Spirals of Fate is a serialized work of fiction centering on the intellectual property of City of Heroes and City of Villains. Chapter One centered on two villains, Vincent and Mara, and their breakout from the Zigg, a prison used to house those with super powers. They met another villain named Mosaic and the three headed for Arachnos flyers and freedom. Chapter 2 explored the perspective of the young heroes called to defend their city from the rising tide of crime. In Chapter 3 Part 1, Mosaic, Vincent and Mara arrive at an Arachnos-held area only to encounter violence from other prisoners. In Chapter 3 Vincent, Mara and Mosaic arrive at the Arachnos base and are drawn into the web of villainy. In Chapter 4 Part 1, Snowman and Charger “discuss” a recent arrest and the tactics involved in being heroes. In Chapter 4 Part 2, Mara, Vincent and Mosaic converge on the bank with the intent to commit a robbery but things do not go exactly as planned.

Spirals of Fate: Chapter Four (Shadows of the Future) - Part Three
By Michael Lafferty and Matthew Eberle

Mara glanced over at Mosaic, her eyes narrowing. “Vincent was right,” she snarled. “We didn’t need to do this. This is a bad idea.”

Mosaic regarded her carefully. “He needs your help and he needs it NOW!” was all he said.

Mara’s face was one of disgust, of someone who understood how she had been used. The tan overcoat she was wearing was discarded, revealing the form-fitting black cat suit with the intricate lace designs. She looked amazing. Her right hand darted up and black war paint streaked across her face. She had, obviously, planned her entrance.

“We will settle when this is done,” she said contemptuously, and then vanished from sight.

Mosaic knew where she was going, and going quickly. He had seen her in the courtyard days ago, rushing to Vincent’s aid. Only this time, the opposition would not know she was coming.

He started to move, toward the back of the building and the rear door. Vincent and Mara knew a plan, but not THE plan. Mosaic knew about the scanner and knew that Vincent would be identified and that mayhem would quickly ensue. Mara and Vincent had been told that Mosaic would go in the front door with them, but that was not the true plan. What was really planned was precisely what was going down. Vincent and Mara at the front office, on a rampage, Mosaic slipping in through the back door, grapping the artifact and then escaping. If he could pull them with him, so much the better. Now that didn’t seem as likely.

…

A customer courtesy table was flung aside as Vincent, emitting a dreadful howl of rage, advanced on two guards. They were backing up firing, the advance of the leather-clad assailant only slowed as pulse after pulse from the energy emitters slammed into him.

And then, out of the corner of his eye, Vincent saw it – a reddish glow, barely visible, descending in a two-handed overhead hammer blow into the cannons. The cannons crumbled without protest. Mara was standing there, the feral look dancing in her eyes, a mischievous grin pulling her mouth wide in a cross between a grin and a snarl.

Two other nearby guards started at the sudden appearance of this new assailant.

“Hello boys,” She said. “Let’s play,” even as she was in motion.

The guards didn’t stand a chance.

…

“All units, be advised a Code 103 is occurring at the Municipal Trust and Securities. Repeat ... a Code 103 is occurring at Municipal Trust and Securities. Meta-human involvement is confirmed. Approach with caution. Operational Command unit en route, ETA five minutes.”

“Where did they say that bank was?” Charger demanded.

“Fifteenth and Madison,” Lumiare replied.

Charger quickly donned his helmet, mumbling something unintelligible as the protective covering slid down his face.

“What was that?” Snowman asked.

“I said that’s right around the corner,” Charger said quickly. “At least I think it is. Let me look. Computer, enable vocal control. Mapquest – Fifteenth and Madison, Paragon City. Yep. Zoom in. Yep. You are here. Perfect. End vocal control.”

Snowman looked over at Lumiare and rolled his eyes. He was rewarded with the sound of his partner’s musical laughter. The beautiful woman floated up high enough to rest her hand on his right shoulder briefly as Charger continued using his battle armor’s onboard computer. At the moment the young man was standing still with his hands out, typing furiously at an imaginary keyboard.

“Its just five blocks away from here. And they’re still requesting any help they can get. Someone is just smashing their way through the bank’s defenses, creating a lot of mayhem.” Charger suddenly said. The young man’s voice was loud and joyful. “This is what we’ve been training for - real villains! They’ve already disabled the automatic security systems and at the rate they’re going the security system thinks they’ll be through the vault door any second.”

“What are you thinking?” Lumiare asked suddenly. 

“We have to get in there!” Charger said. A whisper of sound filled the air as the young man’s armor began glowing in several places. His feet left the ground as he effortlessly began to float above the cracked pavement. “Cool,” he said absently. “Doc got the anti-gravity emitters working.” Charger shook his head. “Okay. Lets go!” he shouted before launching down the street.

“Charger!” Snowman shouted. “Oh, for all the – hold on to me,” the giant man said. Lumiare slid her small hand into his protective palm and smiled. Snowman focused his sight on the end of the street two blocks away, where Charger was just beginning to make his turn. The world seemed to lurch suddenly, first one way and then another. Lumiare gasped in surprise as they reappeared, instantaneously jumping several hundred feet.

“Charger!” Snowman shouted again. The youth waved and sped away. Paul groaned in frustration. “He’s not listening!”

“Is your headset on?” Lumiare asked quickly.

“No, let me …” Paul began but Lumiare cut him off. “I’ll get it,” she said quickly. Her free hand quickly reached to the headset on his right side. Snowman nodded his thanks before glaring intently down the street. With another surge they teleported another two blocks, just in time to see Charger make another turn. They could see the bank from the street corner. Smoke was billowing out of the ruined entrance. Pedestrians were running away from the scene. Another explosion could be heard from inside the besieged building.

“I think I’m going to be sick,” Lumiare said faintly.

Paul nodded and began running down the street towards the bank instead of teleporting again. Lumiare flew alongside the giant hero. “You’ll get over it. The disorientation passes quickly,” Snowman promised. “Charger?” he shouted. “Can you hear me?”

“Yes I can. I’m approaching the bank.”

“We can see you, we’re ten seconds away. Wait for the rest of us …“

“I see movement!” Charger shouted. The hovering figure clenched his fists and pointed the emitters built into his gauntlets into the smoking chaos. “I’ve got a hostile target, taking the shot.” Snowman watched as scintillating beams of pure force shot out of Charger’s wrist-mounted weapons. Without waiting the impulsive youth tugged a small device free from his belt. A blade of reddish flame erupted from the hilt. As soon as the burning blade hissed into existence the reckless hero rocketed into the bank.

“Charger!” Snowman yelled. He began to gather his will to teleport closer to the action. A deafening crash destroyed his concentration. Charger was flung out of the bank like his armor had been shot from some cannon. Windows around the street shattered from the horrific boom of whatever had thrown him clear of the bank. The armored hero hit a parked minivan on the far side of the street. The doomed vehicle’s alarm system began its siren scream as he plowed into it. The driver’s side door gave way with a sickening crunch. Through his headset Snowman could hear Charger groan in pain.

The wrecked doorway of the bank gave way with a metallic shriek of protest as something forced its way out of the bank. Snowman couldn’t tell what he was looking at. A heavy black mist swirled around the figure, making it hard to see any details. The mist seemed to thin for a moment, expanding outward in a shimmering cloud of shadow lit from within by tiny sparkles of light. Snowman saw the face of this villain. Obsidian eyes set in a pale face, a generous mouth stretched in a grimace of pain. Dark hair pulled back from his high forehead. A leather jacket, t-shirt and jeans covered the villain in place of armor. Behind him another figure was briefly visible. A young woman who faded in and out of the shadows. Her hands were raised in threat or in warning - fists wrapped in bright fields of energy.

… to be continued
Up next, the final chapter in the Spirals of Fate story.

This is a fictional story is based on the intellectual property of City of Heroes and City of Villains. That property was used as a backdrop for this story with the permission of both Ncsoft and Cryptic Studios. While this story uses that world as a backdrop, it is not meant to reflect either gameplay or storylines with the massively multiplayer online world. Some of the images used with Spirals of Fate have been taken from the game and modified to suit the illustrative purposes of this story. This story is intended for entertainment purposes only.

del.icio.us | Digg This | Glink It

---