans, sports cars out of Tonka trucks, and Miss America's into Miss Universe's.

Not that you weren't good enough to win both of the latter.

Flashing your ID, you make your way over to the treadmill, setting a sufficiently difficult incline and speed. You absolutely pummel the machine with your footsteps, imprints of your running shoes making themselves remembered in the belt. Sweat hardly breaks from your brow, you are simply that mighty!

With the running completed in roughly half an hour, you set yourself up at the free weights, holding a 20 lb dumbbell in each hand and lifting in steady rhythmic motion. One-two, one-two, one-two, bitch.

There's an hour left in your free time.

>[] Shower up, leave.
>[] Check the place out for other similarly buff women.
>[] Write-in.

>>45647817
>Shower up, leave.
Don't want to be late for our date!

>>45647817
>>[] Shower up, leave.

>>45647817
>>[] Shower up, leave.

Our body of pure justice needs to smell better then roses themselves!

>>45647870
>>45647871
>>45647908
>>45647870

You take your gym bag, moving down to the showers. Getting in your own stall, you shut and lock the door before you, and strip. You stuff your clothes back in the back and slip within the shower, turning on the steamy water.

Your hair, hardly long, still obscures your vision as it falls wet in front of your face. You don't care, scrubbing briskly. Cleanliness is next to godliness as they say, and there's nothing else closer to that than being a paragon of justice.

As the time winds down, and the water stops feeling more searing, you move to stop the water--until you hear a conversation start.

"...the job. It went well, right? They DID get paid, right?"

"Martha, for God's sake, not in a public bathroom."

"The shower's running! Who the hell cares?"

Two women are talking, and it's pretty evident they don't want people hearing.

"Same dead drop as before? By the--"

"The scorched rock by the oak in front of the courthouse. Yes. Now shut up already! Shower and fuck off back to your stupid husband and stop blabbing."

"Oh, shut up, you dyke."

"Bite me, Martha."

"You fucking wish I would, you carpet munc--"

You're already running out of the place, half-wet, and mostly suspicious.

Paid crime jobs are afoot, eh...? You'd have to pocket that for later.

Stuffing yourself into your clothes as you run down the streets, you finally make it right on the minute to the coffee shop where you can plainly see Rebecca through the glass doors. You daintily wave and step in.

She smiles warmly at your arrival. "Hey there. You just shower? You look...wet."

"Yeah, kind of lost track of the time, hah!" You lie. Seating yourself, you glance down at the menu (how weird a coffee place has a menu...) and order a plate of scones for the two of you.

"So..." Rebecca asks. "What've you been doing these past few days?"

>[] Helping the city, you know?
>[] Oh, just vegging!
>[] Write-in.

>>45648220
What is 'vegging'? As in, consuming vegetables?

> I puched a guy with a car yesterday. It was okay.

>>45648220
>>[] Oh, just vegging!
>>45648272
Basically chilling out, doing nothing.

>>45648220
>>[] Write-in.
I just been working on these. . .
>Flex
GUNS

>>45648272
Vegging out, or just dicking around.

>>45648295
"Oh, I've just been working on these..."

You whip your head to the right, before flexing your arm.

"GUNS!" You smooch your bicep for dramatic effect.

Rebecca can't help but laugh with that, a little snort accenting it.

"I mean, I knew you worked out, I just didn't take you as one so...proud of it? Or maybe just not so...into it."

"I sort of do it for my other job." You say, a little humbly. On the inside, you're just happy you got to do that secret-identity thing where you subtly mention your alter ego, but the other person can't possibly tell what you're REALLY talking about.

Feels good.

Your plate of scones comes in in quick fashion. Soon after, a cup of dark coffee for the both of you.

"So...I just found it a bit odd that you wanted to do this." Rebecca finally speaks. "Don't get me wrong, this is nice! But customers usually don't ask me to do stuff. It's pretty new."

"Well, hey, we all have to try something new, right? Live every day like you're living!"

"I think the correct ending to that saying is 'dying'." she says, a bit of a concerned look on her face.

"What's the point of such a bleak way of saying it? Life should be about living for the sake of it, not because living is finite." A bit of Vanquish is pouring into your daily life, it'd seem.

"Huh. I guess I never thought of it like that. Live like I'm living..."

>[] What to talk about?

>>45648532

>[] What to talk about?

Well heard anything "Amazing" on the news today?

>>45648532
>>[] What to talk about?
News, interests, are we in college?, maybe a bit about the heroism going on. BUT DON'T SHOW OUR POWER LEVEL JUST YET, UNTIL SHE BREAKS FIRST.

>>45648577
>college
You're fresh out of a 2-year school. Without explaining why, you cut your original plans for a 4 year short in order to become a hero, to the point of causing some friction with your mother, who wants to make sure you get a high-paying job in business.

(EXPOSITION WOW SO COOL QM WOW)

>>45648568
>>45648577
"So, you hear about anything cool in the news today?" You sip, pretending to be half-interested in the statement.

"Oh, yeah! There's--"

"That super cool superheroine, right?"

"I was gonna say the new pipeline making sure the poorer districts get clean water. But yeah, that was also kind of nice. Her costume could stand to be a little better, though. The feathers were...eh. Kind of gauche."

That really felt like a personal attack. Even if they're not part of the regular ensemble, those feathers were bestowed upon you by...that dream thing.

"Vanquish is, well. I'm glad she's around! And so close to us, too." you say, really trying to not sound like you're sucking your own metaphorical dick.

"What are you, married to her?" She giggles. "But no, it is pretty nice when we get a new hero, and not some other assholes toting a gun and baclava."

"I mean, I-I wouldn't mind sucking her...I mean she...I bet she's nice-looking under the mask!" You stutter, feeling pure, unbridled social awkwardness pour from your lips with every word.

"I had no clue you swung that way." She slurps her coffee. "I was gonna talk to you about this guy Roland at my work, but, uh. I guess that's out."

Okay, this conversation and potential friendship is already starting to die.

>What to do to swing this back in our favor?

>>45648749
>>What to do to swing this back in our favor?
So about this Roooooooland

>>45648845
seconding.

>>45648749
>I just meant she looked cool is all!

>>45648956

"I just meant she looked cool is all!"

Way to cover your gay ass's tracks.

"Mmm." She says, half-heartedly. A long sip gives you a good indication that you need to do something.

>>45648845
>>45648934

"...So about this Rooooland." You let the 'R' roll a bit for emphasis, like you're super interested.

"I thought you--"

"No no! I want to know and help out. What about him is so nice?" you say.

The things you do for friends. You know this conversation is about to get dull.

"Oh, well! He's the guy who usually takes my shifts when I can't. College, you know? He's also just someone you can vent to. Like, he won't say anything back to anyone, so it's a safe place to just talk to another person. And..."

You let her drone. It's a little evident that sometimes, Rebecca just needs to hear herself talk.

"...Just, the only issue with him is when he brings up politics."

"Oh, fucking tell me about it." You finally reply for the first time in minutes.

"I don't mean like, Republican-Democrat this-that stuff. He's part of some movement that wants unions like the Peacekeeper's out."

"What?" You say, finally reinterested in conversing.

"Well, supposedly, there were numbers done by analysts. It was something about how, given the annual rate of joining heroes, with the funding provided by Peacekeeper's crime rates should literally be under 10%."

"But that's not the fault of Peacekeeper's. That's a lot of bad social stuff! Poverty, bad education, poor jobs--"

"Let me finish. Get this: he thinks it's someone on the inside. Someone WANTS there to be crime and heroes, jerking around. Apparently since they showed up, the economy has been through the goddamn roof. Everyone loves getting reimbursed when the heroes break something, and the heroes pay nothing. Crazy though, right?"

You muddle through your thoughts at this. Someone...playing both sides?
>cont.

>>45649173
"Just because the economy's good shouldn't mean just one person or group is profiting."

Rebecca shrugs. "I didn't recall all the details. All I know is that Roland cannot STAND unionized heroes. Guy loves the concept of heroes--hell, he has so many comic books collected--but he turns his nose up when bureaucracy is involved."

You grip your chin in thought. Things lately offer up too many questions, and certainly not enough answers.

"Where did all these rumors start?" you ask. "Last question about this, I promise."

"Roland tells me..."

"A hero was offed after he found out that someone was playing the system. His death was covered up, and no one even remembers his name being in the books."

You wince. Maybe it's what the burning figure told you about the truth, but the chilling idea of being...erased. It makes your blood run cold.

"Jesus Christ."

"I know, right?" She drinks, before glancing at her wrist. "Ah, shit, I've got to head to the bank and cash my paycheck. Tomorrow's a teller's holiday and they'll be closed--sorry! This was nice though! I'd love to do it again sometime!" She waves you off, leaves a handful of bills for her half of the meal and books it.

Left alone with your thoughts, you ponder things.

>...What now?

>>45649274
>What now?
Go scope out that dead drop location, maybe we can find some leads.

>>45649274
Call Makoto, see how she's holding up, and bring her up to speed on her suit's repairs.

>>45649274
>>...What now?
Become Vanquish and begin to hunt down clues about this "Evil" within the Peackeeper's!

>>45649274
>...What now? find Roland, see what he knows.

>>45649316
>>45649404

Gonna go with these two.

You make your way swiftly back to your costume, becoming Vanquish once more.

Making your way with a determined stride, you get to the courthouse in question, spotting an oak tree with a large black spot where it's been burned. Beneath it, a rock in much the same style.

Bingo.

Taking a moment, you hide behind a corner and observe the area, in case anyone walks by. As if on cue, they certainly do.

A figure in a black hoodie moves into the scene, kicking the stone over with a tap of the foot. Another press into the flat bottom of the rock opens a compartment in it, to which they deposit a sealed letter. One quick look around, and they walk away.

You step down to look at the path they took down...but they're gone as quickly as they came, without a single trace as to their direction. Eerie.

Moving over to the rock, you take the letter from the compartment. Written on on the back of the envelope is one word.

'Genbu'.

Opening this letter would be a clear indicator someone messed with the dead drop. Taking it would be an even bigger one.

>Leave it be?
>Tamper with it, damn the risks!
>Write-in.

>>45649653
>>Leave it be?

>>45649653
>>Tamper with it, damn the risks!
JUUUSSTTICE!

>>45649777
Oh boy a triple!

>>45649777
trips decree it so.

>>45649777
>>45649796
>>45649919

Knowing the risks, you tear into it.

It reads:

"We've lost one of our pawns. Styx is out of commission from a fresh hero. It's of little trouble at the moment.

More concerning, however, is the reappearance of an element I KNOW I told you to rid me of.

Hurricane Vanguard has returned, after we previously got rid of him for his discovery. If he lets out our secret of profiteering, well. Safe to say that you men are more at risk to lose your jobs than I am.

I advise you to do the obvious.

- Genbu'

Your hand trembles slightly as you read it.

They're going to try and kill Makoto.

>We have to warn her!
>We have to make sure they have no idea I read this!
>Write-in.

>>45649980
Warn her, We must protect Makoto at all costs, shes too young !

>>45649980
>>We have to warn her!
>>We have to make sure they have no idea I read this!
Take it with and give it to her, and tell her to make a copy, then burn the original.

>>45649980
>>We have to warn her!
No doubt they might have the place bugged so screw trying to hide the fact we know now. . .ITS TIME TO SAVE MAKOTO!

Rolled 65 (1d100)

odds, we make sure they don't know. evens, we don't care.

>>45650050
>>45650020

You grip the letter in your hand, putting the dead-drop rock back in position and running off, putting your cellphone to your ear and calling Makoto.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uceYgGsy53Y

You wait as the dialtone goes.

"--ello? This is Makoto!"

"Makoto! Where are you right now?" You ask, frantic.

"The supermarket! I realized I was out of milk, so I saved my mother the trouble and...wait, why are you asking?" You can hear her move the phone closer, as she begins to whisper. "Does it have to do with our heroism?"

"In a way, yes! There's...no time to explain, but there's someone wanting you killed. You need to stay out of costume for the time being until I figure out who's trying to hurt you!"

"W-What!? S-S-Someone wants me dead?" Her voice starts to waver.

"Listen, no one knows who you are. They just know Hurricane Vanguard. When Cogmaster gives you your suit back, you need to stay out of it until I resolve this."

"I...okay! I-I promise! I will uphold justice in my civilian wear, Vanquish! Just because I can't do it with powers doesn't mean I have to stop!"

Something in your smiles at her determination, despite the dire circumstances.

With that out of the way, at least Makoto isn't in immediate danger. You're the only one in on her secret. Even the people who killed her brother had no clue who he was under the mask, it seems.

More worrying is the presence of this 'Genbu' who appears to be in charge of the third faction...

>Subtly pry at the Peacekeeper's Union when you can tomorrow.
>Talk to Cogmaster--make sure he's clean.
>Write-in.

>>45650398
>>Talk to Cogmaster--make sure he's clean.

He is the only connection we have, we need to know either he is good or he is in the mood of knuckle sandwich. . .OF JUSTICE!

>>45650398
>Talk to Cogmaster--make sure he's clean.

>>45650517
>>45650652

You decide Cogmaster is the most pressing matter. It makes sense, of course. He's the one working on Makoto's costume--who's to say he won't bug it?

Making your way to the Peacekeeper's HQ, you knock quietly at the entrance. A beleaguered sigh can be heard through the aged wood, and a pale figure in a dark hood opens the door. Their cracked lips frown further upon seeing you.

He speaks in a voice like a harsh whisper.

"Your exam is tomorrow. Leave." He moves to close the door. You, being a quick one as always, jam your foot in the door.

"It's not about that. I need to see Cogmaster." you insist.

The man in the hood grunts. "Oh, sure. Cogmaster, Paragon Supreme, Payne...always wanting to see the 'aesthetically pleasing' ones..." He laments. "'You'll be popular with the underground scene', marketing told me...load of shit."

Well, by process of elimination, this must be Nighthawk.

"Nighthawk, sir, please. This is about safety of my friend. I need to see Cogmaster."

"You don't have to tell me twice, urgh. Just go. Go!" He swings the door open and ushers you in.

Well, with that out of the way, you head into the basement, where you presume Cogmaster's workshop is.

Sparks fill the air as you descend, your hair in your helmet starting to stand on end. A massive mechanical figure stands hunched over a workbench as you make your way into the dusty underground.

"...Cogmaster?" you ask quietly.

"GREETING: Hello, Vanquish. SURPRISE: I didn't expect to see you so early. CONCERN: Is there an issue? Am I taking too long?"

"Nothing like that...I just..."

You need to present this in a way that Cogmaster won't be suspicious, but also that you'll know he's clean or dirty.

>Find a way to reference the difference in height between the two Hurricanes.
>"...Cogmaster, can you be dishonest?"
>Write-in.

>>45650896
>>Write-in.

"Hey Cogmaster, mind telling me about Hurricane Vanguard? I hardly know about the hero"

>>45650896
>Find a way to reference the difference in height between the two Hurricanes.
Tell me more about Hurricane, I want to get to know him better if we're going to work together.

>>45650998
>>45650928

"Hey, Cogmaster, mind telling me about Hurricane Vanguard? I want to get to know...him better if we're going to work together."

"SURPRISE: You are working with Hurricane Vanguard? He's quite prolific. STATISTICS: 6'1, 140 lbs. Hair color: UNKNOWN, Eye color: UNKOWN, Sex: MALE. IDENTITY: CLASSIFIED."

"I HOPE THAT WAS HELPFUL."

You suck air in through your teeth.

"When was the last time Hurricane reported in?"

"STATISTIC: 2 YEARS AGO."

Okay, so he has no information about Hurricane after his death, it looks like...good. Cogmaster's clean.

"Thank you, Cogmaster. Is her suit done?"

Cogmaster pauses for a moment, before presenting the finished product. All the damage over the years seems completely gone from the new product. The sleek, grey look, the wonderful helmet...it all checks out wonderfully. You know Makoto will love it...

If she ever gets to wear it. You gulp at the thought of that poor girl's fate being in your hands.

"Thank you, Cogmaster. I'll give it to Hurricane at the first opportunity."

"REPLY: It is my pleasure."

You take the suit and walk out to the surface, Nighthawk skulking around the foyer as he was before. You pay him no mind and leave.

With Cogmaster's innocence proven, it seems less likely the Peacekeeper's have any actual hand in this conspiracy...that was comforting, at least.

>What now?

>>45651120
>Make sure nobody's following, then deliver the goods

>>45651120
Return the suit while making sure you dont blow Makoto's cover

>>45651120
Ooh, that slip up... No way he didn't catch that.

Anyway, get that suit to Makoto, pronto!

>>45651312
>>45651220
>>45651182

You exit quietly and slip away undetected to the shadowy back of a building.

You call up Makoto, keeping your voice down.

"Makoto? Makoto, I have your suit."

"Oh, really? But--wait, wasn't I supposed to not wear it?"

"Well, yes, don't go out as Hurricane, but it's still best that you keep it! As soon as we expose this conspiracy, we--"

"We! We're going to expose it! Ah, yes yes yes! This will be great!" she talks excitedly over the phone.

Poor choice of words.

"Makoto, you are definitely a big help. However, I don't think you can help...as Hurricane at any point. Understand?"

"Oh, I certainly do! But Makoto Matsushita is nothing if not determined! I have it in my heart that I will be the great rebirth of my brother's heroism, one way or another! It's my dream!"

You smile.

"Tell me your apartment so I can drop this off, okay?"

"Sure, it's 262 Azure Road! Down by that one intersection...?"

"Got it. I'll drop it at the front door and knock three times, that way you know it's me. Wait by the door, and be quick about grabbing the suit."

>cont.

>>45651410
You keep the suit as well-hidden on your person as possible as you run down the way. Reaching Makoto's house, you make a double-check on the surveying area that no one is spying on you.

...no one. Good.

Dropping it on the front porch, you knock three times and book it, looking back once you're a safe distance away.

Right on cue, Makoto's bright face glances down, squeals in delight at how good her suit looks now, and brings it inside to hide away.

Your phone blares a little.

'THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU!!!' - Makoto.

Well, she's happy with it. That's good.

Suddenly, you feel your head starting to swelter. A burning sweat starts to form on your forehead.

'You walk a dangerous road, Yukari.'

>Who ARE you?
>What are you doing to me?
>Write-in.

>>45651487
>'Yeah, I know. Kind of comes with the job.'

>>45651487
>>Write-in.
If this is the road that will lead me to the truth then I, Vanquish will walk down this path into justice is given to all!

>>45651559
>>45651498

"Yeah, I know. Kind of comes with the job."

'That's not what I meant." it speaks back. Every syllable feels like a spike of temperature.

"If this is the road that will lead me to the truth, then I, Vanquish, will walk down this path until justice is given to all."

'Yukari, this is indeed a path to justice. However, acknowledge this. My opposite, a being of pure deceit, one who wants all to live in blissful ignorance, works against you.'

"Whoever's influencing this 'Genbu', you mean?"

'Correct. My point, however, is that you do not have to take my burden. There is one final chance for you to not become my avatar. But know this; you will never have this chance again. You cannot win this battle for truth if you do not become my totem, my very tie to your plane.'

'Do you understand?'

"...Yes."

'Do you wish to remain my Avatar, then? There is no turning back.'

>I'll remain.
>I want to stop.

>>45651607
>'I'll remain.'
Not going to get rid of us THAT easily.

>>45651607
>>I'll remain.

Man you really think I would here? After all I have done so far? If this path leads to my death then so be it, I will fight for justice! I will pursuit the truth! I will deliver the light of hope to all who can't do it themselves! I am Vanquish! The Pyre of Justice!

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37 KB JPG

>>45651653
>>45651729

"I'll remain. After all...I'm Vanquish. The Pyre of Justice."

Warmth overwhelms you. That must be it's way of smiling, you think.

'Very well. It is time then, that you are given a truth.'

The world burns away around you, and you're in that same warm space by the fiery figure, except now...it's image is clear.

A giant, flame-wreathed phoenix. Pure vermillion surrounds it's very being.

'I am the Aspect of Truth. One of four. While beings may claim to be strong on your Earth, none compare to us four. So mighty is our power that we cannot contest amongst each other on your plane without decimating it entirely. We must choose mortal avatars for our powers. You, Yukari, for your passion for freedom and desire for strength, are worthy of my blessing. Be forewarned, the avatars of Deceit, Rebirth, and Finality are all vying for top position. I trust you won't fail me.'

"I won't." You promise.

END OF CHAPTER 3.

Slapping this thread on the archives now. Feel free to use the rest of the thread for drawfagging, discussion, you know.

>>45651838
Can we get the time for when the next chapter goes down? Also can we get like a kamen rider bro down the line?

>>45651873
The tentative schedule from now on is roughly every two days at 9PM EST, but that's always subject to change. To ALWAYS get the last word on when threads go up, follow my twitter at @RevengeanceQ.

Also, there are definitely still allies to come. Trust me, this is meant to run for a while.

>>45651893
Glad to hear that QM, just hope more folk come around to make things faster/fun

And the archived thread is up.

>>45651838

I'm wondering if we'll see the Dragon, Tortoise, and Tiger then.